Surviving Busy Season as a Creative
Outside my window the Azorian sun beams down on the ridge of lush, green volcanic foothills that border my little town. Gulls swoop over the enticing blue Atlantic - a perfect day for a refreshing plunge off the rocks at our local swimming area. Ava, our not-so-little-anymore daughter, is ready to head off to spend the day at summer camp, where she’ll spend her mornings leaping between trees while strapped into a harness, and her afternoons splashing in the ocean with her friends.
And me? Well, I’m doing what every photographer and photo editor is doing during busy season. I’m inside, staring at my computer screen, my mouse hand moving at the speed of light to get through the huge stack of edits I get to complete for my equally busy photographer clients. Busy season can be a whirlwind for photographers and creatives like us. With deadlines looming and projects piling up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed - especially when everyone else is outside enjoying summer.
But don’t worry. Together, with a few tips and the right mindset, we can survive it!
Here are my personal tips to help you stay organized, maintain your sanity and thrive during this hectic time.
1. STAY ORGANIZED
OK, easier said than done - I know! But being super organized is crucial for staying on top of your workload. Spend some time setting up a system that works for you, whether it’s a digital calendar, a physical to-do list, or a project-tracking tools such as:
● Asana: A versatile project management tool that allows you to create tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate with clients.
● Trello: A visual board-based tool that helps you organize projects into cards and columns.
● Todoist: A simple yet powerful task manager that supports multiple platforms.
And if none of those are your thing, your CRM likely has a killer task manager built in. 😉
Keeping your calendar updated is essential for staying on top of deadlines and avoiding scheduling conflicts. And make sure you set reminders - never rely on your memory! Use a reminder app to give yourself a heads-up a few days before due dates to make sure you’re prepared.
2. TAKE BREAKS
Our eyes take a beating during busy season. Staring at a computer screen for hours on end can lead to eye strain, headaches, and muscular aches and pains - especially in the neck and shoulders. Set reminders on your phone, or use a wearable that buzzes every hour to remind you to leave your desk once in a while. Get up, stretch, go for a walk or have a crazy dance around. Just something to lift your heart rate and give your eyes something else to focus on.
A helpful little trick is the 20:20:20 rule recommended by some health experts. Every 20 minutes, look up at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
I know that when you’re in the zone it’s hard to tear yourself away, especially with deadlines looming - but breaking up the day with short times away from the computer saves time in the long run because it’s like a super quick battery recharge.
You could sit for hours feeling sluggish, or you could take a quick break and return feeling totally rejuvenated.
3. LEARN TO SAY NO & DELEGATE
This is the hard one, but knowing your limits and when to turn down clients or jobs is crucial to not becoming over-worked. Your health and wellbeing is always more important than trying to please everyone. Your clients should understand, especially if they run their own businesses too! Be direct and honest to avoid misunderstandings, and try to suggest alternatives. Perhaps you can help at a later date, or hand them over to a contact you trust.
Outsourcing and delegating tasks is a way to say no without saying no. It can seem silly or unnecessary at first to hire help or outsource certain tasks, but believe me when I say it is game changing and helps to alleviate some of the stress that comes with running a business.
You don’t have to do it all.
Some areas where you could hand off responsibility are editing (hey!), back end operations (hire a VA), hiring someone to do some housework (we all know how that can pile up when work is so busy!), or even asking your significant other or kids to help out with house chores or dinner.
4. PRACTICE SELF-CARE
If you feel like all you ever do is work, then you might need to set aside time you dedicate to doing something you love. It doesn’t matter what it is, you just have to make it a non-negotiable. For me, it’s a long run along the coast, but it doesn’t have to be exercise. You could paint, potter about the garden, bake your favorite cake, or spend some time chatting with other members of your household. It’s so important to dedicate time to activities that bring us happiness and relaxation - even if it’s just for a short while during busy season.
Busy season is temporary and will be over before you know it! It’s good and overwhelming and fun all at once -
breathe and take it in and enjoy it, rest is coming!