Practical Ways to Getting Things Done
Ever feel overwhelmed with never-ending to-do lists? Or maybe your mind is running endlessly thinking about the things that need to get done, and you feel like you just don't have enough time? Or maybe you have more ideas popping throughout your head and you need a way to get them out. This happens to me very often, and I must say getting my tasks done, so that I can enjoy the little things and other activities I am involved in all start with a to-do list. I live by to-do lists. I write them out when I feel overwhelmed, when I have to get my groceries and when ideas start flowing. It helps in seeing a visual aide of what I need to do. Sometimes, I will go back and list them with higher importance, or list them in ways to complete them faster. Not a to-do list person? What about using a calendar to list out what is on your mind or that needs to be completed?
A calendar also helps in having a visual aide to see what needs to be done. Often times I like to use google calendar. When I had an android phone I could put a short cut that displayed my 'events' for the day. Maybe you like to use apps? You can use apps like Wunderlist or any.do to have them right at your hand. you can even set alarms to go off to help you remember them. I will also recommend evernote. This is personally my favorite. It doubles as a work space (typically where I do my preliminary writing and note taking) and you can have a task list and set alarms. I enjoy the Evernote app because it allows you to sync this to all your devices and even log on from a home computer. I would suggest that any app that you do end up using, that you stick to just one. It will help when you need to go back and reflect on whats been completed, or what needs to still be crossed, or checked as done.
Everyday I make a written to-do list and when its crunch time, I sometimes record how long it takes me to complete a task. I like to use my time efficiently as it is something we can never get more of, only use accordingly. So lets recap to practical ways for you to get things done:
- Make a hand written to do list.
- Use a calendar to sort out what needs to get done.
- Attached to your mobile device? Use a timer or alarm for reminders.
- Use an app, such as Anydo, Wunderlist, or Evernote.
In all, after making the list, its important to take action. I keep my lists and at the end of the week I see where I can improve on getting things that should not have taken an hour, or more time than they should have. This helps me analyze and see if it should be higher on my to do list. Completing one task leads to the next, it also gives a feeling of accomplishment. So, what are some things that you struggle with getting done? Are there any ways you've tried to other than the ways I've listed above? Share with me in the comments below.
Setting Routines
Let me start off by saying I had a full to-do list for today. I knew ahead of time that I wouldn't get through everything that was on there. While the day isn't over and I still have time to get a few things done, I am not completely disappointed in myself. I know I tried my hardest to complete everything on my list.
With that I think its important to set routines. I am in the beginning stages of learning lettering, and i think it's important to have a routine. I don't have my office or "designated" workspace area, but I take over the dining room table for about two hours. My set-up includes my laptop, either coffee or tea, coupled with a bottle of water, my tools and light Table and my binder that has my work in it. I set up my letters on a grid paper and I have the reference letter on a printed paper. From there, I set up a timer for 90 min on my iPhone and get focused to practice my lettering. I have a day job and I am using the overlap technique, so I make time to practice during the week, and weekends its very easy for me to have a block of time to set up and get going. Here's what my weekday schedules look like: Monday thru Wednesday I wake up between 4:40 am - 5:00 am, go to the gym and do cardio for 45 min, shower get dressed and heat up my car. From 6:00 to 6:40/645 I am on a devotional morning call with two other lovely women. and by 6:50/no later than 7:15 I am on the parkway headed to work. I arrive between 7:30/7:45 and make the first batch of coffee for everyone and then get started on my EWDW. I will write anywhere from thirty minuets to an hour and when I through with writing, I will begin checking my emails. If I have a task that was already sent to me I will get started on it, if not I will read some articles so that I can get familiar with the line of work. I usually have my phone logged into the community and I would get caught up with the backlog. when the day job work is over, I drive home which can take anywhere from 30 min on a good day to an hour, sometimes longer. I am usually home by 6 pm. I get home but if I didn't make it to the gym that morning that's where I will go first. then go home and eat dinner. set up my lettering and get started and going for two hours. I am in bed by 9 pm. If I need a late day, the latest I can go to bed is 11pm. I've used this app called sleepytime where you can put in the time you want to get up and it will tell you the best time to go to sleep for a full nights rest. I also use another app where it gives you information on the average amount of hours you sleep. my average amount of hours of sleep is 5 1/2 hours. i try to get more hours but my body seems to do what it wants. I also toss and turn a lot. I am going to look for more information on ways to get a full nights rest. While this schedule adapts from time to time, I find it best to use something like google calendar to schedule my events. It allows for both visual and sharable scheduling. I am open to trying other apps, so far google calendar works fine.
What are some things you struggle with when it comes to time, scheduling and finding balance?
How it all started:
Since this blog is about chronicling my journey, I figure I should take a step back and tell you more about where my interest grew in lettering.
While I was attending Rochester Institute of Technology, I needed a way to de-stress from all the other heavy courses I was taking at the time. It was the dead middle of winter and my studio courses were very intense, lasting from 4 hours twice a week and still having to put in more time to complete the assignment courses. My friend decided to sign up for a calligraphy class and suggested I join. I came to one class and felt like I was learning the alphabets all over again.
Though calligraphy is different in many cases the foundations such as thick and thins, spacing and composition share the same principles. At times I thought it was very silly to want to sit and draw letters with a nib pen, and we practiced for a good two weeks before we moved went into the next steps in making projects and beautiful signs for businesses.
This class met once a week for about an hour and I found myself wanting to learn more, so I took the second half of the course the following semester, where hand lettering was introduced. My professor began to show us how to get involved in making signage for local shops and banners, however By this time I was in my senior year, and my focus began to shift on simply getting out of school. I was a super senior (5 years in) and wanted to move back to Jersey where the weather didn't change every hour and the snow didn't come up to my knees.
I eventually lost the momentum on focusing on lettering and calligraphy but I did keep all the resources. Sometime in 2013 I began to dabble again and started to look for more resources focusing on hand lettering. There were very few books and I still have some in my wish list from amazon, but I stumbled on Sean McCabe's free resource guide and began making time to practice.
My practice sessions are usually after hours from my day job and on the weekends. During the week I try to set aside at least thirty minuets a day and on the weekend anywhere from 2 - 4 hours at a time with mini breaks in between. While I practice my lettering, I am either listening to music, or a podcast, or an audio book. I've learned to use my time wisely, as it is something you cannot get back. I use a calendar for my day-to-day activities. and make a daily to do list.
Where are you in your journey and how did you get started?
Tools I am currently using
As this journey with this passion project continues to grow, I am exploring tools for lettering. The Staedtler Lead holder (HB Lead) - This is taking me a bit to get accustomed to, as its slightly has more weight than normal pencils.
Tombow Mono Zero Eraser - allows me to erase between very thin lines with out needing additional tools.
Ticonderoga No. 2 HB - Smooth, and reminds me of when I was in Elementary school
Click 5.0 lead pencil with #2HB lead. A quick tool to run to when the Steadtler is feeling too heavy.
I also have a Artograph light table for when I'd like to practice muscle memory by tracing.
I use regular printing paper, and my printer has options for several types of grids. I use the smallest spacing setting available. I've recreated one in Adobe Illustrator, but you can also use these.
As a reminder I am still very much in the beginning stages of lettering. These tools may change. Next Week I will share with you some of my beginning stages of lettering and what they look like.
Now that I've shared with you the tools I am currently using, I'm interested in knowing about you, are you new in this process of lettering? What tools do you use for your craft and why is it your favorite?