There are a variety of strategies anyone can practice in order to manage time properly, while increasing productivity and reducing stress.
Keeping track of how time is being spent may be essential. For example, keeping track in a notepad for a few days might be beneficial. Can time be used more wisely and efficiently? What can be omitted or changed?
Plan each day and stick with it. Working with a plan in mind can result in the feeling of having more control in one’s life, and more can thus be accomplished. Planning can result in a more structured lifestyle.
Prioritize. Spend more time on tasks that are the most important.
Get rid of any distractions. Turning off the cell phone and laptop, and going somewhere quiet where it won’t be easy to lose focus will result in more productivity.
Taking breaks is beneficial. Everyone gets stressed out from time to time and thus it’s important to work without mental fog hindering progress. Working under constant stress can result in frustration and loss of clarity. Taking a break may actually help for better performance upon returning to the task at hand.
Finally, living a healthy lifestyle allows for better productivity. Eating properly, exercising, and getting enough sleep on a daily basis can’t be emphasized enough. Not only does healthy living result in better mental focus, but also allows for efficiency when working on tasks.
Aleksander Vinter, also known by his stage name Savant is a Norwegian EDM producer who was introduced to music at a very young age. Aleksander is a “prodigious savant with aspergers syndrome and a fracture of ADD. He thinks out songs in seconds and produces them within a few hours. To date Aleksander has composed/produced over 10,000 songs in various genres; most notably metal, orchestral/classical, hip-hop and electronic music.” Aleksander first started with the ‘eJay’ program to produce music followed by ‘FastTracker’.
His inspiration came largely from video games early on. After finding FL Studio software, Aleksander continued with electronic music production and still uses it to this day for getting his musical ideas out quickly and efficiently. “On November 11, 2011, Aleksander released his commercial debut Ninur on SectionZ Records. From that day to December 12, 2012, he has released 5 LP's including near 60 commercial tracks while popping out multiple free downloads every month, keeping Savant fans far more than satisfied on a daily basis.”
The Holstee Manifesto traces back to 2009 when brothers Mike and Dave, along with partner Fabian had a brainstorming session. The three sat and thought deeply about what they wanted to achieve in their lives, and how they would be able to inspire passion within the masses at the same time. It started with Recycled Tees made of recycled plastic bottles, but their product range soon continued to grow. The goal was to inspire change on this planet. This resulted in a message that has resonated with people from all over the world. It has been shared over 500,000 times, while being viewed a staggering 60 million times. “The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community”. ‘The Holstee Manifesto: LifeCycle Video’ can be viewed on YouTube and the Manifesto poster along with other inspirational items can be found within their online store.
Joel Zimmerman, also known by his stage name Deadmau5, is a progressive-house music producer from Toronto, Canada. His name originated after discovering a dead rodent inside his computer. Friends started referring to him as the “dead mouse guy” soon after, and his online chat room handle became “deadmau5”. Joel had always been a tech wiz with an obsession for computers. He first dove into the music scene in 1997. While on the lookout for better production software, he stumbled upon Fruityloops 1.7. Although having no working music theory knowledge, Fruityloops allowed Joel to ‘plot’ musical ideas out with ease. To this day, he still uses the software for his productions.
“Zimmerman entered the scene early, stuck around, learned the tools of the trade and came out with something priceless on the other end: tons of experience and his own sound.” His creativity and innovation in sound design rapidly caught the attention of many. Joel has since released several dance albums, and has even been recognized by major networks such as MTV. He prides himself in having a signature sound and has rose to the top rapidly as a result. Deadmau5 now has sold out concerts all across the country, and is a true definition of success. He is actively involved in social media and communicates with fans through sites such as Ustream and Facebook.
Search up any camera or lens review on Youtube and you are likely to come across a Kai Wong video. He has been the face of DigitalRev TV since December of 2009, bringing over 100,000,000 views to the channel. With his witty and light-hearted approach to equipment reviews, Kai certainly knows how to grab the attention of the masses. He not only has an incredible amount of passion for photography, but is also a very lively and knowledgeable presenter with a wealth of information. His wit and humor allow for an entertaining watch, while allowing any consumer to make a firm decision on his or her purchase.
“Born and raised in the UK, Kai Wong chose Hong Kong to be his base in carving out his career, as his family traced its roots from there.” Originally having done humorous videos with the RedWolf Airsoft guys, Kai took his passion for street photography to DigitalRev. He has since contributed to well known photography sites such as Steve Huff Photos. Kai has most definitely become a celebrity of sorts within the photography and videography community and his reputation only continues to grow.
How to Find Your Inspiration and Ignite Creativity
Creativity is a very peculiar thing. It sometimes comes out of nowhere smacking us right in the face, resulting in that ‘Aha!’ moment while at other times it becomes almost nonexistent when we require it the most. While many feel that creativity comes from a collective of experiences which we have gathered throughout our lives, others believe it to be of a more mysterious and metaphysical place; external to our understanding. Despite its source, creativity has in fact been responsible for the success of many over the years whether in music, film, or business. From Beethoven’s works to the latest iPhone, creativity has been the driving force behind it all. One thing, however, is clear from this; ideas are powerful things. An idea can grow into something momentous and grand with the right force driving it.
Without having inspiration already seeded in one’s mind, how can a creative process even begin? Getting into a positive state of mind is a crucial start. Finding inspiration in one’s day is a necessity. Ideas will always flow out more readily when happier versus when miserable; a foggy mind will never function at its greatest potential. As a music producer, I often compose my best works when finding inspiration through other music or art. Inspiration ignites drive and that is the start to living more creatively. It is our responsibility to find out what makes us the happiest in our own individual lives; a passion is truly all we need at the end of the day.
Guest Post from Sagar Chokshi.
Sagar produces music under the name of Entraik and his full work can be found over on SoundCloud.
Zack Arias is a photographer based in Atlanta, GA. His specialty primarily lies within press and publicity photography for the music industry. He lost almost everything to debt at one point, but is now a renowned editorial and commercial photographer. Through struggle, Zack found a niche in white background portrait photography. He aims for his subjects to feel comfort around a camera, while maintaining a minimalistic and raw approach to his photography. His style is “simple, straightforward, bold, classic, true, and straight from camera.” The advice he puts out there for photographers in finding inspiration and success in the field is highly valuable. From finding one’s niche to the expectations for a first client are just a few of the topics he discusses in his videos. Zack Arias is a prime example of someone who excels in creativity, allowing him to become a highly inspirational figure for those wanting to pursue their passions.
We’ve all be there whether we are artists, writers, marketers, or musicians, we have hit a point where we don’t know what to do. Creative block can come in many shapes and forms, but how you handle it can make all the difference. Even better would be to avoid creative blocks all together and remain creative as often as possible. There are ways to boost your creativity all around you. Here’s three of our quick picks we use everyday.
Take a video - Videos hit many of our senses simultaneously and are great for stimulating some fun in your office or home. Get others involved even if they are quick videos like Vine or 1 Second Everyday. Taking a video is a great way to capture the memories that can slip away if left undocumented. Do yourselves a favor and start grabbing some memories to share today
Defocus - Turn off the tunnel vision. While taking things out of focus seems counterintuitive it is sometimes necessary. Focusing for too long will take things out of perspective and not allow you to move on. Dropping your work to watch a movie or take a jog can be really beneficial to the way you think and create.
Learn something new - Picking up a new tool or skillset can seem scary, but could prove to be the most valuable tool for boosting your creativity. Learning a new skill or picking up a new tool will force you to think in new ways. Some of our favorite tools can be found here.
Creativity can be tough to manage, but it is something that needs to be addressed every day of our lives. Whether you are learning something new, turning it off for a few minutes, or sitting back and recording life, you’ll definitely get your creative side reengaged.
These three services can help you maintain the job of your dreams.
There are many names for it: gig economy, Freelance Nation, and the creative class. Others give it quirky names like the “e-conomy.” But, what they are all saying is that there is a massive change in the way this generation treats their occupations. The Freelancers Union predicts that a third of the US economy adopts this new culture. This large number of freelancers is breaking free from the daily grind by leaving the security of their jobs so they can work on their dream jobs anytime and anywhere.
“Our current support system is based on a traditional employment model, where one worker must be tethered to one employer to receive those benefits. Given that fewer and fewer of us are working this way, it's time to build a new support system that allows for the flexible and mobile way that people are working.”
- Sara Horowitz, The Atlantic
There's the good news! There is a wealth of resources out there to help thrust your freelance career into success.
1. The Freelancers Union
Many people quitting the rat race think there is no security in the freelance world. The Freelancers Union is a nonprofit organization that provides the “gig generation” with services like health insurance, life insurance, and disability. These services elevate the security of your move to the freelance world. Think about the Freelancers Union as your HR department.
2. Tons of services
When you work as a freelance professional, you are your own secretary, accountant, and salesman. The worse part is there is no one to remind you to tend to these things. Mint.com [free] works as your accountant. It’s a free service that helps you manage your spending. Zoho CRM [free; subscription] helps you manage your clients, track your sales and automate some of your daily business activities. Finally, you can use a service like Square [free; subscription] to help you take credit card payments. With Square, you won’t have to turn down customers who are looking to pay you.
3. The community
Sometimes services and automation techniques don’t cut it. But fear not - there are tons of other people who live the freelance life. Many of them are around to give fearless feedback and expert advice. Gatherings around the world are the best solution if you are looking to network with others in your freelance industry. Visit Meetup.com and get access to all sorts of user groups and gatherings in your area.
Musicians, think about how wonderful it would be if your job was to belt out your favorite tunes to a cheerful crowd four times a week. Artists, how would your life change if all you had to do was unleash your expressions onto a canvas? If your dream is to achieve this level of freedom, all roads lead to acquiring a freelance lifestyle. No matter how scary it may seem, know that there is a growing community of fun-loving dreamchasers that have your back.
