"Memories & Mayhem"

I found this interesting article on a crafting blogsite and thought it would be good for my friends to read it also...... we all work way too hard and way too long... this article makes you stop and think!

can you really work 80 hours a week, every week?
March 24, 2010
by megan -

http://craftmba.com/2010/03/24/can-you-really-work-80-hours-a-week-every...

It’s frustrating to hear people talk about how sustainable craft is when you hear so many stories about makers who spend 10 hours a day making product, then come home from the studio and spend hours packaging orders, answering emails, and doing other administrative tasks. And they do this day in and day out. Is that really sustainable?

Nevermind that if this sounds like your reality, you’re probably way undercharging for your work. (That’s a rant for another post.)

Want I want to talk about today is the importance of rest, recharging, and taking care of yourself when running a creative business. It’s difficult to be creative when you’re running around like a crazy person all the time. And your creativity is what makes your business unique. I understand the impulse to work all the time. You are your business, and when you don’t work, you don’t make money. But it’s important to give yourself permission to take a break now and then to recharge your creative batteries.

So here are my suggestions for ways to take care of yourself and your creative business:

* Take field trips. ....... While weekly field trips aren’t normal for me, I do understand the importance of taking time to look at things beyond my studio walls. Whether it’s spending time in museums, gallery hopping in a nearby city, or spending time in the outdoors, chose activities that boost your creatity and schedule them regularly.
* Read...... Chances are, there are some fantastic books out there that relate to the subjects you make work about. How much better would your work be if you took time to read on a regular basis? But don’t feel everything you read needs to relate. Any book, fiction or non, can broaden your thinking and get those creative juices flowing.
* Take vacations. There is nothing wrong with closing up shop for a week, virtual or otherwise, and taking a break. Vacations give you a chance to relax, to take a break from your usual routine, and reconnect with your family. (Remember them?)
* Take care of yourself. When was the last time you went to the eye doctor? Or the dentist? Or exercised? You are the center of your business, and if you aren’t healthy, your business can’t be either. Give yourself time to cook healthy foods, exercise on a regular basis, to rest if you’re feeling sick, and to get regular health screenings. Taking care of yourself should be your first priority, not your last.

It’s important to give yourself permission to take a break from your business to recharge, get inspired, and take care of yourself. Your business will be better because of it.

What do you do to take care of yourself and your creative business?

Sooooo True!!!!!

and my reply was - Sue permalink

So true!! I work in my “shop” 7 days a week from breakfast until midnight (I am a lousy sleeper!) trying to do the customer service, administration, constant CLEANING, sewing repair jobs AND EVENTUALLY some creative craft work! I only survive with the help of good friends and family members that take on a lot of the little jobs to free my hands for other work. This summer I joined an exercise class once a week and closed the shop for the hour and noticed getting some exercise has made an amazing difference to my health, my stamina AND my productivity! Now that we are coming into our cooler weather my family have kidnapped me and closed the shop on Saturday afternoons for bike riding and picnics with the grand-kids!!!

wooo hoooooo! come on winter and Saturday arvo's at Rock Park - yummooooo sausage BBQ's!!!