How to Manage Your Time Effectively as a Creative Entrepreneur

EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS

I have always prided myself on having excellent time management, but the truth is, there’s plenty of days where the hours tick by and the ends of the day rolls around and I wonder how time has seemed to go by fast and yet my to do list only has a few things checked off…can you relate?

Back when I was balancing my full time job with my small business I was juggling so many things at once I had no choice but to be ultra efficient with my time. Every bathroom break, lunch break or free time I could get my hands on I was using it to send out one more email, schedule one more piece of social content, take one more phone call. While the long hours and hustling weren’t sustainable in the long term, they were needed in the short term in order to propel my business forward so that I could take it full time. Through it all, I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons about time and how to manage it.

As a creative entrepreneur, managing your time effectively is crucial to achieving success in your business. Whether you're a graphic designer, artist, photographer or small shop owner, time management is key to staying productive and achieving your goals. In this blog post, I'll share 8 tips on how to manage your time effectively as a creative entrepreneur, along with a few additional tips for those balancing their small business alongside a full-time job like I was not that long ago!

8 Time Management Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs

1. Set Goals and Priorities

Start by setting clear goals and priorities for your business. Identify the most important tasks that need to be done each day and focus on those first. Use tools like a planner or task management app to help you stay organized and on track.

2. Schedule Your Time

Make a schedule for your day and stick to it as much as possible. Allocate specific time slots for different tasks, such as answering emails, creating new designs or products, and marketing your business. This will help you stay focused and avoid distractions.

3. Take Breaks

When you're working on a creative project, it's easy to get lost in your work and forget to take breaks. However, taking regular breaks can help you stay fresh and increase your productivity. Take short breaks every hour or two to stretch, grab a snack, or simply take a walk.

4. Delegate Tasks

As a creative entrepreneur, it's important to focus on what you do best and delegate other tasks to others whenever you can. This could mean hiring a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks, or outsourcing your production to a manufacturer. Delegating tasks will help you free up time to focus on your creative work.

5. Avoid Multitasking

While it may seem like multitasking is a good way to get more things done, it can actually decrease your productivity. Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention. You'll be able to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently this way.

6. Learn to Say No

As a creative entrepreneur, you may be tempted to take on every opportunity that comes your way. However, saying yes to everything can quickly lead to burnout. Learn to say no to projects or events that don't align with your goals or values.

7. Take Advantage of Technology

There are many tools and apps available to help you manage your time and stay organized. Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com to manage your tasks and projects. You can also use apps like RescueTime to track your time and identify areas where you can improve your productivity.

8. Focus on Your Passion

Finally, remember to focus on your passion. When you're doing work that you love, it's easier to stay motivated and productive. Take time each day to work on projects that inspire you and bring you joy.

Tips for Balancing Your Business and Full-Time Job

Here are some more details on how to manage your time effectively when balancing your small business alongside a full-time job:

• Set realistic goals: When you're working full-time and running a business, it's important to set goals that are achievable outside of your regular work hours. Be honest with yourself about how much time you realistically have to devote to your business each day or week, and set goals accordingly.

• Use your lunch break or commute time: If you have a long commute or a lunch break, use that time to work on your business tasks. This could mean answering emails, making phone calls, or working on a project. By using this time effectively, you can make progress on your business without sacrificing your work hours.

• Consider outsourcing: If you don't have time to handle all of the tasks associated with your business, consider outsourcing some of them to a virtual assistant or contractor. This could include administrative tasks, social media management, or production tasks. By outsourcing, you can free up time to focus on your creative work.

• Be open with your employer: If you're balancing your small business with a full-time job, it's important to be open with your employer about your side business. Make sure that your business doesn't interfere with your job responsibilities, and be transparent about your schedule and availability. By being upfront about your business, you can avoid any potential conflicts of interest or misunderstandings.

Last pro tip of the day, PUT AWAY YOUR PHONE! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten on Instagram to do something for a client and then I end up scrolling my personal feed instead. Next thing I know it’s been 30 minutes of scrolling and I’ve gotten NOTHING done and sometimes I’ve even forgotten why I got on the app in the first place! My phone can be such a huge distraction for me if I’m not careful. I like to silence notifications when I need focus time, set timers, or even put my phone in a drawer in another room for those days when I really need some uninterrupted focus time.

Time management is essential for creative entrepreneurs to achieve success in their business. By following these tips and implementing them into your daily routine, you'll be able to stay productive, focused, and motivated to achieve your goals!