What other tips or techniques do you use to help get more stuff done?
I had used the Pomodoro Technique before and while I was using it, it worked great. But I find opening the app, repositioning it out of my desktop workspace, fiddling with the specific time because it just doesn’t remember… All that could be avoided by just setting up a dedicated time to draw. I also find Ustreaming my illustration of the day (as long as it’s not protected by NDA) helps me to focus because I don’t want to browse in front of an audience or while I’m recording! Sometimes pressure from others forces me to stay on schedule because otherwise I guilt trip myself. Maybe not be 100% healthy, but I wake up at 8am or else I disappoint my dogs by not taking them out for a walk ;)
One thing I just found yesterday that I’m trying is https://www.rescuetime.com. It’s a site that actively monitors your programme usage while browsing, using Tweetie, Photoshop, IM’ing… It just records the time you spend in each and makes charts for you to check out. I’m not changing my work patterns until I review a week of my habits and see where I can help myself recover some lost time spent browsing unproductive websites, tweeting or chatting too much. Hopefully it helps!
Do you believe listening to music while you work is inspiring or distracting?
Music while drawing helps me focus and get in the zone. Music while typing totally is distracting. So if I’m trying to type up an email or a blog post, I turn off the tunes. I think music with words are more distracting, I find myself typing what I’m listening to at times :)
First of all, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us. :) I love the idea of Ustreaming your working process in order to keep you on task. After all, you never know if your next customer is watching.
It also reminded me of a newspaper article I read a few months back about an artist named Megan Burkholder who rented out an abandoned bank in downtown Columbus, Ohio and lived there full-time for a month. She painted and lived on full display in front of this glass storefront for twelve hours a day. Talk about being held accountable. Come to think of it, I may try and get ahold of her at some point and ask if she would mind sharing a few more details with us about this experience.
At the time I was thinking that this was simply a great PR move and a unique way to get her name out there as an artist, but now that you brought up the whole accountability and productivity aspect to it, it got me thinking that she could really be on to something. If there’s anyone else out there in the Skinny Universe who has used video to document their working process, we would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences using it.
By the way, if any of you are interested in reading the original newspaper article that I’m talking about, you can find it here.
Not to drag out this comment any longer, but I am also interested in hearing more about your experience using RescueTime. I’ve heard some good things about the program, but I haven’t tried it out. After you get a chance to work with it for awhile, I would really like to hear your thoughts about using it and if you think that it’s really worthwhile.
I live very close to Columbus Ohio and the project of Megan painting in the storefront window was very cool indeed. I think she did plan a show and sale of the work she created during that time. I agree that would be great if she shared here. Hope you get to chat with her.
Music is distracting to me when I write (I like it very quiet) although I love to play tribal music when I work on large canvas paintings. I used to whine to myself about needing large amounts of time to create but once I decided to work ten minutes here or twenty minutes there I found I got more done that way then if I had an entire day staring me in the face. I know I may only have an hour so I jump right on it. When I have an entire day I tend to get distracted with emails, dishes, etc. I also set a timer when I check emails, etc. otherwise I can lose 2 to 4 hours posting, uploading, chatting, etc.
BY the way…great articles!
[…] and then find a way to get the word out. For example, one artist that I talked about in the comment section of an earlier post rented out an abandoned bank building and lived there for a month, living and working in plain […]
[…] or tool they can use. Things such as how-to tutorials, interviews, and other website tools and resources. Also keep in mind that the many of your visitors will find you for the first time through search […]
What other tips or techniques do you use to help get more stuff done?
Sometimes I just find myself struggling to get into focus and draw, it’s a painful moment and I have to force myself to it knowing it will soon be delightful. It’s like that dreadful waking up moment when the last thing you want to is force yourself up, but once you do, you start getting things done real quick and feel really into the flow. Once I’m focused, I have to ignore everything that is unrelated to my work, or if it’s impossible (like someone entering the room to ask something important) I don’t even move my eyes from what I’m doing. My work is the only thing in the world at those moments.
Warming up is essential. Not only musicians and actors need this kind of prep. The painters and tattooers and the ones who draw need time to get their bodies and minds into the specific project they’re working.
If I get stuck or lose track of what I’m doing, the quality, or the next thing to add, because I’ve been staring at it for so long (it happens), I go get some water or coffee or talk to someone nearby. Longer pauses than that (ex. going to the grocery’s) shifts the attention completely and when that happens, the working process hits another stage where I know getting back will be like starting over (sort of). A good night’s sleep is wonderful to get the mind cleared up about what to edit as well, and prevents from just doodling aimlessly out of tiredness.
Do you believe listening to music while you work is inspiring or distracting?
It depends. Slow, beautiful and slightly dark or depressing music is really good, because it creates mood without being unsettling. Like classical music, trip hop, instrumental stuff, soundtracks. Drawing listening to those things is really inspiring! I like screening a movie I’ve seen before in the background too and just listen to the dialogs. It gives a comfortable familiarity and is not too distracting (because I know what happens etc). But as a tattoo artist I also like energetic music when I’m working on other people’s skin. It helps to keep the mood cheerful and rhythmic and distracts the person from the pain!
I’ve started posting/scheduling Studio Hours on my calendar. http://whatadreamihad.com/studio-hours/ it’s really been helping me focus and reminding me to devote time to working on my art. I believe that we make time by prioritizing our lives. There’s never enough time until we make time.
When your tooth hurts bad enough, you make time to go to the dentist – no matter what else was on your schedule.
Good point Carlos, and I think actually blocking out time on your daily calendar sends the message (even if it’s only to yourself) that your creative work is a priority in your life. You’re absolutely right that even though we never have “enough” time, we will always make time for what’s truly important to us.
Hello Drew
I’m happy to inform you that this post is featured in the recent part of TimeCamp’s weekly Productivity Articles roundup! Find “Start The Week With Best Productivity Articles! 20/8/17” on https://www.timecamp.com/blog/.
Thank you for sharing these excellent productivity and time management tips!
Ola Rybacka, SM Manager at TimeCamp
Thanks so much Ola for sharing the post with your community. I really appreciate it and hope that you found it useful!