Comments on: Doing vs. Being

By: Bea

Bea — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:53:36 +0000

I hate planning and using calendars, because it often makes me feel even more caged in. But whenever planning my days or weeks is inevitable, I like putting down my to-do-list (or want-to-do-list) as a mind map. This way appeals to me a lot more, as I can doodle away and I need to put only those things in my calendar, that I have to do at a certain time. Another advantage is, that when I make mind maps, I get a better feeling for how much I have to do. So I can find out quite early, if my planning is realistic or not. I put down everything anyway, but highlight the really important things. I don´t know why this works better for me, but it´s probably because I can visualize better this way, and because this kind of planning follows my own unique way of thinking. And probably, because it´s more playful.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:46:44 +0000

I’m facing the exact same challenge. Its just so easy to let the invasion of everyday details work their way into every last minute of the day. Something that I am trying out may seem corny but its seeming to provide me with the structure I need at the moment. In the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People book, there is a weekly schedule on pages 180-181 that may be xeroxed and filled in yourself. What I like about it is it breaks things down into daily and weekly priorities, goals for each of the roles in your life – fiancee, artist, writer, sister, etc, whatever yours are… the chapter that this schedule is in, Chapter 3: Put First Things First, you might particularly like and it will lay out how and why this schedule is designed this way. Hope its helpful to you too!

By: Kerstin

Kerstin — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 14:03:56 +0000

Hi Christine,
I sympathise with you, feeling overwhelmed is not nice.
It sounds to me like what you need is structure. Any professional works within a structured environment that enables them to get their work done. You are an artist who works mainly from home, that requires self discipline and probably a bit more planning than for someone who goes to an office every day.
As Noelle suggests try and plan your daily creative hours, put them into your diary, make them your “office hours”. Rather than trying to commit a whole month to your projects think in smaller time chunks, like days or weeks at the most.
Take small steps whilst you are still feeling overwhelmed. Get up early for a few days, enjoy your favourite breakfast (cafe au lait and croissant if I remember correctly?) and plan your day ahead. Write it out. Do you have a certain time of day when you feel most creative and energetic? Make those your “office hours” and plan everything else around those. Just sticking to a kind of schedule for a few days can help you feel better and more in control.
I don’t know if any of this helps. I am quite a well organised person but I don’t like planning much and as a result I, too, feel overwhelmed from time to time. Structure helps me in those situations and in the longterm it can help achieve balance, too. (I hope so anyway, I am still working on this one!)
Take care, Kerstin

By: Leigh

Leigh — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:21:42 +0000

This is the best photo !!!!!!

By: Noelle

Noelle — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 11:13:57 +0000

Plans are inevitable…there is no way around weddings, out-of-towners and going to the grocery store. My advice would be to “schedule” a chunk of time during the day where you can turn off the phone, the computer and any other distractions. Then hole yourself up in your studio with some good music and create. (For me, the music is key…it helps to block out all the things on my plate and gets the creative juices flowing.) Even if it is an hour a day. The laundry can wait but your creative energy (and sanity!) can not.
Hope that helps a bit:)
Noelle