The Anti-Hustle Guide to Getting More Done (With Less Overwhelm) 💛

Mar 13, 2025
3 min read

A beautiful chalkboard illustration of flowers and lemons with the words "Themed Days" on it. A strategy developed by Blume Bauer of The Yellow Studio.

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.

Two to-do lists sitting on an aqua desk with a cup of hot tea and a gold reusable water mason jar and a plan on the desk at The Yellow Studio.

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).

A woman sitting in a cozy yellow chair reading a book surrounded by yellow flowers and art books in her art studio at The Yellow Studio.

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

A woman painting yellow flowers on a canvas on an easel in her yellow and turquoise art studio at The Yellow Studio.

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!

A calendar on a yellow wall with a desk with lemons on it at The Yellow Studio.

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! 🌼