If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m almost always constantly on the go. (In fact, as you read this, I’m probably on a bus to NYC for the day.)
But there’s one place I’m not headed this year, and that’s Portland for the annual World Domination Summit. (Or WDS as it’s also known.)
Now before you get excited, this isn’t a post about why you should or shouldn’t attend this conference (or any other for that matter). It’s actually a post about understanding your own creative flow and limits.
You see, I’m not at WDS because I’ve placed a priority on NOT traveling in July. As a designer who travels frequently, I’ve learned the importance of blocking out some solid studio time. And as a creative entrepreneur (ok, workaholic) who’s always on the go, I’ve learned the importance of down time to my creative process.
And July is the month where those two needs (studio/design time plus serious down time) collide.
Two years ago, I did head out to WDS. And while I did have a lot of fun hanging out with my friends (and drinking my way through Oregon) I often found myself wishing I was back home in my studio. (Which is strange for a conference loving extrovert like myself.)
But I realize now it’s because July just needs to be one of those months I claim for me.
Because some of my biggest time/travel commitment (trade shows) are out of my control, I have to be strategic about carving out time in my schedule to be in the studio (and time for rest).
January, February, and August will always be trade show (and travel months) for me. And my habit of taking a big trip in March works really well with my schedule. Throw in miscellaneous travel and speaking and I’m left with keeping April for studio time, July for relaxing (and a little more studio time), and September for post-trade show, stay home and fill orders time.
Anytime I’ve made major commitments in those months, it’s just thrown me (and my business) out of whack.
(And just to be clear, I don’t consider today’s day trip to NYC “travel”. New York is actually where I go to clear my head and reset anytime I’m feeling off balance.)
So while I’ll be scoping out the WDS hashtag on Instagram this weekend, I won’t feel bad about not being there. It’s the smart decision for the health of my business.
What about you? Do you block out time for studio play, creative inspiration, and rest?
Wow! That’s quite a travel schedule. How do you create enough inventory with only three months in the studio? Does your assistant do most of the production?
On a weekly basis, I block out time for creative inspiration and rest. While I do have studio time, I’d like to adjust my schedule to have more uninterrupted studio play.
I’ve found that scheduling down time is the surest way to keep it from happening. (Scheduling ANYTHING for that matter) 😉 Instead I try to surf the ebbs and flows of what I feel like doing.
Sometimes I catch myself feeling really jazzed up about working on my website and then my inner adult tries to make me feel guilty and get me to make jewelry instead. When that happens, my outer child gently reminds me that there are plenty of times when all I want to do is make make make and so I should wait for those times and let me get the website work done while I actually feel like doing it. 😉 I think my intuition keeps track of what I should be doing better than my inner adult can. It can see the bigger picture more clearly.
I work an outside full-time job besides my business, so time management, rest, and creative time are never enough. Like everyone, I can use about 2 more hours in the day.
The summer months are when I make a lot of my product, as I work at a large public high school during the school year and July is my slowest sales month. I’m up at 5 a.m. to work on my website and I’m in my barn studio from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. By 4 p.m. my body is telling me it’s time for a break – I’m either sawing, painting or sanding so my work is strenuous.
But like Linda, I would love a few more hours each day.