“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Monday has a bad rap in my opinion.  I always like Monday for the focus it helps me achieve.  The weekend’s activities are over and I have the opportunity to plan and think about what I want to do and accomplish for the week. Sunday is usually spent with the family and I also love to do a “once-over” in the studio making sure my pastel painting supplies are clean, my easel is ready.  I wipe off my studio table (we all know pastels are dusty!),  put away papers, and check my things to see if I need to reorder anything.  Since shipping takes a week or longer, I like to have this ready and prepped.

Then (if I’m behaving well and don’t decide to just run away to the Caribbean) this is pretty much my daily morning schedule.

• Drink coffee
• Drop kids off at school
• Drink coffee again (mmm)
• Check email and newsletter
• Return emails
• Check my to-do list from the previous business day
• Head to the easel, begin sketch, thumbnail, or underpainting portion
• While it is curing/drying or just working its way through my thoughts, I go work out in my garage
• Clean up
• Back to the Studio
• Stare at painting

At this point, it’s either dive into working on the piece, or it could be sitting at my desk and writing, updating my blog or social media, or working on my Youtube channel.  It really depends on the to-do list from the previous day.  I like to make a list at the end of the previous day on things needing work the next….things I left off on, notes to myself, timely reminders of events/deadlines/submissions/activities.

So before you think I am some organizational fanatic, that would be a huge WRONG.  I am the opposite of organized.  I have had to teach myself to be strict, guided, and focused.  I am a creature of spontaneity and whimsical impulse.  I love to abandon all plans and go with the flow.  Somebody planned a last minute road trip?  I’m your girl! This works for the art side of me but it does not work for the business side of me. Molding the business side or your work is every bit as important as tending the art side of your work. Without business sense and practices, it is near impossible to make it as an artist.  Believe me, I’ve tried!

So, dear ones.  Trust in the work.

Today, I challenge you to write down your goals for the day.  I use a legal pad and real paper and a real pen because making notes on my phone isn’t effective for me. The screen goes dark and I lose track and it’s not *right in front of me* in my own handwriting, staring at me and before you know it I’ve lost all track of time and I’m of the deep end.  If you take the time to write something down, chances are you’re going to work harder to check off that list.  And checking off a list is so satisfying!

Here are five ways to plan for success:

1. Don’t try to do everything in one day. 

Make sure your list is actually doable.  Don’t put it all down for one day!  If you do you’re going to burnout and have thoughts of “I can’t do this never mind, I wonder what Beyonce is up to.”   I like to add a little bit of several activities,  some computer work, some easel work, some housework, etc.  This keeps me moving, my brain sharp, and lessons fatigue or burning out on one “subject.”  Break down a big task into several smaller tasks and do a little bit at a time.  My favorite question to ask my kids when they’re facing a big project (i.e. cleaning their super messy rooms):

“How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.”

No one really wants to eat an elephant…I hope. But simply put,  this means to tackle any job, focus on ONE part of it.  Do that part.  Then do the next part and then the next.  Don’t think of the elephant as a whole.   When I look at my messy studio desk and I decide to clean it, I focus on ONE thing on that desk to put away or clean and I don’t worry about the others until that first thing is finished. I don’t get overwhelmed over a big task and I am focused on being present in the moment and intentional about how I’m spending my time.

2.  Try to do the hard things first

This is one of the hardest parts of making lists.  There are just some things that are NOT fun and that no one likes. Receipt organization (I’m talking to myself here), taxes, writing an email or having a conversation you’ve been dreading to name a few. For me, it’s the framing process of my work.  I think these tasks actually loom larger the more we avoid them.  Procrastination is a beast and does nothing but cause stress, anxiety, and worry.  Those are things I do not want in my studio because it affects my work when I’m at the easel. When I’m distracted I am not free to focus and try new ideas, techniques, inspirations etc.

3. Spread out your time

Try to anticipate how long things will take you.  This is something I’m still learning.  I know that when I’m preparing a new Youtube video (for example) it will take me much of an entire day to edit and upload.  Those days I don’t plan other things because I know I just won’t get them done.  I plan around days like this to stay prepared.

4. Put something on your list you enjoy as a reward for tackling something you don’t

This is something a favorite professor taught me back in my University theatre days.  He applied it to the audition process which can be grueling, exhausting, and disappointing.  After *every * audition, have something planned you enjoy.  That way, no matter how the audition went, if you nailed the song or monologue, or bombed the entire thing, you could walk off the stage with a lightness in your step that now I get to go do that fun thing I planned.  I can’t tell you how many times this has saved me.  It gets your mind off the negativity of beating yourself up or hating your schedule. Plan Fun Things.  I can’t say it enough. Even if it’s going outside for a walk, getting up to go make yourself a nice afternoon snack, playing with your animals, or okay, playing words with friends.  <3

5. Don’t stress about moving a task to another day…or to realize it needs breaking down into a smaller task.

If the day has gotten away, things took longer than you expected, or were harder than you anticipated, don’t stress. Give yourself a break and realize you’re human, there are only so many hours in a day, and things happen.   Sometimes for me, inspiration strikes and I just really need to spend longer painting than I had planned.  I love being at my easel in those moments.  If something occurs that takes up more time, I just move the uncompleted tasks to the next day (or even a couple of days ahead)…and here’s the kicker.   I stop worrying about it.  Of course, some things take precedence and must get done and things arise beyond our control.  That’s just part of life.

I know that for me, intentionally planning my days keeps me on track for loftier goals I’ve set.  Planning also prevents me from aimlessly wondering how I can improve my business and questioning what I’m doing wrong or how to get better.  I don’t come into the studio despondent that I have no direction.  It’s actually very exciting and fulfilling to see accomplishments ticked off and steps made.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”
― Gloria Steinem

So today, on this Monday, I hope you feel inspired….Tell me your goals and dreams, I would love to hear!  (Comment below!)

xoxo

Bethany

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