My Secrets to Getting it all Done
Are you ready for this? Here is the answer to how I get everything done:
I don’t.
What thoughts are going through your head when you read that?
Are you annoyed because you were hoping for the next best productivity hack so that you can conquer the world? Are you confused because you clicked on a blog post that apparently isn’t going to answer your burning questions? Or are you amused because your first response was “duh, it’s impossible to get everything done Jesse.”
The truth is that I definitely don’t get everything done. In fact, I think I add things to my To-Do list faster than I actually take things off. Can you relate?
What you see on Instagram.
I was having tea with a girlfriend recently and she asked me how I seemed to be getting so much done. On the outside it looks like I have a job I enjoy, a strong relationship with my husband, passions like cycling and rock climbing, and now I’m venturing into an “art business.” It made me think about how people perceive our lives versus how we feel we are actually living them.
I’m not sure exactly what I said to my friend, but it was something self-deprecating about how she didn’t see when I was crying on my couch from the overwhelm of life.
I don’t get everything done. I’m just trying to get something done and trying (but not always succeeding) to give myself a little bit of grace when I don’t.
I have ambitions, don’t get me wrong. My goal is to have a business where I set my own rules, control how I spend my time, and can support myself and my family financially. What that business actually entails is a bit of an enigma to be honest. But that’s ok. I might not get to that place for 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years, and I have a feeling once I get there, I’ll notice that “the end goal” has actually changed.
I know that I am a productive person when I want to be. I like to-do lists, a good paper planner, and checking boxes. This year, I am being very specific about what my priorities are and what I am trying to accomplish.
Those goals include:
What reality looks like.
Make art consistently. For me that looks like 1-2 nights during the week and a maybe few hours on the weekend.
Write consistently. For me, this is spending 1 night a week focused on writing. Writing includes blog posts, newsletters, and social media content.
Build my newsletter list (if you aren’t receiving it yet, you can sign up here).
Selling something. I’m honestly not sure what this looks like. If you have thoughts, leave me a comment or send me a DM on Instagram.
These goals feel really big, but this year I have some space in my life to focus on my art.
Space I have created by:
Changing jobs in 2021 and returning to the museum field. It has been a true joy to be back in museums, but more importantly, this job allows for a little more work life harmony than I had previously.
My husband and I are on opposite schedules at the moment, which allows me a few evenings a week where I can focus on painting, working on my website, or blogging.
The weather is only just starting to turn nice, which means I am not spending as much time on other hobbies I enjoy like hiking, camping, and most important to me, cycling. Soon that will change and I’ll have to reevaluate how I spend my time.
I also don’t have these things:
I don’t have kids.
I don’t have a house or a yard.
I don’t have a pet.
I don’t live near my family.
I don’t have a crazy social life; I have a small group of close friends.
The above items are not good or bad choices, they’re just mine. I also recognize that I have a lot of privilege:
I am white.
I am college educated.
I am employed.
I am in a stable and supportive relationship.
I have a loving and supportive friend and family group.
My actual planner. I started using a Happy Planner and it has really changed how I plan.
Instead of trying to get everything done, I’m just trying to get the next thing done. Sometimes that next thing is really small, like using Canva to create an image to promote my blog post. Sometimes it’s something that feels really big like launching this website and blog back in January. Sometimes it’s something that feels like it takes courage, like texting an acquaintance who has a creative business and asking them to coffee.
I also use my planner for everything. I have the mindset of if it isn’t written down and scheduled then it isn’t going to happen. I might move that to-do item from one month to the next month, but I am 100x more likely to actually get that task done eventually if I write it down.
I know this isn’t novel advice. I have read lots of books, listened to lots of podcasts, and have had lots of conversations with people to come to this somewhat obvious conclusion. Each time I work on my “next thing,” I get a little closer to my accomplishing my goals.
I’m also giving myself permission to skip my next thing from time to time. Sometimes I’d rather watch a movie with my husband on the couch on the random night we are both at home or take advantage of a warm sunny spring day to ride my bike. I also have nights when I give into the overwhelm. Seriously, who doesn’t? When that happens, I sit on my couch with a glass of wine and watch Frozen for the millionth time.
What’s your next thing this week?