Baby Tooth

On Time Management

Hey, blogger-town. I'm spending more and more time on tumblr these days. How about you folks? Where do you do most of your blogging?


Anyhow, this is a response to a question I got on tumblr. Thought some folks might find it interesting, so I'm reposting it here as well.

What a coincidence this question showed up in my ask box! I had just been discussing this with a few friends of mine the other day.
In his book Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon makes a pretty compelling case for being boring. Stay inside and get your work done! I totally recommend this book to everyone—it is full of wonderful ideas…that I have stolen.
Keep in mind that the above advice is my ideal—it’s what I’m striving for, not necessarily what I’m always achieving. But it is always there to remind me of what my goal is, how I really want to be spending my time.
As a matter of personal preference, I like to take “me time” when I am not infringing upon any of my other priority relationships. This usually means me time is when the rest of my family is asleep. I think that’s pretty common behavior for most artists. I try not to stay up late, but rather to get up early to do art projects. It’s super hard to do, but it feels great to start my day with a burst of creative energy (rather than end my day with that burst, and then not be able to fall asleep at 3 am because I’m so pumped about a comic I’m doing.)
Hope some of these thoughts help. Like Mr. Kleon states in his book, most of this advice is autobiographical. I’m learning too. Happy schedule-making to everyone!
(PS, you should know that answering tumblr questions is a planned part of my schedule, and I will eventually get to all of you. My ask box is pretty backed up at the moment, but I have your messages and you have my apologies!)

PRETEND

Real life conversation with my soon-to-be 3-year-old daughter.

I am a wimp when it comes to pretending.