How to Balance Creative Work and Day to Day Work
^^ Listen to a recording of the article below.
^^ Listen to a recording of our discussion about “You Need to do You Need to do to Succeed.”
This is one of my favorite methods of working since it lets you have a win/win situation.
You’ll accomplish your creative tasks, while handling the day to day tasks, while taking breaks for your wrists and arms.
I call it the Two List Method, and it’s incredibly easy to do.
Download the worksheet here!
First make a list of your main tasks.
Then make a list of little tasks.
Next define your time blocks. My time blocks are often based on how good my elbows are doing. But to start I recommend 25 mins for a big task and 5 mins for a small task (like the Pomodoro technique) or 50 mins for a big task and 10 mins for a small task (for nice, hourly blocks).
The workflow is alternating between big and small tasks. Big, small, big, small, and so on.
The key with the small tasks is to try to keep them easy to do with big motor movements - so your mind and arms get a break.
An good example would be:
Work on my Zbrush Sculpture - 50 mins
Take out the Trash - 10 mins
Work on my Zbrush Sculpture - 50 mins
Fold the towels - 10 mins
A bad example would be:
Work on my Zbrush Sculpture - 50 mins
Do some cross stitching - 10 mins
^ no rest for the hands
or
Work on my Zbrush Sculpture - 50 mins
Negotiate a new gig - 10 mins
^ no rest for the mind
If you do this all day you accomplish 8 blocks of your main task and then 8 blocks of your small tasks. The reason I love this is that once you clock out - you’re done.
The laundry has been folded, dishes are away, trash is out, dog is fed, and all you have to do now is focus on activities that recharge you.
(Okay, if you’re in a caregiver role, you aren’t actually done, but you’re closer than you were before)
Here’s an example of a full day for me.
However, I used this method all the time when I had my day job. I’d get home and do this for 3 hours - meaning I’d get a good chunk of my personal projects done and the trash, dishes, and laundry would be handled when I wrapped up around 9pm - that’s a pretty good way to end the day.
Here’s why I think this method works so well
1. Timers. Since it’s all timed, I don’t waste time doing other things, and I hustle more on the chores that I hate doing. This feels more like a game or race, and that makes things a bit more fun.
2. You get more wins. By mixing in the little tasks, you get more little wins during the day. This is especially great if you’re having a bad art day. It can help break you out of that cycle by making you walk away from your artwork.
3. Keeps it fresh. Sometimes, I get in this funk where I should walk away from the art for a bit but I don’t. I try to grind through boredom or mental fatigue, and it never works. With the two-list method, getting up is part of the plan, so that feels like a win, and then doing the little task feels like a win - all while I trick myself into resting.
4. Keeps up the momentum. I find that when I work this way, I don’t fatigue as much because of sprinkling in all the little breaks and wins.
I hope this helps and please let us know if you try it!
Sarah and Sarah
❤
Written by Sarah Dahlinger
Discussed by Sarah Dahlinger and Sarah Forde