TIPS ON BALANCING EVERYTHING!

[Former_Member]

Let's continue the great tips everyone was giving before!

[secondarycreations]

It helps me if someone knows what my goals are - for example, "I'm going to finish my taxes this weekend." If I know someone's going to ask about it, I'm much more likely to do it. That might be something we can do for each other.

[Former_Member]

hahaha so do i creations!!! i tell my bf all the time what im doing to make sure that someone expects me to get that list of things done

[Former_Member]

One key tip for me is write paper to-do lists, not electrical ones! Electrical ones are too easily edited with a quick swipe of the backspace button... I need to physically see what I wanted to do, and if I decide to delay something and so scribble it out, I need to see that I've done it!

[MissCreative]

I am also a to do list person paper to do lists
Also I try to balance my time by writing a schedule of daily events things that have to be done and things that I would like to get done then
I Prioritize my schedule at the end of the day when I can see that I got things checked off it makes me happy and I feel as though I have accomplished something:)

[Former_Member]

I wish a list would work for me. Choas is my life and it works for me. Fly by the seat of my pants. Whatever I feel like doing that day that's what gets done.
I do set daily goals for myself. I've tried the list it never gets done..lol I do have a white board that I write stuff on.
My biggest problem is I get overwhelmed with all my ideas and I don't know what to do first. So I will sit down and sketch stuff out.
So I guess in the end I do make a list. It's just a drawing list instead.

[Former_Member]

I don't have a set schedule to anything in particular except for bead making, I have one day a week where I turn the kiln on and I make beads for 3-5 hours that day. That's a must. The jewelry, I make when I can, but when I sit down to make jewelry, I am usually very productive and I have been doing it long enough that if I am making simple things like earrings or wire wrapped bracelets I am pretty quick. The beaded stuff obviously takes a bit longer lol.

[Former_Member]

i thought id post these wonderful tips from mslogica... she posted them in the forum thread and I thought I'd put them here too! :)

I work full-time in a "proper" job, and study part-time and run an Etsy shop, like lots of folk here. I only launched my shop in November so I don't have as much experience as lots of you do, but here are my thoughts:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MSLOGICA SAID:

- Android phones are the best invention ever for keeping on top of tasks in those little gaps of time you get.

- Use Excel! I manage my income and expenditures on a spreadsheet and have done since hit go. I read around a lot on the issue of running a small business and so many people regret not managing their accounts at the beginning and then have a manic session when the taxman comes knocking. A stitch in time saves nine, as they say!

- Lots of people have mentioned photographing items in batches, editing in patches, posting in batches, etc. As an extension to that, I do all my website photography at the same time, just so that I don't end up having to snap Etsy photos and then having to get my camera out again a day later to do blog photos.

- I try to do "big" jobs at the weekend. I don't have the space to leave my sewing machine out all the time (I dream of the days when I do), and since my machine is old it's very heavy! I thus try to do things that don't involve using it during the week, and saving those tasks for the weekend when I have a bit more time.

- I price my items as I go, so that I know all the fundamentals when I come round to listing. For me, this means that I have a notebook where I keep information on each item I'm working on (a page per item), and on it I log the materials used (their cost, any brand names), everytime I spend some time on it (I measure my time in 15min intervals) and any problems I come across (hopefully with a solution). When it's finished, I just need to add all the numbers up and that's the pricing and key stats sorted!

- I have a month-to-view calendar in my Filofax which is specifically used for my shop. In it, I plan my schedule for blog posts, treasuries I'd like to do, items I want to list to try and make sure that I'm fairly constant with new content. I also keep a list of blog ideas, shop ideas, item ideas, ideas for treasury titles, and I can add to this as inspiration strikes. Hopefully saving time further down the road!

The main issue for me really is just finding the time to actually sit down and make something, but I'll find balance eventually!

I hope my tips help someone. :-)

[Former_Member]

now ALL calendars are on clearance... you can get them for like a buck...

i have a calendar per room so i am always aware of what needs to get done!

[Former_Member]

Does anyone else have the problem of balancing home life/craft projects? I'm guilty...

Sometimes when I'm in the throes of life-things (weddings, visits with family, cleaning the house, etc.) I get way behind in crafting and accidentally (carelessly) keep people waiting on new items, or take a day longer to ship than normal.

Conversely, when I'm up in the attic epoxy-ing away sometimes the house falls to bits.

One way I'm going to keep myself balanced this week/weekend is set aside three hours to clean up the main rooms in the house. Amazing what you can get done in very little time! Seriously, it looks like a crafting/mailbox/ice cream bomb went off in the living room.

[secondarycreations]

littleeyedesigns - I always have that problem, but 90% of the time it's the apartment that takes the back seat to the crafting.

What I always *plan* to do is stop after each project (whether it's making something, taking photos, etc.) and clean for about 20 minutes. There are lots of little jobs that could get done in that time. But it's always a *plan* rather than a reality.

[Former_Member]

i always have a cleaning problem/house chores.

I use the weekends for everything that i lose time with on the week. So during the week i will let the place go to crap... no dishes, no cleaning, no laundry. Just work and crafts. On the weekend i photograph, clean, and do these misc. things saturday.

the down side... i dont sleep in saturdays or sundays anymore...
its a little depressing

but crafting is fun for me so that makes it better

[Former_Member]

I remember the days when I use to sleep in late during the weekends. Now if I'm not out of bed by 8:30 am I feel like I've wasted half of my day lol!

[Former_Member]

Oy! Yes -- Saturday is a good catch-up day for me, too, but this last Saturday, coming Saturday and the one following it I've picked up shifts at the coffee shop. Woops :) Good to hear I'm not alone - like the idea of cleaning for 20 minutes after finishing something... now I just gotta start finishing my projects!

[PlumPatchwork]

My best tip for keeping the house clean (I have to - Mr. Plum is slightly OCD about it) is living with someone who is slightly OCD.
Kidding.
I've learned to be a bit more mindful about investing 10 seconds in keeping things from getting too messy. After I wash my face in the morning, I use the damp washcloth to wipe down the counter before putting it in the dirty laundry. When I cook, dirty dishes and gadgets go straight into the dishwasher. If I have to go upstairs for something, I look for something laying out that needs to go up. It helps, some.

I've also learned to keep a backup supply of things. I keep extra toiletries in a plastic storage bin. So when I pull the backup toothpaste out of the bin, I add it to my shopping list. It's saved me *many* trips to the store for one item. I used to run to Target at least 3 times a week. (And somehow I can't go in that store without spending at least $40).
This thread is great, let's keep the tips coming!

[Former_Member]

Oh yes, unfortunately something always gets put on the back burner. I try not to let anything sit on the back burner for too long, though...then when you finally do deal with it, it has become this overwhelming task. We're trying to sell our house right now too, so we have to be pretty diligent about keeping it tidy.

I totally agree with plumpatchwork about investing 10 seconds here and there to keep things from getting messy. I try to make little cleaning tasks part of my daily routine. Like as soon as I get out of bed, I make it. Before I go downstairs, I make sure everything is tidy upstairs. Put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher as soon as I'm done with them. That sort of thing.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting my thoughts, teener1416.

I must say I'm rubbish with cleaning! I'm supposed to do it on a Saturday afternoon (I like cleaning so it's not a chore, and I'm sure the exercise whilst vacuuming is probably good for me!) but so often lately I'm like "oh it can wait a while longer".

[Former_Member]

im the same way! this morning i got up a little early so i took pictures of my cards for my other shop www.allthingseclectic.etsy.com and i will be listing today. which gives me more time tomorrow to clean

i hope i actually do clean some!