Be shockingly productive

I have 1 more week of classes and 13 (working) days until my last final. I need to write a stellar paper, complete a take home examination, and study my booty off for my final MAM exam. A little bit each day. I can do it!

So I found a way to finally do this. On Sunday, I had a million things to do by Friday so I knew I needed to make each day count. Monday I tried really hard to be productive (as always) and I was more productive than usual, but I wasn’t gonna make it to Friday off that. So Monday night I wrote out a list of 30 min increments from 6 am to 12 am (not enough sleep, I know) and I filled in the blocks of time that were already devoted (to class, meetings, etc.). Then I scheduled time to work on each of the million tasks, lol. So simple but this actually helped me a lot. I didn’t do everything I wanted to, and some things took me longer than I anticipated, but having mini deadlines all day definitely helped me eliminate some of those ‘30 minutes of nothingness’ blocks. This morning I scheduled out today, and the same thing happened, so I am about to schedule out tomorrow before I finish up for the night. I have completed over half of the things I need to do for Friday, btw. So excited I have finally found something that works for me!

With the exams around the corner and overwhelming amount of assignments still piling up, I wish to be more productive these few weeks.

I have been slacking off quite a bit due to the overwhelming amount of work but just today, I have started breaking down the things I need to do in small chunks. Hopefully that would keep me productive from now on.

Will keep all of you updated on my progress =)

I’ve been working on important things (artwork, school-related and internship stuff) for about 28 hours a week for the past four weeks. It’s more than I used to, and I’m getting more things done. Still, part of that time consists of thinking and planning. Of course that’s useful, but I have a bad habit of over-analysing things, then not really carrying out my plans.

I will try to continue with approx. 25 hours of own work / school work and maybe 5-10 hours on internship work a week (I’m working on a website for example). I will make a schedule for myself and try to get new work finished, too. Maybe one picture/installation a week, or a detailed sketch/plan/test shots.

And by the end of October, I hope to have a totally new body of work done, set up a new online portfolio for it and happily start on my thesis project.

I’ve been working on a belated project, going to school on weekdays and getting more or less done. Last week, I spent 28 hours working on my art project (my goal was 30), which is pretty good. This week I’m aiming at:
- approx. 25 hours of work at school
- 6 hours taking photographs, reading something art-related and working on an internship project

...is not the best kind. I have a few weeks before school starts again, and I plan to get something done. This week (from Sunday) I have been working a bit, jotting down ideas, taking photographs, learning InDesign and such. In the past four days I have done about 17 hours of work, about 4h 15 min a day. It’s better than nothing, but I still need to step up. A lot of the time, I take little breaks from working. I surf the internet or watch TV, and time just passes by. On the other hand, it’s good to give a break to the brains, but it’s just wasting time really.

Goal: By Saturday night this week, 33 hours of work completed!

I had an inspiring talk today with a friend. She’s abroad, being busy and seeing the world and I figured out that I just need to get things going, maybe get into something new. Read more, learn new things, take interest.

I’m going to a picnic, with a sketchbook to plan a new project.

I’m studying to become a visual artist. When I don’t have school or a specific deadline, I find it difficult to get any work done. I get some ideas and I make plans but I don’t carry them out. I’m always second-guessing myself – I’ve tricked myself into thinking that I should only do things I’ve thought over, things that are finished in my head.

I sometimes do productivity spurts that last a few days, when I spend the whole day doing something artistic and useful. On other days I might just surf the net and watch DVDs. I would like to have a balance of down time and working, and finish a lot of projects for my portfolio. Dedicating 6-8 hours to my artwork daily is my goal.

Well, that never happened (writing a song a month).

Hmmm, I don’t know, I’ve felt like I’m on the verge of greatness for about a year….. so obviously I’m NOT on the verge of greatness, otherwise I’d have tipped over the edge by now, surely? How upsetting.

This year is my ‘gap year’ sort of thing, before uni. I’ve got lots of things lined up – I refuse to waste this year!!!! I categorically refuse. Here’s my list of what I’m planning:

Running: Went for my first run this morning! Gonna sign up for the Tree-Athlon (5k) and the Race for Life (10k), both in Sept.
Music: Open mic nights with original material
I’ve recently been successful in auditioning for The Urban Voices Collective gospel choir – it’s SO FUN and we do paid gigs and stuff =D
I’m in a jazz duo, piano/vocals, although we haven’t had any gigs yet. I’m quite dubious about it to be honest.
I’m going to try and get gigs as a jazz piano entertainer in piano bars and stuff.
Voluntary: Going to volunteer for Battersea Dogs Home come September! SO excited! One day a week =) YAY!
Signing up for Camp America in August, so hopefully May ‘10 – Aug ‘10 I will be in America!
Acting: I’ve applied to the 2 best extras agencies in London and hooooooopefully I’ll hear back within the month =D
Modelling: I’m going to see how this goes. I have a casting for an agency on the 28th (I’m not really tall enough but I’m plus-size and photogenic and they want plus-size! So hmm) and I am going to try and be a life-model for art classes and unis – fun and I neeeeed money!
Shift work: NEED to get a steady job! I’ve applied and applied and applied to every possible lead but not one single person has got back to me O_O
Uni: I’m applying to Goldsmiths Uni in Spetember, for September ‘10. Going to do a BMus in Popular Music =D Can’t wait, it looks amazing. BUT it’s the only place I want to go so I’m trying to write the best personal statement in the world ha. Eek!

I honestly think all this is achievable.

Y A Y .

Work has definitely slowed down due to the recession _{(republican bastards!)}, but things are still moving along.

I’m finding that staying busy & productive keeps me calm & positive.