Time Management For The Creative

Do you feel you lack enough time to complete everything that is on your agenda? Does your plate always seem full? You are not alone. Millions of people complain about the same thing daily. There really doesn’t seem enough time in the day. I learned a long time ago that time should be treated as a currency. Once you get that mindset it will change everything.

Time is Currency

There are 86,400 seconds in each day. With a fresh clock every day, it is important to treat this as currency. You don’t just go leaving Benjamin’s laying on the grounds for others. You hold onto your money tight and probably follow a budget. So why not do the same with your time? Budget your time to create value that you can see. Certain parts of your day are probably super crucial to your success. Those would be your $100 bills and you don’t waste those.

Remove Distractions

You know what halts you from achieving your plans. When I first launched my business, I use to watch TV to have background noise on. Well, I would end up getting caught up in Las Vegas, NCIS and Law & Order marathons and by the end of day – nothing was achieved. It was a distraction I had to remove. So that cute little flat screen TV was removed from my home office. Nowadays the distraction is social media. We think if we are not on it we will miss something. To be honest if it something that is going to actually change YOUR life your phone would be blowing up. You aren’t missing anything.

Hours of Importance

Everyone has a time of day they are the most super productive and creative. This is your hour(s) of importance, you want to make sure you create a schedule around this. I can write for hours super late at night or super early in the morning. During these hours, I am removed from everything. My phone is on the other side of the room and social media notifications are put on silent.

Create Me Time

Everyday you need time that is just yours. Not your iPhone’s, kids, partner’s, boss or even the lady who gives you your soy latte at 135 degrees. My morning routine is sacred, I discussed this in my finding what works for me article. I tend to lay in the bed, just thinking and saying my thank you’s. It brings me peace before the storm. Not to say I leave this hectic life, but once I open my email or even my front door. I don’t know what life is going to throw me. So if I can give myself two hours to myself than I am going to take it. Create me time in your schedule.

You Are The Gatekeeper

As mentioned in the first point — time is a currency. It’s something that you can not get back. Value who you give it to and see how they treat it. I grew up in a military home. We were told “To be on time is to be early – to be on time is to be late and to be late is not acceptable.” I am still a firm believer in that. If someone does not respect your time, don’t keep giving it to them freely. Your dentist charges cancellation fees, you should too in your service industry. Miss an appointment, pay for it. It’s really that simple.

You might see yourself as a creator because you are. Your creativity needs to be valued and you do this by managing your time. It will help you create in peace. Trust, it helped me once I treated it as a currency and created a structure.