I Shouldn't Complain....

Stars Chain Link Necklace

I've had a lot of things on my mind that I want to work on for my store(s), especially with Saturday Market season coming up! Only problem has been that they've all been in my mind, and I haven't written anything down. This produces a irrational panic and feeling of being completely overwhelmed because I don't really know what needs to get done! So this evening I finally sat down and made a list.

I'm still a little overwhelmed.

Right now there are 7 things on that list, several of which are going to take me a good amount of time. I used the sticky notes feature on my desktop to create my list so it's easy to find, easy to add to, and easy to delete from. I think that's one reason I hadn't written things down before, it's going to take a least a couple of weeks to get through it all (with the way my health goes) and that's a long time for me to keep a piece of paper without losing it!

So here I am, a little overwhelmed, but feeling focused and ready to get started on my projects :) And I really shouldn't complain - because this is what it means to be building a small business!

Time Management - Don't Forget to Take Care of Yourself!

This is my last post, for now, on the Time Management series! I'll be returning to the promotions series sometime in the next day or two. 

I've been amazed, as I've worked on this series, how appropriate the timing has been for me, as well as many other people!  A lot of my etsy friends have commented that it's really giving them the ideas or the push that they need, and there's nothing better that I could hear! I'm glad that my work can help you guys out, even in small ways :) 

For me, it's been a helpful reminder as I deal with life being hectic.  Not only are we headed into the holidays, I have a lot on my plate with my personal life.  I've found that, since I started making my to-do lists again, I'm getting a LOT more done! It's still frustrating at times as my health likes to throw a wrench into the works, but with my lists I'm staying pretty on top of things for the first time in awhile :)

One thing that I've realized is very important, and I mentioned this in an earlier post, is to remember to take time for yourself.   What that means is probably different for each of us.  It could be snuggling up by the fire with a book and a cup of tea, or taking a nice hot bath, or even just taking a few minutes to enter a contest! Whatever it is, don't forget to carve out a least a few minutes each day that are just for you, doing something for you! You'll thank yourself :)

Want something fun to do? Go enter this AWESOME soap giveaway that A Good Witch Too is doing - you could win 6 months of soap to wash the wicked away with!  Here's just one of the lovely soaps she has in her shop - isn't it tempting?

Cuban Coffee Bean

Time Management - What You Have To Say Part 4!

When I started doing this segment on Time Management I just thought it was a natural branch off of the Promotions series that I was doing (which I will return too!).  As I've read your responses and thought more about it myself I've realized that its the perfect time of the year to be thinking about time management!  We're all headed into the Christmas season.  A time of year that's busy for anybody, but even more so for on-line sellers!  I hope the tips that I'm passing on from other etsy sellers are helping you as your headed into this busy season.  Here's another set of tips - from you guys!


New Orleans Tiles said: Read the book Getting Things Done

Originally, I read it for my day job, and it made me extremely more productive (I consider myself to be pretty organized anyway, but this book launched me over the top).

The book literally changed my life. Made me extremely more productive inside and outside of work.

Here's a link

http://www.davidco.com/store/catalog/Getting-Things-Done-Paperback-p-16175.php



The Jump Off said: Well, I work a full time job in the medical records dept of the hospital. I'm a
single mom of 3, and then my two shops on Etsy :D My day is pretty much like this:

~5am - email, blog, promo threads, etc
~6-7am kids up ready for school (big time saver - the kids eat breakfast at school)
~then from 8-4:30 I'm at work
~until 6 post office, grocery store, fabric store
~until 7-7:30 homework while im cooking and eating.
~8 while the kids get baths I'm back online
~9 Kids in bed so I work on orders until 11 then from 11-12 I pkg and address and get everything ready to walk out the door - I put all pkgs and book bags in the car.

NO CLEANING OR LAUNDRY DURING THE WEEK

On weekends I'm up early, walk the dog and I carry a note pad with me for sketches and ideas while my brain is fresh. Come in and clean hard for 2-3 hours. I Try to be sewing by 11 am. (Another time saver - the kids fix their own breakfast, either cereal or oatmeal) On weekends I try to work on new ideas. Usually I stop at 1-2 and we go get lunch and chill for a while then come home and hit it again heavy. I stop at around 7 and cook dinner. Then I sew all night - the kids stay up and just sleep where they fall - LOL! Sunday is spent cutting things out b/c I can do it from the bed - I watch TV all day Sunday during football season and I can put my cutting mat on my bed and cut out while I'm chillin in my Pjs all day!

My big thing is - this is my schedule but if something happens I don't freak out or stress out - just decide I'm off schedule and that's that - no worries! Deal with the issue at hand and get back on tomorrow. :D


The Pumpkinhaus said: I have a fixed schedule that really centers around homeschooling my 5 year old daughter. I have also set up my house so that I am able to be with my children (5 and 1) while I am creating for my shop, packing up orders and answering convos. My mind is constantly making lists, I am very much a list person. A mental list person, once I write it down, it loses something for me.

I also put supplies in "like" piles or bins. So that everything for one project is together. That way, when I go somewhere, I always take my project basket. I never, ever leave the house without something to do. I knit, embroider, cut fabric everywhere. I was this way long before etsy, I have just kicked it up a notch or two in the last year!

Time Management Series - What YOU Have To Say Part 3

Continuing on with our Time Management Series - here's more of what YOU had to say! For anyone who hasn't been following along, these quotes are taken from a forum thread that I did a little while ago on the topic :)



Little Odd Me said: Because I have product that can be replicated (photographs) and I do markets as well, keeping on top of my inventory item by item is crucial. I need to know what is selling, how much of it has sold, and whether I need to order more soon. This is extra important coming up to this rush season. Being disciplined to mark each item down at least on a sell-sheet as I sell it is crucial. It saves me a ton of time.

Being organized. All those photos in my stock inventory have their place. I set myself an aim of being able to set my fingertips on any one of my stock items within one minute of recieving an order if I am at home, and thirty seconds at a market/fair.

Changing my time management with the seasons. I have several hundred pieces of packaging ready to go for the year end. I did them during my slower summer months.

My natural rhythm is to do a bit of everything, so I will often set a playlist of songs up on the computer to run for half an hour or an hour. I set up my list of tasks and set a goal to try and accomplish before the end of the song. Then I move on to something else with each new song until my tasks are completed. (Speaking of which, the song is nearly done, so I need to get onto packaging some orders for posting tomorrow!)



virtuallori said:Count me in with the meticulous list makers and timer users.

I live by my calendar, which also contains (most of) my to-do lists. I have to write it down, pen on paper, so it's in front of me. I should mention that I have a full-time freelance editing and project management business in addition to my jewelry business, so time juggling has become an art for me.

I usually start the week by taking a few minutes to review everything that *must* get done that week, those things I would *like* to get done that week, and other things. I make a general plan for how I will spread out the musts over the week. I tend to leave the likes and the others loose, to fit in when I can. Some things have to be done on certain days or within certain time frames, so they get written in on the calendar on the appropriate day, regardless of their priority. (If it's low priority and doesn't get done, so be it.) I do a mini version of this each day, looking at what needs to get done and making a plan for how I will approach the day. It doesn't always work out that way, but it sets me on the right path.

I also make supplementary to-do lists for long-term goals and piddly things that pop into my head while I'm doing other things. I keep a spiral notebook on my desk to capture these. I'll break them down and move them onto the calendar when appropriate.

I use timers, too, although sometimes the "timer" is the amount of time it takes the water to boil or a batch of pendants to etch or some other naturally occurring interval. The studio is a mess, so see what I can do with it in the time between my cousin calling to say she's on her way over and when she gets here.

The most important piece of advice I have for someone wanting to get a better grip on their time is to break larger projects into smaller chunks, then work through the chunks systematically. "Prepare for next month's show" is not a doable to-do. By breaking that into "make price tags," "order new business cards," and so on, you've created manageable to-dos that you can accomplish in short bursts of time. If I write "edit 400-page book" on my list for this week, I'll be overwhelmed, but if I write "edit chapter 1" on Monday, "edit chapter 2" on Tuesday, etc., it's easier to handle and I feel I'm making more progress.


Summers Studio Etc said: I make a yearly long term goal list, break that into months, and then schedule each week day by day. I used to do project management and this works for me. And I love making lists, I even put things on the list that are already done just to get the satisfaction out of crossing it off. Oh and this is not as rigid as it sounds. It is really more of a framework that keeps me on task. When the long term goals go out of whack I make little adjustments. Its a pretty fluid process.

Time Management - What YOU have to say!

Ok, you've heard my top two ideas on time management, writing up a promotions plan, and to-do lists, so now it's time to hear from other people! I had a thread going in the forum on time management and I got some tremendous feedback! So instead of trying to re-write what everyone else said, I'm just going to let you hear from these great artists :) And...I'm going to show off some of their work at the same time! Because I love showcasing other artists :) So here goes! Click on the picture to view the listing :)

Pixiebell said: One VERY big time saver, for me, is a subscription to stamps.com! I have several international sales a month. My post office is ridiculous in the winter months, due to being overrun with snowbirds in our community. I used to spend 45 minutes in line a couple times a week just to mail off those parcels. Now, I can print first class international postage from home, complete with custom information.

No more post office, ever! Saves me time, saves my sanity, gives me more time to create!

D'Elle Jewelry said: I'm cleaning up when starting my uber slow computer, doing small tasks in between. I'm also an ai technician so while waiting for the next client I do bits and things in between.

I also think buying in bulk is time management and stress relief.

But biggest thing is not spending to much time on forums, something I just can't teach myself.

Unique Commodities said: Well.. I can tell you what I am SUPPOSED to be doing regarding time mgmt though I can honestly say I have not followed this in a while.

1. Initially I sat down and wrote out a business plan that incorporated my personal life, sent it to a couple of mentors & got their feed back. Based on that I came up with a specific schedule and plan . One of my favorite quotes is “You must work your plan if you truly plan for it to work”.


2. Based on my own personal lifestyle and schedule, I decided on the below schedule

Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays – For three hours each day - Promote, Promote, Promote myself and others! Communicate on Blogs, Twitter, team forums only. Follow up on any inquiries and outstanding orders to be processed; create one jewelry item even if it is only one pair of earrings

Wednesdays – OFF DAY – Only communicate on team forums, blog and twitter if I have time

Fridays – Hang out with my friends! Have fun! Relax!

Saturdays – For 3 to 5 hours, create 3 to 5 pieces and photograph creations; Post on Etsy if time left
Sundays – Church in the morning, After 4 pm and for no more than 3 hours, Create 1 to 2 pieces , photograph remaining creations; Post on Etsy


A few things that I do to help me stay on track with my schedule are

I write a list of 6 most important things to do today.
Then I prioritize that list with 1 being the most important.
I oftentimes don't get all six items done but those items become my priority for the next day.
I generally have someone to hold me accountable to my plan...to ask how is it going so I can stay on track.

Paper Displays of Affections said:
Ways I keep sane:
make to-do lists (know my priorities!)
fold origami while waiting in line/on the train so assembly goes faster later at home
have standard packaging and weights
print labels off paypal (no lines at the post office!)
keep a list of ideas so I know what to make even if I don't feel creative

Jen's Closet said:The simplest idea, but it works for me! I put the timer on for 20-25 minutes, I cannot go near the computer during that time, or do any Etsy related stuff-just cleaning or whatever, then I can take a break, for whatever amount of time, like 10 minutes, and can do whatever I want. I'll keep that up and before I know it, I have a lot done!

Head Bitch in Charge said: So glad to hear Im not the only one with a time management problem!

One thing I am very good at is limiting my time online. I must be off by 10am. If I have a lot to do or want to mess around longer I just get up earlier.

I'm not very good about following my own rules so I must allow for flexibility. I try to work in solid 3 hour blocks. That way if I feel the siren song of something else pulling my attention away, I can just look at the clock and tell myself I only have an hour and a half left.
So roughly my schedule is 8-10am online, 10-1 work, take and hour or so for lunch, errands, and puttering. Work another 3 hours and its time to stop for dog walk and dinner.
I often have high hopes of working after dinner but I rarely do, so I don't count on it.
Work with your natural rhythms and optimize your schedule around it.

Time Management - Using To-Do Lists

I sat down to start working on this blog - and realized that I hadn't done my to do list for today! Now, granted, it's Sunday and I usually take the day a little easier than other days of the week, but still, I'm slacking! So I stopped and wrote that up before I went any farther working on this blog. It doesn't do me any any good to talk to you guys about using to do lists as a time management technique if I'm not following my own advice after all!

My personal view of to-do lists is that they are an extension of your daily planner. For some of you this might mean you jot down a few things that you really need to get done right there in your planner, for some of us this is something far more extensive!

I don't know about you, but I have a lot of things I'm juggling every day. Paperwork, part time job, a million and one things etsy related, friends and family, and more! My planner alone just doesn't cut it. My planner helps me with seeing the big picture, remembering what day I had planned on focusing on what promotional technique, appointments, and anything else that's scheduled ahead of time. That's step one.

Step two is to expand from my planner and create that day's "to-do" lists. Yes, I said lists! Now that may just be my own weird way of organizing it, but I have two lists that I write every day! My first list is my "real life" list. That has any appointments that were in my planner, any bills or other paper work I need to take care of that day, house chores, anything like that. The second list is my "etsy and fun" list. I put down everything that I do daily, and anything that I want to get done that day specifically.

Usually my lists get created some time in the morning as I wake up. I usually have the fun of crossing one or two of my "daily" things off as I write them on the list :) So why do I write them down? I love the satisfaction of seeing something's been done! It also helps when I look back over my day and I can see all that I've done, even the things that got added to the list after the fact. It helps me keep things in perspective.

One of the important steps to creating each day's to-do list is to check the lists from the day before. Anything that didn't get done the day before MUST be transferred to the new list! Unless I know there's no way I'm going to get it done that day - and then I start the next day's list early. Yes, I know, I'm drowning in lists! But it keeps my head screwed on straight.

Do you have to use my system for lists? Do you have to write down every little thing like I do? Certainly not. Do what works for YOU. Here's some other ideas:

1. Write one to do list for the week and post it near your work station. List major goals. Cross them off as you go.

2. Jot quick notes of what you want to get done that day in your planner - if there's not enough space use a sticky-note!

3. Use a white-board! Then you can simply erase what you've accomplishd, your being eco-friendly, and you get to watch your list SHRINK!

Would you like someone else perspective on to-do lists? Great! Because I have one :) This is what Mary Richmond had to say about her approach to to-do lists:

"I am a big believer in prioritizing my todo list....I put the most important thing I have to do that day first on my list--even if it is onerous and I don't really want to do it ;-)

So my list looks like this

~ must absolutely no foolin around, must really, reallydo today

~ should do today or i'll be behind or someone will be unhappy

~ would like to do today because i wanna do it

~ if there's time to do this today that would be cool

~ doesn't have to be done today but should be thinking about it

At the beginning of the week I make a master list, I write everything in under different days and then I prioritize each day. this only takes a few minutes but I let the master list build over the previous week...I just add notes, etc. as I go along

As for promoting? Be realistic. are you getting results? What will get you better results? Look at what you're doing and do what works best...."

BOTTOM LINE: Yes, to-do lists can seem tedious and they do take time to make. However, if you find that your not being as productive as you'd like, this is a great way to get yourself back on track! You'd be amazed at how much you can get done when you just have a plan :)

Do you have a system that works for you that's not listed here? Tell us about it in the comments!