Do you shove your business receipts in a drawer? Is your art studio jammed with supplies in every corner and open spot? Do you always say that you’ll get to it later?
I have to admit I can be one of those disorganized people. I know where everything is—but every once in a while I know that my art studio looks like a hot mess to an outsider.
I also have to admit that I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions. In my heart of hearts I know that it’s hard to break bad habits, and you have to be fully committed. Instead, I set goals throughout the year, and I always make sure that I’m fully committed to reaching my goals.
So, even though it’s the beginning of the year and it might seem like a New Year’s resolution, I’m going to call it a goal to get more organized. Will you join me?
disorganization wastes time
If you’re looking for a way to get more done each day, then you need to focus on getting organized. When everything is where it should be you don’t waste time on finding things, trying to remember where you put something, or showing someone else where to find something.
Even those five minutes that you waste by removing the clutter from a table to package your products could be used differently. If you add up all the time that you waste from being disorganized, you might find that you could have made more products, uploaded your newest products to Etsy, or written a couple of blog posts.
start each day with a blank canvas
Instead of picking up as I go, I tend to do one big cleaning of my studio once a week or every other week. The feeling I get when I walk into my studio the day after I’ve cleaned makes my heart sing. Being able to reach for exactly what I need, finding things without wasting any time, and getting more done has pushed me to do things differently.
Think about how differently you work in a clean, organized space as opposed to a disorganized space. It’s different, right?
here’s the plan
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got lots of stuff—and I know it’s going to take me awhile to organize my space in a way that will help me stay organized all year. Instead of overwhelming myself, I’m focusing on cleaning out every corner, drawer, and box in and out of my art studio that contains art supplies. Each day I’ll spend 30 minutes on the job until it gets done.
Can you commit 30 minutes a day until your space is organized? This includes organizing your inventory, the way you keep all your tax information/receipts, and your packaging materials and area.
After it’s all organized, commit to picking up after finishing each project. Also, take 15 minutes at the end of each day to reorganize and clean anything that needs it. If you do this, you’ll stay organized during the next year and your business will definitely be better off for it.
April Bowles-Olin
April Bowles-Olin works with creative women to lead more fulfilling lives while they make money doing it. She also attempts to add a little prettiness to the world with her art and jewelry. You can learn more about her at Blacksburg Belle or connect with her on twitter @blacksburgbelle.
Image Credits
via audrey hepburn complex + via papernstich
