From my latest post and from the hyper-connected and peer obsessed world we live in, it would be easy to assume that everyone – and more specifically everyone successful – is busy up to their eyeballs all the time, working on multiple successful projects, jumping out of bed in the morning and needing only the fruits of their many prosperous endeavours as motivation to keep running at one hundred miles an hour. In such a world where we predominantly judge others from their specially curated highlight reel on social media, it can feel impossible to keep up, and imposes a feeling of guilt for any ‘time off’ we take or any time spent on goals other than those directly related to the career we are pursuing. Particularly for those with looming deadlines or a seemingly endless to do list – any fellow final year students will most likely relate – an intense sense of guilt can creep in whenever we find ourselves socialising, watching our favourite Netflix series or simply having a much-needed lay in.
As you may know, I am in my final semester of studies for my Ba (hons) Fine Art – great time to launch a website and blog, I hear you scream! – and I, along with my colleagues, are constantly aware of any time spent not working on our degree projects, dissertation and respective career plans. What I am increasingly trying to remind myself, however, is that this time is necessary. Without this down time, I know that my ideas would stagnate, my productivity would reduce and I would feel utterly crap, both physically and mentally. As such, I plan to keep this brief so I can pack a bag for a well deserved weekend away with my best friend, but I do want to share a few tips that I find help me to feel a little less anxious when my to do list runs off the page, my inbox is fit to bursting and it all gets a little overwhelming…
1) Write down a list of all the things you think you need to do.Then cross off all the ones that do not need urgent attention (organising the spice rack alphabetically, applying to an open call that still has two months until the deadline, shaving your legs, etc). Then itemise the remaining items by priority. Although this can seem daunting, it immediately produces an order in which to start addressing tasks so that it doesn’t all just feel like a jumbly mess of obstacles.
2) Find a productive space.This will obviously vary dependant on personal preference, and the task at hand, but the most important thing is that you feel you can focus and you have all the things you need. When I am working on written work for my degree, for example, I feel that physically being in the library instantly makes me feel more on top of the task at hand, whereas when I am working on a personal project, my bedroom/studio feels more appropriate. I also find working with a TV show on or podcast playing really helps my productivity, however I know that for others that may be the most distracting thing imaginable.
3) Remind yourself of all the things that you HAVE done.It can be difficult to feel you have achieved anything when there is still much to accomplish, but I find it does help to remind myself of little triumphs throughout the day. Today’s achievements for me include getting to university on time, having prepared a packed lunch in advance and remembering to fill up my car with petrol on the way home.
4) Allow yourself a treat. Whether it be a glass of wine, a chocolate biscuit, a night out with a friend or an entire day spend under your duvet, let yourself take some time off every day/week/whenever you need to and tell yourself throughout that it is not wasted time as it is time dedicated to your physical and mental wellbeing.
5) Think of the bigger picture. When faced with a task that is not particularly appealing, it can be hard not to procrastinate and ask yourself why you have to do the task at all! Try to look at why this task is on your to do list and hopefully, in the grand scheme of things it will be for a reason that is ultimately desirable or important to you. For example, I did not want to start writing my dissertation, but when I sat back and reminded myself that it is a key part of my degree, which will hopefully help me with my artistic career, something that I definitely do want and want to work for.
6) Have a good old rant. Sometimes, the best thing to do if you feel overwhelmed is just to have a good old moan and it works best when you can vent with people who are experiencing or have experienced a similar situation. Nothing feels better than spending a lunch break discussing with fellow students how they are coping with stress and talking it all.
7) Unfollow anyone who makes you feel unworthy. Now this is a good tip for life in general, but especially for when you are feeling guilty about time off or anxiety about unfinished assignments. What you see on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter is not real; photos have been posed and edited, stories focus on positives and no one ever shares the days they struggle to get out of bed, the deadline they missed or the exam they had to re-take. Remember it is all curated and give yourself a break from scrolling if it makes you feel more stressed.
8) Get your zzz’s. It’s one of the most important things in life, simple as that. I know stress and looming submission dates can keep you up at night, but try and find a routine or method that works to take your mind off this last thing at night. Common suggestions include herbal tea, reading a book, turning off screens and hot baths, but personally I find nothing works better than a few episodes of American sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn 99 or How I Met Your Mother!
9) Make a plan for the week. Similarly to tip number 1, this basically means assigning set time to the tasks that need completing, but also scheduling in time off. It can seem scary to diarise your time to watch a movie or go to the gym, but in doing so, you can hopefully alleviate some of the guilt you might feel for doing these things, because they are scheduled in the time is already attributed to them. Just remember to be realistic and adapt to yourself; there’s no point scheduling a 7am start if you’re a night owl and there’s no point planning an afternoon of meal prepping if a boots meal deal suits your lunch habits and personal preference.
10) Don’t rely on blogs by emerging artists. As much as I hope these tips might help, I am not the oracle of success, organisation and time management. Find what works for you and try and stay on top your tasks by using this.
And on that note, I will wish you all a wonderful weekend, whether you are knuckling down on an essay, working a busy shift, jetting off for a holiday or staying horizontal and eating bourbon biscuits.