Have you heard the myth that creatives, like us, are not cut out for the business side of things? Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible to harmonize your creative gifts with a bit of business savvy in order to create a beautiful symphony of entrepreneurial, musical bliss.
One of the most significant contributors to my journey’s success has been my ability to get a grip on my schedule. While I’m far from perfect, block scheduling has proven to be a game changer for me.
When everything can be inspiration for a song or creative project, it can sometimes…ok alot of the times, be difficult to stay on task.
In this article, we’ll explore how block scheduling can empower singers to achieve a harmonious balance between creativity and structure.
WHAT IS BLOCK SCHEDULING?
Block scheduling is a time management technique that involves breaking your day into blocks of time, typically ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Each block is dedicated to a specific task, project, or category of activities. It offers structure and discipline, allowing you to focus intensely on one task at a time before moving on to the next.
For example, I have several arms to my music business. I’m a session singer, I have a personal brand that requires marketing, I have a live performance arm, I create original music and I also run a vocal house.
Each arm of my business requires different energy, has different goals, deadlines and focuses. When I have a creation day for example, even my office looks different. The lighting is different, the mood is different. It would be hard for me to switch from creation mode to business mode, and so I chunk “like activities” together on certain days and times.
This also ensures that I don’t get lost in only one direction for hours, days or weeks. For example, of course I love creating TikToks, and I could do it for hours to help further my personal brand. But I can’t sit around and make TikToks all day and expect the other arms of my business to still thrive.
I need to dedicate equal time to all parts. And it’s hard to say “no” to creative fun in the moment.
That’s where block scheduling comes in!
HOW IT WORKS:
- Prioritize Tasks:
Start by listing your daily or weekly tasks, both professional and personal. I have blocks for cleaning, working out, meditation etc. Not just my work tasks. - Allocate Time Blocks:
Assign specific time blocks to each task based on its importance, urgency, and your personal preferences.For example, I find I have the most energy for cleaning in the morning, so first thing when I wake up, I throw on an audiobook, make my throat coat tea and clean up a bit while I get energized.I put my session singing on certain days and my creative personal work on other days. Because it can be hard sometimes to be creative when you’ve been doing session singing all day.Keep your energy, mood, etc in mind and craft a blocked out day that feels really good to you. - Stick to the Schedule:
Commit to completing the task within the allocated block and avoid distractions or multitasking.I personally recommend using an actual timer. I use Toggl. Using a timer is nice too because you can REALLY see what you’re doing all day and where the time is going.You could think that you don’t check your email for that long, but the timer doesn’t lie. You might find out that you’re spending double the time that you want fussing with your email. - Take Short Breaks:
Incorporate short breaks between blocks to recharge and refocus.
BENEFITS OF BLOCK SCHEDULING FOR CREATIVES:
- Enhanced Focus and Productivity:
By dedicating undivided attention to a single task during a time block, you can work with greater focus and efficiency. This approach minimizes multitasking, reducing the risk of focusing too much on only your favorite parts of your music business and missing vital opportunities because you don’t make enough time in your schedule for them. - Reduced Decision Fatigue:
With a pre-planned schedule, you don’t have to constantly decide what to do next. This reduces decision fatigue and frees up mental energy. - Improved Work-Life Balance:
Entrepreneurs & Creatives often struggle to balance work and personal life. How many times have you gotten lost in your studio because you’re just having so much fun! Fun is wonderful, but you don’t want to neglect other areas of your life. Block scheduling allows you to set boundaries and allocate specific time blocks for personal life, preventing burnout and enhancing overall well-being. - Effective Task Organization:
By categorizing tasks into time blocks, you can organize your work into manageable, structured segments. This approach ensures that you address all facets of your business equally. - Increased Accountability:
A structured schedule makes it easier to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and hold yourself accountable for achieving your goals and objectives. - Adaptability and Flexibility:
While block scheduling offers structure, it also allows room for flexibility. You can adjust your schedule as needed to accommodate unforeseen challenges or opportunities. - Reduction in Stress:
Knowing what to expect and having a clear plan can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, contributing to better mental health and decision-making. - Time for Personal Growth:
With block scheduling, you can allocate time for self-improvement, learning, and personal development, which can have long-term benefits for your entrepreneurial journey.
IN CLOSING
As fun as chasing your childhood dreams of one day becoming a rockstar may seem, it can be a challenging road without any systems in place to ensure that you do indeed make it there.
We’re navigating a unique journey in a world where creativity meets commerce.
So, go ahead, step onto your own stage, set your schedule to the rhythm of your dreams, and let your heart sing.
You got this!
Here is a sample block schedule of mine. I change them every so often as goals shift. I made this using Google Sheets. I just inserted a table from the top menu bar.
