As an artist, time is one of your most valuable resources. You need time to create, fine-tune your craft, and build your brand. But in a world where distractions are endless and time seems to slip away, how do successful artists manage to make the most of their precious hours?

The answer lies in their time-saving secrets. From streamlining their creative process to outsourcing non-essential tasks, these artists know how to make every minute count. In this article, I'll explore some of the top time-saving secrets of successful artists. These tips and tricks will help you reclaim your time and focus on what really matters - your art. So let's dive into the world of time management for artists.

Benefits of Time Management for Artists

Time management is a crucial aspect of any artist's life. It helps you stay focused, productive, and efficient. When you manage your time effectively, you can spend more time doing what you love - creating art. You also have more time to develop your skills, market your work, and build your brand.

In addition, time management helps you avoid burnout and stress. On the days when I wasted time, I feel bummed out because I wasn’t measuring up to my expectations. Let’s look at some time-wasters before we get into how to be more efficient.

Common Time-Wasters for Artists

See if any of these common time-wasters describes you:

• Social media- Guilty! It's easy to get sucked into scrolling through your newsfeed or checking your notifications, but this can eat up a lot of valuable time.

• Multitasking- That’s me again. I used to think that I was more efficient by doing multiple things at once, but studies show that multitasking decreases productivity and increases stress. I’m also not able to multitask as well as I used to because of good old aging.

• Disorganization- This isn’t me as much. I’m a clean freak, and I like for everything to have its place. But I could see how not knowing where things are could be a time-waster. This would also include being disorganized on your computer and phone. I will say that my phone is more disorganized due to the 1,000,000 pictures of my dogs residing on it.

• Procrastination- Me again. I procrastinate, especially for things I’m dreading. Like editing a video. I’m doing it right now by writing this blog.

• Perfectionism- I used to be a perfectionist, but I’m currently recovering. If you are continually perfecting something that you could just push out and be done with, it can be a big waste of time. I’ve learned that perfectionism can be a way that we protect ourselves. If we don’t send something out into the world because we want it to be perfect, we protect ourselves from possible rejection. It makes sense.

Time-Saving Secrets of Successful Artists

That’s sort of a bummer that I waste time in 4 out of the 5 ways that I described above. Now you can see why I wrote this blog. Let's explore some of the top time-saving secrets of successful artists.

1. Prioritize Tasks

   One of the most important time-saving secrets is to prioritize your tasks and set goals.

   This means identifying the most important things you need to do each day and making sure you do them first.

   I have started to do this more, and it is helpful. I have to train myself to think, “What activity is the most helpful to my art business that I can get done today?”. It’s probably not going to be checking out funny reels on Instagram. It’s going to be something like finishing a commission drawing or adding a price list to my Facebook Business page. Less fun, perhaps, but more effective in growing a business.

   For you, it doesn’t have to be growing a business, it could be something like practicing and improving your craft. Which is something I’m also trying to cram into my days off from the day job.

2. Set Goals

   Setting long-term goals and breaking them down into smaller, achievable tasks will help you to know what to prioritize.

   I find it very helpful if I write down maybe three goals for the month. Then I reverse engineer those goals to see what I can do weekly to reach the monthly goals. This helps me prioritize my daily activities. Knowing exactly what I need to do is more motivating as opposed to just doing things randomly.

3. Create A Schedule and Stick To It

   Another key time-saving secret is to create a schedule and stick to it. This means setting aside specific times each day or week for different tasks, such as creating art, marketing, and administrative work.

   For me, I like to write my blog and take care of marketing tasks in the mornings on my days off from my day job. It makes me feel better to get them accomplished and out of the way before I start drawing, which is hopefully around lunchtime until dinner.

   You also have to try and avoid distractions during those times and stay focused on the task at hand. Tell yourself that you can have a 15-minute social media break, or do something else as a reward after you complete an entire task. Bribe yourself. I think it works.

4. Delegate Tasks and Outsource

   Successful artists also know when to delegate tasks and outsource. While it may be tempting to do everything yourself, this can actually be a huge time-waster. By delegating tasks such as social media management or bookkeeping to others, you can free up more time to focus on your art. Outsourcing can also help you access specialized skills and expertise that you may not have.

   This tip isn’t really helpful for me because I don’t currently have the money to hire someone to help me. But if you do, go for it! That would be pretty awesome to have a social media person or someone to edit videos.

5. Batch Tasks

   Batching tasks is a highly effective technique to optimize your time and enhance productivity. By grouping similar or related activities together, you minimize the mental and physical transition time between tasks, allowing you to work more efficiently.

   For artists, batching can involve dedicating specific time blocks to activities like sketching, brainstorming, or drawing. This approach not only streamlines your workflow but also helps you enter a focused state of mind for a particular type of creative work.

   If you are trying to be consistent with social media, you could also batch your posts or reels. If you block out time once a week to create content, it will be easier to post them at a later time.

   I know brainstorming, creating, and editing content is a time-eater for me. It helps if I have a plan for the next week. For example, I might know I will post a tip about solvent on Monday, a work-in-progress on Tuesday, an art vs. drawing on Wednesday, blog post on Thursday. Then I can at least start to create the reels and maybe only have to finalize them before posting.

6. Use Technology to Save Time

   Technology can be a powerful tool for saving time. There are many apps and software programs that can help you streamline your workflow, manage your schedule, and automate tasks.

   For example, you can use a project management tool like Trello to keep track of your to-do list and deadlines or use an app like Hootsuite to schedule social media posts in advance.

7. Create a specific place where you work

   Having a dedicated and specific place to work as an artist can greatly contribute to effective time management.

   By designating a consistent workspace, you create a focused environment that is conducive to your creative process. When you enter this space, it serves as a mental cue, signaling that it's time to concentrate on your art.

   Having a designated area also helps minimize distractions and interruptions, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your work. Organizing your art supplies and tools in this space saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent searching for materials.

   I have one area for working on my computer (on the island in the kitchen) and one area for working on my art (in the living room near all of the lovely windows). These are in the same large room, but it is nice to have a place where all of my stuff is and where I can just sit down and start getting into the groove.

8. Be Realistic

   Being realistic with time management expectations is crucial for artists. It's essential to acknowledge that the creative process can be unpredictable and that artistic projects often take longer than initially anticipated, especially with colored pencils!

   While it's important to set goals and deadlines, it's equally important to be flexible and allow for unforeseen challenges or life events that may alter your timeline.

   Remember that art is a journey, and rushing through it may compromise the quality and depth of your work. Be honest with yourself about the time required for each task, considering factors like research, experimentation, and revision.

   Embrace the concept of "slow art" and give yourself permission to invest the necessary time and effort to produce beautiful creations. I have to remind myself that my work will be better if I slow down.

   By setting realistic expectations and being kind to yourself throughout the process, you can avoid burn-out.

9. Say No

   Learning to say no to certain things is an invaluable skill for effective time management as an artist. While it's tempting to take on every opportunity that comes your way, it's essential to prioritize and protect your creative time. By selectively choosing which commitments to accept, you maintain control over your schedule and ensure that you have ample time for your artistic pursuits.

   Saying no to nonessential tasks, distractions, or projects that don't align with your artistic goals allows you to focus on what truly matters. It frees up valuable time and energy to devote to your art practice, enabling you to dive deeper into your creative process and produce work of greater depth and quality.

   Remember, every time you say no to something that doesn't serve your artistic vision, you are saying yes to your artistic growth and fulfillment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, time management is a crucial aspect of any artist's life. By prioritizing tasks, creating a schedule, delegating tasks, using technology, and staying focused, you can make the most of your precious time and achieve your goals. Remember, the most successful artists are not always the most talented - they're the ones who know how to manage their time effectively. So take these time-saving secrets and apply them to your own life and work. You'll be amazed at how much more you can achieve when you reclaim your time and focus on what really matters - your art.

Love to hear your thoughts.