Time Crunch

Many artists live in a perpetual now, where every task on the horizon seems equally important.  You have lots to do, but don’t know where to start.

A helpful first step is to get the jumble of must-do tasks out of your head and onto a piece of paper. Here’s an example from a mid-career artist who was facing multiple challenges:

• Update the “events” page on her website.
• Design an online course.
• Prepare and submit a grant application.
• Send materials ahead to a residency program.
• Create a price list for Open Studios.
• Ask a former teacher for a recommendation. 
• Outline an artist talk for the community center.
• Enter new work in a juried show.

In the mind of an artist, everything has to happen at once, and each item seems equally important. Instead of jumping in to get things done, see if you can find a natural order. Turn your anxiety into positive energy. Use these questions to sort through your list.

• How much time will each project take?
• Which items have real deadlines, and what are they?
• Are there any tasks that could be delegated to others? 
• Are there similar items that could be grouped together and done together?
• Which tasks need to be broken down into smaller steps?
• Is there anything that could wait until next week or next month?

Such questions helped our mid-career artist make sense of her jumble. By delegating two things, postponing another, and making a step-by-step sequence of what had to happen in the next two weeks, she found a path forward. 

So when you’re facing a time crunch, stop and think. Sort out your list into manageable tasks.  Organize by deadline, let some things go, and create your own simple plan. 

​​​​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards ​