Your podcast episode is very structured and pleasant! I even like the graphic!
We have similar styles: I do gentle weekly planning and I block time through the week on most days to get writing done. I keep track of my task deadlines digitally in a project management calendar to help visualize my schedule, which is helpful for my capacity planning. It prevents me from loading too much work onto myself on any one day. I use ClickUp for this, because it's free for me and I have heavy experience in it.
Thank you for your kinds words Cheniece! I'm glad you enjoyed the podcast :) I've heard people mention ClickUp before I think--from what I can see on their site it combines project management with working in teams?
I too need the visual view of my schedule in order to not overload myself (I like your terms 'capacity planning'). Have a good rest of your week, and a nourishing festive season!
Hugely interesting and helpful. I also love getting a detailed/inside look at how productive (and interesting!) people structure their time. But here's my perpetual quandary -- a plan is only as good as its implementation -- and that's where a lot of us fall down. Even if the planning is realistic, self-compassionate, and clear -- life gets in the way, and even the best-laid plans get upended. How can you get back on the horse without losing confidence in your own abilities?
Such a good question Lyn, thank you for asking! Indeed life happens to all of us and it can sometimes feel like there's no point in making plans. What helps me is to leave much more space than I think I need in my days and in my weeks, as well as around deadlines. Deliberately including this space and time beforehand makes it easier for me to give myself grace and to continue even if something got in the way or if I fell ill. It also helps me to focus on the smaller steps rather than the huge goal, telling myself that I only need to take one or two of those smaller steps rather than try to tackle the entire thing.
Have you discovered anything that helps you? Or is there anything specific that gets in the way?
Thanks, Astrid. I think you're right about small steps. Breaking the big thing down into what's right in front of you. I find that enormously satisfying and gives me greater confidence that I'm on track for the uber stuff. The challenge is, as you say, to slow down, to have faith that this is a critical part of the process and that progress is about increments not chunks.
This has been a fascinating read. I’m always interested to know how other people break up their week!
I am lucky enough to be a full time artist which I find is both good and bad for organisation. I also have a 4 year old daughter who I juggle too.
I use ClickUp to schedule the vast majority of tasks within my week. In particular at this time as I’m in the middle of producing a big solo exhibition for my Sydney gallery 🤪 (it truly is crazy season here in my life).
I tend to prioritise the studio time over admin, however i religiously set 1 day each week to do as much as I can for substack and my podcast along with Instagram. (I tend to schedule everything so I am never distracted during my studio time scrolling).
The other thing I do religiously throughout my day is meditation. Always before I start painting, often in the middle of my day and then before bed. I can honestly say that this practice alone has been life changing.
I’m always keen to hear from other creatives and how they break up their studio week 😊😊👇🏻
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this so thoroughly Korynn! I too love hearing how other people spend their weeks :) Click-Up looks fascinating and very extensive, and like a great place to keep all your tasks and projects.
I love hearing about your meditation habit: it's such a great anchoring practice, right? I meditate in the morning, right after brushing my teeth and am very happy for this habit to be part of my life. Some days it's easy to sit and focus, some days it's hard--but that's the practice right?
Good question Dacy! The nap tends to happen around mid-day, usually around noon, sometimes a little later. So today for instance, I worked until 12:30, then had my nap 12:45-13.45, had lunch and now I'm back at my desk until 16:00 when the client call I have scheduled ends. I'll do movement after that: I don't do it every day, but just fell back in love with Pilates, and do 30 to 45 minutes at home through an app. Depending on how I feel I might do another 30 minutes or so of work at the end of the afternoon, potentially on the sofa :) Major disclaimer: I don't have any kids to pick up or take care of, which leaves a lot of room in my afternoon. Have a good rest of your week!
Your podcast episode is very structured and pleasant! I even like the graphic!
We have similar styles: I do gentle weekly planning and I block time through the week on most days to get writing done. I keep track of my task deadlines digitally in a project management calendar to help visualize my schedule, which is helpful for my capacity planning. It prevents me from loading too much work onto myself on any one day. I use ClickUp for this, because it's free for me and I have heavy experience in it.
Thank you for your kinds words Cheniece! I'm glad you enjoyed the podcast :) I've heard people mention ClickUp before I think--from what I can see on their site it combines project management with working in teams?
I too need the visual view of my schedule in order to not overload myself (I like your terms 'capacity planning'). Have a good rest of your week, and a nourishing festive season!
Hugely interesting and helpful. I also love getting a detailed/inside look at how productive (and interesting!) people structure their time. But here's my perpetual quandary -- a plan is only as good as its implementation -- and that's where a lot of us fall down. Even if the planning is realistic, self-compassionate, and clear -- life gets in the way, and even the best-laid plans get upended. How can you get back on the horse without losing confidence in your own abilities?
Such a good question Lyn, thank you for asking! Indeed life happens to all of us and it can sometimes feel like there's no point in making plans. What helps me is to leave much more space than I think I need in my days and in my weeks, as well as around deadlines. Deliberately including this space and time beforehand makes it easier for me to give myself grace and to continue even if something got in the way or if I fell ill. It also helps me to focus on the smaller steps rather than the huge goal, telling myself that I only need to take one or two of those smaller steps rather than try to tackle the entire thing.
Have you discovered anything that helps you? Or is there anything specific that gets in the way?
Thanks, Astrid. I think you're right about small steps. Breaking the big thing down into what's right in front of you. I find that enormously satisfying and gives me greater confidence that I'm on track for the uber stuff. The challenge is, as you say, to slow down, to have faith that this is a critical part of the process and that progress is about increments not chunks.
Hello from my studio in Australia Astrid 🇦🇺👩🏼🎨
This has been a fascinating read. I’m always interested to know how other people break up their week!
I am lucky enough to be a full time artist which I find is both good and bad for organisation. I also have a 4 year old daughter who I juggle too.
I use ClickUp to schedule the vast majority of tasks within my week. In particular at this time as I’m in the middle of producing a big solo exhibition for my Sydney gallery 🤪 (it truly is crazy season here in my life).
I tend to prioritise the studio time over admin, however i religiously set 1 day each week to do as much as I can for substack and my podcast along with Instagram. (I tend to schedule everything so I am never distracted during my studio time scrolling).
The other thing I do religiously throughout my day is meditation. Always before I start painting, often in the middle of my day and then before bed. I can honestly say that this practice alone has been life changing.
I’m always keen to hear from other creatives and how they break up their studio week 😊😊👇🏻
Thanks again for all your insights Astrid!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this so thoroughly Korynn! I too love hearing how other people spend their weeks :) Click-Up looks fascinating and very extensive, and like a great place to keep all your tasks and projects.
I love hearing about your meditation habit: it's such a great anchoring practice, right? I meditate in the morning, right after brushing my teeth and am very happy for this habit to be part of my life. Some days it's easy to sit and focus, some days it's hard--but that's the practice right?
Have a lovely rest of your week!
Love this from a fellow napped. If you work in the morning and have movement in the afternoon, where does your nap fit in?
*napper
Good question Dacy! The nap tends to happen around mid-day, usually around noon, sometimes a little later. So today for instance, I worked until 12:30, then had my nap 12:45-13.45, had lunch and now I'm back at my desk until 16:00 when the client call I have scheduled ends. I'll do movement after that: I don't do it every day, but just fell back in love with Pilates, and do 30 to 45 minutes at home through an app. Depending on how I feel I might do another 30 minutes or so of work at the end of the afternoon, potentially on the sofa :) Major disclaimer: I don't have any kids to pick up or take care of, which leaves a lot of room in my afternoon. Have a good rest of your week!