Time.
We all use it.
Some of us waste it. Some of us treasure it.
And if you’re like me, you feel like you don’t have enough of it to do music.
Between my day job, family, and friends, it’s hard to fit music into my awake time.
Like, sometimes I wish humans didn’t need sleep.
And I figured there are other people out there with the same struggle.
So here are 10 time management tips to help you master your time as a musician.
Time Management Tip #1: Say “No”
If something isn’t a “heck yes!” for you, then it should be a “heck no!”
Saying no can be difficult. But you must do it, or else you’ll get swamped with projects and distractions.
You’ll get bogged down by all cool-but-not-awesome creative endeavors.
Time Management Tip #2: Focus On Your Yes’s
On the other hand, you can’t just say “no” to everything. You’ve got to say “yes” every once in a while.
And those yes’s should be your main focus.
So here’s a two-step process for focusing on your yes’s:
- Pick 1-3 things to pursue. For me, I want my career to involve 1) releasing original music, 2) licensing my music for TV/film, and 3) helping musicians through this blog.
- Ignore everything else. Anything that doesn’t fall into the 1-3 things you want to be doing with your time, ignore them.
Time Management Tip #3: Shut Off The Screen
You spend more time on your phone than you realize. Just use a time-tracking app and you’ll see.
I highly recommend reading How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price. Don’t worry, it’s not actually about getting rid of your phone.
It’s more about being conscious of how you use your phone, and not letting it use you.
Time Management Tip #4: Check Email Only Once A Day
Reality check: you don’t have to check your email 17 times a day.
People aren’t sitting around waiting for my response to their email.
If someone needs to hear from me immediately, they should have my phone number. I can go a day or two without replying to an email.
So you can close the laptop or delete the email app off your phone.
You’ll find you have more time — more time to make music.
GET MORE DONE
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Time Management Tip #5: Do One Thing A Day
As I’ve been learning, being an indie musician requires a balance of quality and quantity. This is especially true for part-timers.
So try to focus on doing just one thing for your music career each day.
This way, you won’t get overwhelmed yet you’ll still move toward your yes’s.
Time Management Tip #6: Do 15 Minutes At A Time
When you do your one thing for the day, don’t worry if it’s only 15 minutes.
If that’s the only time you have to do music stuff, then that’s all the time you have.
The key to success is taking baby steps.
Time Management Tip #7: Wake Up At The Same Time Every Day
I get a warm feeling when I think about schedules, routines, and planners.
I like structure, including waking up at the same time every day.
And as it turns out, waking up at a regular time can improve your productivity, concentration, and emotional stability.
And if you’re feeling more whole, your time management skills will be top-notch.
Time Management Tip #8: Schedule Things In Your Calendar
Pull out your phone and put stuff in your calendar. Set alerts for the calendar events.
Depending on what success looks like to you, these events could be things like “record music,” “do some songwriting,” or “email a sync licensing agent.”
If you don’t schedule things, will you ever get around to them?
Time Management Tip #9: Be Willing To Work Weird Hours
As a part-time musician, you may find yourself working on music at weird hours.
Like 5:30 a.m., over your lunch break, or on a Saturday afternoon.
In order to master your time, you may have to work late into the night or get up at the butt crack of dawn.
Time Management Tip #10: Do Less Social Media
According to the Anxiety And Depression Association Of America, “Social media anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that is similar to social anxiety disorder.”
Using social media can lead to anxiety and depression.
And if you’re anxious or depressed, you’ll be less motivated to do stuff.
You may have less energy. You’ll feel creatively blocked.
But less social media means more time, energy, and brainpower to get stuff done.
We don’t have a lot of time each day. But these time management tips should help you make the most of the minutes or hours you do have.
Got any time management tips of your own? Drop ’em in the comments below!