Start Your Creative Business in 2013 - Balance

This is the third post in my series of posts of things to know even before you launch your creative business. Things that may help take some of the loneliness, frustration and fear out of starting a creative business.

Today, let’s look at creating balance.

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There is so much to learn and do when starting (and maintaining) a creative business that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Add family, home and maybe a day job to your list of things to juggle and it’s easy to understand why some people get so overwhelmed that they just can’t get going.

First of all, know that you can have it all but you may not be able to have it all RIGHT NOW. It may take some time to sort things out. In the meantime you can start your business while keeping all of the other balls in the air too.

Here are some tips.

One way to find some balance is to work a little at a time. If you are a morning person you might get up 30-60 minutes earlier and put in some time on your business while you drink your morning coffee. You might find that you are clearer minded in the mornings and that uninterrupted, quiet time will allow you to get much more done than if you wait until evening when the whole family is hungry and tired.

If you are more of a night owl then your best creative time may come after you put the kids to bed. You don’t have to stay up all night, just 30-60 minutes to whittle away at your creative dreams.

Work on your business a little on days off. You really need to take time for yourself but putting in some time on the weekends and minor holidays, if you are lucky enough to get them off, will help you get closer to your goals.

I learned years ago that television was a huge black hole that I could easily fall into. Maybe your black hole is Facebook, blogs or online games? I don’t watch TV much any more but I can get sucked into online social sites like nobody’s business. I have to make myself get the bulk of my work done before I can even check in on my favorite sites. Otherwise I’ll stay around chatting the day away and get absolutely nothing done. I mean, after all, why would anyone want to sit around and read all about how other creative business owners are realizing their dreams while you fritter the day away and get absolutely nothing accomplished on your own business? Try to limit the amount of time you spend on activities that won’t help you realize your dreams.

Hire someone to do the things you’d rather not, if you can. Don’t like to clean? See if you can manage a cleaning service one day a week. Or even every other week. You’ll be surprised at how much time that will free up for creating, or even taking a bubble bath.

Yes, a bubble bath. Regardless of who needs your attention or how many things you have on your list that need doing it is important to remember that we’re real people who deserve a high quality of life. It’s really important to, on occasion, shut down the computer, put your work aside, and go do something fun.

Just remember that this is an ongoing journey and, with balance, you can enjoy it.