The Importance of Planning

Recently, I feel as though I've broken my way back into the creative lifestyle I used to be wrapped up in. And it's definitely down to method, scheduling and time management. Yesterday what I did differently was get up (as normal at around 7-8), shower, get dressed, ate. Then I cracked on with degree work. For as long as I could, literally just smashing it out (Obviously remembering to make time for eating and socialising). But really just getting on with stuff. I think I managed to get to about 7 o'clock, at which point I was proud of the amount and standard of work I'd produced in that time. Then I switched off from that. I decided that I'd done enough work, and it was time to get some down-time. But here's the real trick, I structured this too. Not to the extent where every minute of my day was accountable for, but so that I wasn't just lying in bed, or trawling through YouTube looking at "the top 10 most shocking conspiracy theories" for 5 hours solid. I made time for the other creative things in my life that I enjoy, and then I did them.

It's worth mentioning at this point that I've invested in an absolutely brilliant lifestyle app: 'Balanced'. All this is, is essentially a lifestyle app that aids me in tailoring how I spend my time. It allows to me to input the things that matter to me, asks me how often I'd like to be doing them, and then gently prompts me to get involved with it. It really is what it says on the tin, and already I feel as though I'm pursuing a more active, well-rounded and balanced lifestyle. I've actually recently surprised myself with how many hours there are in a day, and I definitely feel as though not only am I on top of my academic work, I'm also filling my spare time doing all the other things I love. Here are the list of things I input into the app:

• Get inspired
• Write in journal (daily)
• Read a book (3x a week)
• Listen to music (4x a week)
• Get creative
• Be thankful (Bit cheesy, but it never hurt anyone...)
• Catch up on the news (daily)
• Learn something (daily)
• Read a magazine (4x a week)
• Call family
• Get drunk with friends
• Study
• Paint, draw, illustrate etc.
• Go for a walk
• Cook something new
• Take a risk
• Meet new people
• Unclutter my life
• Call/Catch up with an old friend
• Watch a film
• Listen to a new band
• Travel
• Eat somewhere new
• Be spontaneous
• Write a blog entry (3x daily, including 1 PPP post)
• Chill out
• Take a great photo

That's a lot of stuff to do! But not unachievable, and I certainly feel like I wouldn't be doing these things if I didn't enjoy them. I feel like I'm on the right track to owning my own personal, professional practice.