Finding the right balance in life can be tricky, especially when you have to find time to do your work commitments, spend time with the family, and hang out with your friends, never mind finding any time to be creative!
So, to help you find the right balance for you, here are some ways you can balance studio time with your work commitments, family, and social life.
Avoid stress where possible
Do you have an upcoming gallery opening? Or is your work about to be revealed in a prominent collection or gallery like Charles Saatchi? If so – then try to plan your time wisely, allowing time for unexpected occurrences and things that might go wrong.
Though it is easy to feel the stress, especially if this feels like your big break, its all in the art of planning. Make sure that you still have plenty of time to socialise, spend time with your family, and get your work done, as our loved ones can be fantastic stress relievers!
Have a studio space separate from your home
Successfully implementing boundaries has long been regarded as the key to a successful work-life balance. This shows that it is important to make sure that your studio space is a separate area of its own, away from where you would normally relax.
However, you may not have the hours in the day to have to commute between not only your home and work, but to a studio across town too. Therefore, you might like to set up a studio in an unused part of your home. Could you convert your loft, garage, or even your garden shed into a purpose built art studio, for example?
Set time limits and a routine
Setting yourself time limits and having a daily routine can not only affect your work-life-studio balance, but also improve your overall mental health. This is because it can help to keep you grounded, and make sure that you learn to work smart and not hard!
Some artists might prefer to wake up early and start working on their pieces before anyone else is awake. For other, working in the moonlight might be more inspirational.
Make production goals
As with any business, it is important to make clear production goals – how many pieces you aim to produce per quarter, what competitions you want to enter, what exhibitions you want to go to, how many pieces you want to sell per year, and so on.
To make sure that you balance your life effectively, you might also want to do the same for your work life, and for social events such as holidays, parties, and trips. Then when you look back at your production goals, you can make sure that they are achievable without sacrificing your precious family time.
Reduce the risk of interruptions
And finally, get rid of any interruptions. Turn off your phone, don’t answer the door, and warn people you are going to be busy for the next few hours so that you don’t get distracted.
Once you get into the habit of doing these things, it might be useful to take a step back and assess how well things are working. If you’re still finding it hard, just readjust and try again. Just remember, the most important thing is to stay happy and healthy.
