I have this Happiness Planner that I bought at the very end of 2018. I spent all of 2019 intending to start it, but it wasn’t until January 6, 2020, that I FINALLY got it started.
Since then, for the next 100 days, I used it as my weekly & daily planner and a way to reflect upon on the previous week.
After awhile, though, I noticed a trend regarding the days I filled it out and the days I didn’t.
See, there was one key thing I did differently on the days I actually got around to filling. And it dawned on me.
I’ve noticed with certain things in my life — those want-to-do’s but aren’t my have-to-dos — that I struggle do them even though they’re things I REALLY want to do, like filling out my Happiness Journal.
I tell myself, “Ok, Bev, you’re going to do this today.” And in the chaos of daily life, inevitably nighttime arrives and I’m exhausted and yet ANOTHER day had passed and I still hadn’t done that thing I so desperately wanted to do.
Back when I was selling my jewelry, I often struggled with finding time to actually make the jewelry.
Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
Between blogging, social media, learning skills to help my business grow and thrive, commitments to creative groups, checking e-mail, and everything else that goes on in a typical a day, a large chunk of my day got gobbled up by the time monster.
And before I knew it, the day was over and I didn’t actually make anything.
Sometimes I found myself going weeks without making jewelry.
This all changed when I received an e-mail from April Bowles-Olin Blacksburg Belle entitled “Make This One Change to Secure More Time to Create.” (Of course, I was so busy it took a day before I actually opened the e-mail.)
So what was that one thing she recommended?
Do something creative as soon as you wake up.
Sounds simple enough, right? April challenged her readers to try it for a week. I took her up on her challenge and spent the next five days making jewelry before I did anything else.
And you know what? I was able to make so much jewelry in such a short period of time. I even found the inspiration to design a new bracelet.
By carving out even just a small chunk of time first thing every morning, I ensured that I didn’t let the minutia of running my business get in the way of finding time to make jewelry.
After you try this simple trick for making time in your day for jewelry making, tag me on Facebook and let me know if you did it.
Bonus points if you post a picture of what you worked on!
That’s really great advice! I’m not at my very best first thing in the morning, so I don’t know if that timing would work for me, but I know that’s really the only way to make sure that everything else doesn’t get in the way of creativity. It’s so easy to have other things swallow up your time otherwise!! Ashley and I were just lamenting the other day that actual writing (which is the outlet for us) sadly (and ironically) comprises the least amount of what we spend our time on with the blog! –Lisa
Great advice and it totally works for me! Sometimes I get more into writing/blogging than photography and I realize – “well hey, that’s the one I’m aiming to do full-time..right?” Well, maybe. I think I love them both. Lately I do get up early to edit photos. Sometimes I even take photos of the morning light. It works.
Yeah, I realize that morning isn’t quite the ideal time for everyone, but perhaps it could even help wake you up and get your day started . It’s crazy how we have these things that we love, that involve creativity, but all the less fun nitty gritty stuff ends up getting in the way so frequently. I do hope you two find more time for the writing part, I know what a bummer it is when I feel like I have no time to make jewelry!
That’s awesome! I bet your get some incredible photos early in the morning. As long as you love writing (even if it isn’t perhaps your first passion) and you feel inspired to write in the morning, then that’s what counts, right?
It was really nice meeting at the conference on Saturday. What a small world! If you are ever free for coffee sometime in Boston, I’d love to stay in touch. And, I am excited to follow your blog!!
Likewise! I would definitely be up for meeting for coffee, feel free to shoot me an e-mail!
This is a great tip. I so often get sucked into the email trap in the morning and find myself trying to catch up all day long. Starting my day doing something creative would be so much more inspiring!