Creator Royalties #032: Mastering Time Management for Artists

?? This week's edition of Creator Royalties is written by none other than Randi Zuckerberg, CEO and Mother Hugger of HUG. Not only is Randi a mother of 3 and a full-time entrepreneur, she is also training for her first-ever marathon in November. Here, she breaks down how you can better manage your time as artists, and shares actionable strategies to help get you started.

6 Time Management Strategies for Artists

For years, I've been researching and studying the best ways to balance every aspect of a woman's busy life. In fact, a few years back, I wrote a book called?Pick Three,?where I talk about getting more done when you permit yourself to be lopsided in a given day, rather than strive to be "balanced" every single day of the week.

But, let’s be honest - this is a daily practice. So, as we start getting into that “back to school” mentality — I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my time management tips with you.

LFG!

#1: Pick Three

???My mantra goes like this: Work, sleep, family, friends, fitness — pick three.?You can only do three of those things well on any given day. It's tempting, especially as moms, to want to get all five of those things done. But the truth is you can't! Instead, by prioritizing and choosing a few things you love each day, you will have the time and energy to be your very best at them.

How to Put this into Practice

Write three things that you are choosing to pick for today, this week, and for this month on a piece of paper. Even within your art, think carefully about whether you are choosing to focus on creating, or studying others for inspiration, or engaging with fans of your work.

As you pick these three things, consider how staying focused and prioritizing them can allow you to get more done and feel more fulfilled.

#2: Combine As Many Things As You Can

???My best time management tip:?You can still stay focused on your three goals, while also combining as many things as possible!?For example, I managed to find the perfect stroller/bike setup so I can choose family, fitness, and believe it or not - work (taking conference calls!) all at once.

How to Put this into Practice

While creating art may take deep work, building out your artistic practice can also involve you putting a focus on friends. Surround yourself with fellow artist friends, and exchange your thoughts, processes, and even struggles! All of a sudden, you are tackling both work and friends at the same time.

#3: Set Clear Goals and Priorities

As many of you know, running is one of my favorite activities on this planet. After spending the last decade giving it up while pregnant (3x!) and suffering from knee pain (I thought I was done running forever!), I went from starting again cautiously this January and barely being able to run a mile, to now training for my very first (NYC) Marathon in November.

Much of that has been a result of me setting clear goals and priorities.

Without a roadmap, it's easy to get lost in a sea of ideas and tasks. Start by defining both short-term and long-term goals for your creative projects. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Once you have your goals in place, break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This not only makes your goals more achievable but also gives you a clear sense of direction.

So while this photo shows a finish line win, it doesn’t show the miles and miles and miles of anxiety, excitement, grit, and yes - time management, that it took to get me there! It certainly also doesn’t show all the people who inspire and support me every day.

How to Put this into Practice

• Write down your overarching artistic goals.
• Break these goals into smaller, actionable tasks.
• Prioritize these tasks based on their importance and deadlines.
• Find a group of people to support you and keep you accountable along the way!

#4: Create a Consistent Routine

Consistency is key when it comes to managing your time effectively, especially as an artist. Establishing a consistent routine helps condition your mind for creative work and can minimize procrastination.

As we highlighted in our article on Creator Royalties and from my recent interview with Jack Butcher, I can’t stop thinking about what he said around consistency as an artist.

Designate specific blocks of time for your artistic practice each day. Whether it's early in the morning, during your lunch break, or in the evening, having a set time for creativity can lead to increased focus and productivity. Make sure to eliminate distractions during these periods to make the most of your creative time.

How to Put this into Practice

• Identify the time slots that work best for your creative energy.
• Develop a routine that includes time for ideation, creation, and reflection.
• Communicate your creative schedule to those around you to minimize interruptions.

#5: Embrace the Power of Time Blocking

Time blocking is a powerful technique that involves dividing your day into specific blocks of time dedicated to different tasks.

This method helps you allocate time to your artistic practice, as well as to other essential activities like emails, self-care, and admin work. By assigning specific time blocks to each task, you can ensure that you're devoting ample time to your creative pursuits without neglecting other responsibilities.

How To Put This Into Practice

• Use digital calendars or planners to visually map out your day in blocks.
• Assign blocks of times to various tasks, including your creative work, breaks, and non-artistic responsibilities.
• Stick to your time blocks as closely as possible, but remain flexible to adapt to unexpected changes.

#6: Embrace Deep Work… A Cautionary Tale!

One of the reasons I love running is because it is place where I can do Deep Work - a technique I learned from Cal Newport’s book of the same title. Deep work is essentially a place that emphasizes the value of focused, undistracted, and concentrated work sessions.

But, sometimes you might go to deep in the zone, as I learned so well a week ago at my half marathon race, where I (literally) went the extra mile…

I was on track to set a new personal best, but then just completely zoned out, missed the turn to the finish chute, and ended up running an extra mile. While I was still proud of myself for eking out a second place finish, to say I felt foolish and frustrated with myself is the understatement of the year.

So while it was not funny in the moment, I am not only laughing at myself now, but I am also proud of what I accomplished that day! Importantly, it shows that deep work sessions can truly lead you to ground-breaking and fulfilling artistic experience.

How To Put This Into Practice

• Identify specific time slots for deep work sessions.
• Create a conducive environment by eliminating digital and physical distractions.
• Gradually extend the duration of your deep work sessions as your focus improves.

Closing Thoughts

Effective time management is a skill that can significantly enhance your artistic journey. By setting clear goals, establishing a consistent routine, and embracing time blocking, you'll find yourself more focused, productive, and fulfilled in your creative practice.

Remember, getting better at time management… you guessed it, takes time! Be patient with yourself as you start to introduce and implement these strategies into your life. With dedication and practice, you’ll soon be able to strike the perfect balance between your passion for art and the practicalities of managing your time.

I believe in you!

In the News

Industry News

• Art NFT marketplace SuperRare launched an open curation protocol that allows anyone to stake tokens on an artist, which allows them to earn rewards as an artist makes more sales. The mechanism is aimed at promoting talent discovery and collective advocacy for an artist’s success.
• Art NFT platform Foundation introduced Moments, which elevates the capabilities of their existing curatorial product Worlds, allowing curators to spotlight specific themes, creators, live events, and more.
• German sportswear brand adidas is launching a new digital art program, RESIDENCY by adidas, to elevate emerging artists by providing them with various marketing platforms and opportunities.
• Amidst continued debate around AI, Hollywood A-listers like Tom Hanks have endorsed AI’s cinematic potential at the 90th Venice Film Festival.

Tools and Resources

?? From artist marketing handbooks to pricing calculator tools and more, HUG has released a number of free downloadable resources for artists and art lovers. Download them now.

• AI text-to-video tool Runway is introducing the Creative Partners Program, which provides a select group of artists and creators exclusive access to new Runway tools and models, free credits, early access to new features, and more. Learn more and apply here.
• Adobe Creative Evangelist Kris Kashtanova shares a list of free AI courses for beginners, including the Google’s free learning path on generative AI in 9 courses.

Notable Creators

• Digital artist Refik Anadol will be taking over the exterior of the world’s largest LED screen, the Sphere in Las Vegas. His piece, Machine Hallucinations: Sphere, will inaugurate the Exosphere art program.
• Erick “Snowfro” Calderon, the founder of Art Blocks and creator of the Chromie Squiggle, is minting his final batch of Squiggles, drawing an end to a nearly 3 year journey. Read his thoughts here.
• Singaporean digital artist Shavonne Wong is kicking off her second solo show and her European debut at the NFT Factory in Paris, which features 3 pieces in collaboration with Marie Claire Arabia.

Artist Grants and Opportunities

?? Open Calls have arrived on HUG! Visit thehug.xyz to submit to a variety of Open Call opportunities we are actively sourcing for our artist community.

HUG-exclusive

• ?? Take your work to the United Nations in Geneva! We are teaming up with the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) to highlight migrant stories at the International Dialogue on Migration in Geneva, Switzerland. Learn more and submit here.
• ?? Enter the Crypto Cafe with 3 incredible artists - Krista Kim, POST WOOK, and Refik Anadol! Join Randi on her SiriusXM podcast where she interviews the leading thinkers in arts and technology. Learn more and submit your interest to join our conversations with the following artists:Canadian-Korean contemporary artist Krista KimCollage artist POST WOOKDigital and AI artist Refik Anadol (who is taking over the Sphere in Las Vegas!)
• ?? HUG is offering $500 USD grants to two artists each month in exchange for unminted artwork to raffle off to our community. Learn more and meet all our HUG Visionaries here.

Other Open Calls

• From Barcelona to Paris, HUG Artist Rebecca Rose has compiled a number of other Open Calls for showcasing the work of digital artists. Learn more here.

• The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is awarding the annual Jameel Prize worth ￡25,000 to moving image and new media work inspired by Islamic tradition. Finalists will get an opportunity to showcase their work in the V&A in London in 2024. Learn more and apply by 15 October.

This Week’s Art Drops

?? Have an upcoming art drop you’d like to share? Or an upcoming exhibition or opportunity for your fellow artists? Make use of our Artist Updates feature on HUG, or email [email protected], so we can share it with our readers.

Did you know that these are just 8 of 400+ art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.

We hope you enjoyed this week's issue! If you want to still Web3-curious and ready to learn more: drop a comment, share this post, follow HUG, and subscribe to Creator Royalties???