how do you manage your "off" days?

[AerlumeJewelry]

I feel like I need to get more organized and start implementing tasks on certain days.

So my question today is what do your "off" days look like? By that I mean the days you aren't actually making your product what are you doing? Do you have a schedule of some sorts.
I just need help getting on track for promoting/marketing and basically using my time wisely when I'm not making my jewelry.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[heartsabustin]

Days I'm not actually making stuff are usually days for photographing and listing new items. I've got three shops, too, so what I'm working on depends kind of on my mood, what orders I've gotten in, and what needs to be done to finish certain projects.

I try to market as often as possible, whether I"m making stuff or not.

I also try to take days off where I don't do anything - usually on the weekends. It gives me a nice break.

[lemontoes]

I have been having similar thoughts to you at the moment Debra. I have been thinking about how to make sure when I am on Etsy I use my time wisely. I have started writing down what I need to do once I get on my computer so I know that it is not going to be time wasted. I am also trying to make sure that photography is done in batches, and not in bits and bobs. It can take almost as long to photograph one or two items as it does to photograph ten, as the majority of the time is taken by the setting up. I am working on my SEO at the moment, but have decided to just look at a couple of items at a time, so it doesn't become a chore.

I agree time off is important. I did a long stretch without recently, and found towards the end everything was taking longer. A day off would have probably not meant I got any less done!

[AerlumeJewelry]

I think thats what I need to do. Write down what needs to happen.
By nature, I am NOT an organized person but to own a successful business I believe that needs to change. I saw a simple dry erase board at office depot the other day and I thought I should really invest and just get one to write down times I should spend doing this, this, and that.
I am horrible about getting sucked into the black hole of the internet. I will spend hours looking at different things that may help me in some ways never focusing on one subject to help my business like promoting ideas or marketing ideas. I think if I had written out like this:
Mon 9-10am (check emails, check etsy, etc)
10-11 (Facebook, Pinterest, blog, etc)
...........and so on

I have been trying to leave weekends alone but now that I am not working I spend almost ALL my time focusing on my jewelry. Which isn't so bad right now but I think its needs to be more focused and organized. Wish me luck! Whew.

[Former_Member]

Right now I feel lots of pressure to get stuff photo-ed and listed. I've been putting in 10 hour days. I'm like that, you know: GO GO GO crash. I procrastinated starting my etsy store so long that I am blessed with plenty of product. I do take breaks frequently, like now, just to read and post.

Lizzie

[EliseVintageJewelry]

I don't have any time off. I have a full time job, and do my etsy part-time. So, I come home from work and go to my etsy job. The only times I'm not working on either job is when I'm playing tennis 4 times a week, going out for a walk several times a week, socializing with friends, or on a vacation. Otherwise it's work, work, work.

[hipposdream]

Same for me Elise but I see Etsy as truly time off..... just doing what I love , ...buying & selling vintage items.

[MyDistinctDesigns]

When I decide to have an "off" day, other than checking for convos and orders, I do not step foot in my studio. I find it helps to do that from time to time.

[philosophiacreations]

Well, photographing and marketing my products take up a huge amount of my time.

As I prepare for a move, I've taken some time away from creating (though I have a *lot* of product that still has to be photographed & listed)...

When I am not working on something pertaining to my jewelry making & Etsy shop, usually I am spending time with family, going for walks/spending time with nature... that kind of thing. Or reading.

[WiseLines]

I'm with Elise and Wendy, working my day job 10 hours, trying to grab a couple hours for etsy stuff. Weekends and 1 day during the week are pretty much 10-12 hour etsy days, full of all those things mentioned. But, since etsy isn't my day job, it is still "recess" and I enjoy the softer, lack of structure it has, so far! I do have to resist the urge to check my store traffic constantly, but I do love to hear that sweet "ka-ching" on my etsy email...