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There's a common misconception that creatives are disorganized and lack being prepared. I'm here to set the record straight... Kind of.
I agree that creatives are unique in how they work. The creative process is different for everyone because everyone is different in how they approach the creative process. That's why it's so important to approach creatives with that understanding. Not everyone is going to be the same with every project.
However, I do believe as creatives, we need to be taking the initiative in organizing how we work. This not only helps us in our process, but it also helps the communication process with co-workers or clients.
I've compiled a list of ways I organize my life both personally and in my work structure.
CALENDAR:
My wife will tell you (with which I agree) that I am not the best at keeping a calendar. However, I see the value in keeping my calendar as meticulous as possible. I have a personal family calendar that my wife and I share, and I have a work calendar that is viewable with my organization.
In the organization, this helps when others need to see my availability for scheduling. This is also a great way to create accountability with leadership.
My organization uses office 365, which comes with a slew of resources to help with communication and scheduling. One is called "teams." Teams have become one of the primary sources of communication with my team. It's a place where if I have a simple question, I can ask it directly in a chat and not send countless emails, and let's be honest; no one likes email! It also has features like video and audio chat, email and calendar sync, sharing files, and so much more.
TO-DO:
To-do lists are a great way to collect your thoughts and help navigate your day-to-day. My to-do list directly correlates with my calendar, and marking things off gives a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. The app I use, "tasks," syncs with my Gmail, so I can see it at a glance and make edits accordingly. (IOS - GOOGLE)
This is a great simple, clean app. However, there are countless options out there; all you have to do is search "to-do," and you'll be presented with a ton of options. Try some out and see which one best fits your needs.
You can also use a good old fashion notebook. I prefer both digital and tactile. Interestingly enough, research shows that writing by hand helps force your brain to process information in a more detailed way, which helps with memory retention.
TASK MANAGEMENT:
Within my organization, we juggle a tremendous amount of forms and requests. We oversee six websites, a photography team, video requests, multiple team schedules, and SO MUCH more. I can't imagine trying to juggle all of that without a home base.
The software we use is called ASANA. This is a great program that allows us to communicate deadlines, share files, assign tasks, and deliver resources. It can be used in a small personal format to a much larger organization. I cannot stress how valuable this is for my team on a day-to-day basis. There are other terrific options out there. However, Asana is the one that we have adopted, and it works great for us.
CLEAN WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
We've all seen it before, the cluttered, messy desk, or office of your creative co-worker. Now, this is more of a personal opinion. I'm not about to judge anyone on how they work, but I can't handle a cluttered working environment.
Starting my day is routine. I begin by making a cup of delicious fresh roasted coffee, and, yes, I am that coffee snob. Then I walk into my office, put away my backpack, and take out any necessary items. If anything on my desk needs to be put away or organized, that is the priority before I begin working.
For me, a cluttered working space is a cluttered headspace. I need things in order before I start a focused workday. Again, this is my personal opinion and how I operate, However, I encourage you to try it and see if it affects how you work.
These are just a few tips and tricks that have helped me in my day-to-day. If you have anything that could also help others in their creative process and work environment, let us know in the comments below.
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