Do you set a schedule?

[EchidnaArtandCards]

Hi Everyone,

Wondering if any of you set a schedule whether daily or weekly, to dedicate time to creating, listing, treasuries, facebook, pinterest, etc. How much time and how often you do spend on each activity?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

Anita

[ALFAdesigns]

Unfortunately, the answer is No. The reason is there are some activities I love (making actual necklaces, making treasuries, participating in teams), and some activities I strongly dislike (doing SEO, editing pictures). Therefore, I am avoiding the latter and doing the former. Which, I am afraid, does not improve my shop. On the bright side, I am up to 212 necklaces now.

[PrayerNotes]

I do set a schedule! And, I try to follow it. It gives me more time to create. I have to set time for my SEO and marketing because I would never do it. The more time I spend on marketing, the more sales I make. I still don't like it, but I want to sell!

[Former_Member]

I wish I had a schedule! I need one terribly. I'm always late starting seasonal products and forget my record keeping. Terrible at organizing my time!

[Former_Member]

Yes, I do. I sit down every Sunday and loosely plot out my week. It often gets rearranged as the week moves along, but it helps keep me organized.

I use WorkFlowy.com to organize all my to do lists, and product production lists, etc. And then I schedule it all out in Google Calendar. Which I have it set to pop up on my computer, and email me, as well as send a notification to my phone. So if I'm supposed to be doing something, it reminds me!

I try to keep at least two full days every week to solely production time. If I ship every day, my production rhythm just never hits full stride, and I fall behind.

[ThePartyDeeva]

Yes I set a schedule especially during the week because I do have a day job as well so by 9:00 pm or earlier I am done in the craft room for the evening but I will answer emails after that time right up until I go to bed.

Weekends I am a bit more flexible with my schedule.

[ThePartyDeeva]

I also decided to make shipping days so that I wasn't running up to the post office or UPS every night after work. This has helped me a lot plan out my work schedule for this business. I know that on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays I am packing orders. Sundays are family day so no working on shop just answering email.

[Former_Member]

My two young children set my schedule! Usually if I can get them to take a nap at the same time I can work on the computer or solder but usually it's when they go to bed them I get to work. Thus last week I've been waking up at 2 am, which I've decided to stay taking advantage of and Htry to be productive and work.

[MarisolApostol]

I have a flexible set schedule, with computer work: marketing, promos, blogging, listing, etc, in the mornings when the family is out at school or work. Then in the afternoons and some evenings I work on my craft. But it all can be interrupted by family life at any given point.

[Babiease]

Everyday when my little boys are sleeping I fit in sewing, new listings, packaging, etc. It's always a race to see how much I can get done before my boys wake. :)

[Former_Member]

Lindsay - you got me onto the big calendars last year and I am totally hooked on those. I tried to use Workflowy but don't think I really got into it. I have a hard time typing things into a computer I need it in front of me. I never thought about google calendar though. Didn't know it can send to your phone.

[HAWKHOUSE]

I set a schedule everyday! I work two jobs and am trying to start this etsy thing. I'd never get anything done without a schedule! I just include one thing for etsy every day. I love to see things crossed off my list, so even elements that I find tedious (Listing items, fretting over keywords past my bedtime) have a happy ending.

[EchidnaArtandCards]

Thank you for sharing how you divide up your time! I guess everyone has a way that works for them. For me, I find weekends are family time and it would be impossible to do anything for 10 minutes straight without interruption with kids around anyway... Weekdays I find myself caught up with one activity and then I neglect the others. Perhaps I need to set some sort of a loose schedule to make sure I accomplish a few things at least.

[Former_Member]

I need to and I need to set up sort of shop hours as I have to get other stuff done also

[Former_Member]

No, I get up with good intentions, but there are too many distractions

[Former_Member]

Officially no but I do generally alternate what I'm working on from day to day. If I finished creating something one day I usually lost it the next and then promote the next day and so goes the cycle. The good news is that tomorrow is a create day for me :-)

[ShadyLaneDesignz]

No, I probably should, but I don't. I work full time outside the home and have 2 teenagers, 2 dogs and a hubby so I just work on my craft when I get the time. I really need to schedule a cleaning of my house more than anything! But nice to see that others are so disciplined!

[JarringImpact]

I'm doing the SAHM thing so I just work when I get free time from the little guy.

[Former_Member]

No, I don't have a formal schedule, but am trying to incorporate one into my week. I hadn't thought about using my google calendar for my Etsy things, though I regularly use it for family things. Thanks for the idea, Lindsay!

[MangoTreeCreations]

I really admire you gals with jobs and families and how you balance everything! I'm "retired" and don't have family living with me any longer so my time is my own. I check Etsy the first thing in the morning and do any follow-ups. After I get my house in order I start sewing or listing or mailing or whatever. Or not! Etsy is such a great venue for all of us, no matter what our stage in life.

[Former_Member]

No schedule here for me either. My children set my schedule! When they are sleeping is when I work. :)

[Untwistedsister]

I love what I do but my creativity just doesn't turn on light a light switch so I try to keep up with everything else so that I am free when the bug bites. I'm obsessive about customer service and that often dictates my schedule.

[ohmyclumsyheart]

I don't make a rigid schedule but I do plan.
I prioritise and plan for deadlines.
If I don't, I find my mind wanders and I don't get as much done.

[FlosCaeli]

That sounds like a great idea to have a shedule :-) I have day job and kind of lack of creating things lately. Maybe if I set goals to myself I'll improve my shop.Thanks for the idea :-)

[Former_Member]

Very definitely, yes! It's still evolving. I have a daily, weekly and monthly schedule with time limits.

Daily: check and tweak shop; respond to customer inquiries; check forum and teams for news (30 minutes a day tops); until it is up and running, work on new website (1-2 hrs).

Weekly: work on designs and budget; shop for fabric; cut all fabric for new items to make and list; only sewing certain days of the week--nothing else; load items to marketing sites that bring in traffic; track accomplishments and areas needing improvement; after Sunday School, have coffee with an artist friend where we exchange tons of info on art, running a business and resources.

Monthly: take myself to breakfast and have a monthly status meeting with myself; take the rest of the morning going to places to clear my mind, get inspiration or just sit in the library reading or paging through magazines.

I do lots of made to order and for multiple items. If I can't fit an order into my daily/weekly schedule, it moves to priority and rearrange my schedule. And somehow I try to squeeze in free night classes on running a business, art and hope to take one on how to taking photos.

Of course, this doesn't include housework, dishes, laundry, take the trash out, etc. Things I HATE, HATE to do!

Well, my time is up for here:) Have a great day!