🎟 Field Guide No. 6 {One Step Forward}

Written by a lovely human - Julieanne Steedman (no AI over here!) from The School for Modern Makers. Field Guide for the Modern Maker is a weekly dose of inspiration, joy, and business tips for creative entrepreneurs.

VOL.6

Well…hello First name / Lovely!

Today was my first ‘official’ day back to work after the summer and although I have felt excited by the prospect I also found myself feeling paralyzed and fearful of…getting started. Do you ever feel this way? Today I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that need to be done, so much so that I didn't even want to think about it all.

So I decided to give myself a gentle start. I had some coffee, chatted with a friend, and did some work in the garden. Not only is it my official get-back-to to work after the summer, but it was obviously my kids first day back to school and the anxiety surrounding today was just bubbling.

Next I decided to start by picking one task, yep, this email. I love writing and so this was the perfect way to dive back into work. After this I plan on making a fresh cup of coffee and then doing a big ol' brain dump into a notebook to help me figure out what to focus on next. See, I feel better already!

One step forward, in the right direction!

MAKING THINGS work

Whenever I feel overwhelmed with the sheer number of THINGS I feel I need to do I employ this method:

1. BREATHE

2. BRAIN DUMP IT ALL ONTO PAPER

3. CROSS OUT ALL THE B.S.
(I keep the things I want do and need to do, and then cross out the things other people want me to do - boom!).

4. THEN POST-IT NOTE IT ALL BY PRIORITY LEVEL

Then, get to it! (:

HELPFUL TIP

🗓🗓 WORKING BACKWARDS 🗓🗓

Just like if you want to get somewhere on time you work backwards from the time to figure out when you need to leave, use this same method for ensuring success your creative projects.

I'm using this principle right now with regards to the holiday handmade markets I am taking part it in the coming months. I've schedule them on the calendar and for each week working backwards written down the tasks I need to complete to be ready and not be scrambling last minute to package or even create work for them (that's ‘Old Julieanne’ LOL - this new 2.0 version is much more organized!).

THIS WEEK: at Heirloom Island

On my to-do this for this week together with general organization is to get my bookkeeping up to date as I am a month behind after the summer. This isn't a big scary task anymore (it once was my most dreaded business task!) and so if it still feels that way for you, I encourage you to check out Bookkeeping Basics for Artists & Makers. In just a few hours you'll go from feeling anxious and disorganized to having a clear understanding of your finances and working to increase the profitability of your business (no joke!).

Wishing you a joy-filled, creative week!

As always, hit reply and say hello I'd love to hear from you.

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