Hi sweet friends!
Let's talk about something many of you have been asking about – how to manage your time when you're juggling multiple creative pursuits. Now, I'm not about to tell you to schedule every minute of your day (because let's be real, who actually sticks to that?). Instead, I want to share a flexible system that has truly transformed how I work.
The Foundation: Themed Days Explained
Here's my secret: I run my week on themes, not strict schedules. It's like having a gentle compass for each day rather than a rigid timetable. Currently, my week looks like this:
Monday-Wednesday ➡️ Client work
Thursday-Friday ➡️ The Yellow Studio
Saturday ➡️ Half day for business development
Sunday ➡️ Rest and recharge
Making the Anti-Hustle Work For You
But here's the thing – this schedule isn't set in stone. When I noticed I wasn't making enough progress with The Yellow Studio, I simply carved out some morning time before my client work by starting my day earlier. That's the beauty of being your own boss – you can adapt and evolve as needed.
The Two-List Strategy
Another game-changer? Running two separate to-do lists:
Client work
Business development
My Daily Success Ritual
Each morning, I follow a simple ritual:
Open the appropriate list for the day's theme
Quick scan for overview
Highlight top 3 priority tasks
Star 5 quick wins to tackle between bigger tasks
This approach consistently helps me cross off 8 tasks daily, creating that wonderful "I'm actually getting somewhere" feeling we all crave while still maintaining an anti-hustle way of life.
The Truth About Getting Started
Let me be totally honest with you – when I first tried themed days, I failed spectacularly. The first week was a mess. The second week? Better, but still not great. By weeks three and four, though, something clicked. Even then, I realized my initial day assignments weren't quite right (Monday deep work? What was I thinking? That’s the busiest day of the week in terms of interacting with others).
Finding Your Perfect Rhythm
The real breakthrough came when I gave myself permission to completely reorganize the themes based on what I'd learned. Every six months or so, I still reassess and adjust my themed days to match my evolving business needs.
Themed Days in Action: Real-World Examples
Not sure how to structure your themed days? Here are some examples that might spark ideas for your own schedule:
For Digital Artists & Illustrators:
Monday ➡️ Client communications & project planning
Tuesday ➡️ Main illustration work
Wednesday ➡️ Digital asset creation & product development
Thursday ➡️ Social media content creation & scheduling
Friday ➡️ Portfolio updates & personal projects
Saturday ➡️ Learning new techniques & tools
Sunday ➡️ Rest & creative recharge
For Content Creators:
Monday ➡️ Content planning & research
Tuesday ➡️ Filming/recording
Wednesday ➡️ Editing & post-production
Thursday ➡️ Writing & newsletter work
Friday ➡️ Community engagement & collaboration
Saturday ➡️ Analytics review & strategy
Sunday ➡️ Rest & inspiration gathering
For Fine Artists:
Monday ➡️ Studio admin & supplies inventory
Tuesday ➡️ Main artwork sessions
Wednesday ➡️ Photography & documentation
Thursday ➡️ Gallery submissions & applications
Friday ➡️ Commission work
Saturday ➡️ Exhibition planning & networking
Sunday ➡️ Rest & museum/gallery visits
For Handmade Business Owners:
Monday ➡️ Production planning & inventory
Tuesday ➡️ Creating/making
Wednesday ➡️ Product photography & listings
Thursday ➡️ Marketing & social media
Friday ➡️ Order fulfillment & shipping
Saturday ➡️ Custom orders & special projects
Sunday ➡️ Rest & creative planning
Remember, these are just starting points 💛 The beauty of themed days is that you can adjust them to match your energy levels, creative peaks, and business needs. Some people prefer to batch similar tasks together, while others like to mix creative and administrative work throughout the week. There's no one-size-fits-all approach – it's about finding what flows best for you!
Ready to Transform Your Week?
If you're thinking about giving themed days a try, here's my advice: give it at least 2-3 weeks before making any big changes. Building new habits takes time, and finding your rhythm is more important than perfect execution.
I'd love to hear from you! Do you currently plan your weeks? Think you might give themed days a shot? Drop a comment below and let me know your thoughts! 🌼
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