A Goal is a Dream with a Deadline
Somedays I woke up with so much on my mind that it felt overwhelming to just figure where to start. Somedays I would get stuff done but it exhausted me too much to do anything else. The guilt of not practicing enough or not making time for practice always lingered on me. As a serial 'overcommitter', I have realized that I will bite more than I can chew. Accepting that took a while but now that I have, I have tried a bunch of different things to make this work for me. I'm listing out a few things that have worked for me and i hope they do for you too!
Be Your Own (Time) Manager
I cannot stress enough about the importance of time management for a dancer. Between work, family and friends, it's easy to become overwhelmed with tasks that need completing. The typical demands of a young dancers life wary between making time for school, dance class and self practice. But as you get older life demands your time and dance gets wedged out. So unless you make a structured plan for your day, it will always be challenging to let dance be an integral part of your life. Ive listed out a few ways to organize your schedule so that nothing falls through the cracks.
Set Goals
Break down large goals into smaller tasks. I carefully breakdown my goals on a monthly basis into long term, short term and quick fix lists. A long term goal obviously needs planning and many little tasks to get there and so I make schedules to distribute them through the month.
Set a deadline for each goal, so that you know when you need to accomplish it by (and how much time you have).
Plan in advance
Planning ahead is the simplest way to avoid procrastination and stress, and it's also a great way to make sure that you have time for everything in your life. If you plan out your day before it begins, then there's no need for last-minute rushing or stressing over whether or not something will get done.
The most effective way I've found for planning my tasks is by making a to do list before going to bed at night. I also sleep better knowing I have a plan in place for the next day and all I need to do is stick to my list.
I am a sucker for good stationary so I always have a really cute planner on hand and use colored pen, stickers and anything else that keeps me engaged in this process. My planner has different pages for goals and habit tracking so I like logging in my practice session here too.
Practice Brain Dumping
A brain dump is a technique used to clear your mind by writing down everything you need to remember. It can be helpful when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, or when you want to get organized.
When your mind is cluttered, it’s difficult to focus and think straight. This technique can help get all of the stray thoughts out of your head so you can focus on the task at hand.
It can be easy to end up with a lot of tasks and ideas floating around in your head. This can be overwhelming and cause you to feel stressed or anxious. It can create a feeling like you’re constantly forgetting something or that there are many things you haven’t done.
When you brain dump, you transfer all of those thoughts from your head onto paper. This helps to clear your mind and makes it easier to focus on what’s important – safe in the knowledge that the task is recorded somewhere and not about to be forgotten. You can then create a plan of action to manage the things you truly need to get done and focus on the tasks that will move you towards your goals.
Prioritize your tasks
While writing out my to do list for the day I keep a few things in mind so I know what I want to get to first.
Prioritize tasks by importance
Prioritize tasks by urgency
Prioritize tasks by time availability
Prioritize tasks by level of enjoyment!
I like getting the big stuff out of the way in the morning and the enjoyable stuff in the evenings after my classes. Do what suits you best.
Structure your day
Brahma Mohooratam, a 45-minute span that begins just before sunrise and lasts until 45 minutes after it, is considered the most auspicious time of day. It is believed that the time between 4 and 6 in the morning is when your mind is at its most clear, making it easier to tap into its full potential.
I structure my day so that I tackle the most intellectually demanding task first thing in the morning, when concentration is at its peak.
I write, read or choreograph at this hour and enjoy my morning silence. My day gets off to a beautiful tone and I feel accomplished before anyone else has even started their day.
I usually end my morning session with a short meditation before I jump into everything else on my list.
Assign a time period for a certain task and if you run out of time, push it to the next day. Don't get hung up on the little things. It will leave you exhausted and feeling unaccomplished. Tell yourself that there are so many other things to get to and you will come around to it soon. Commit to doing this tomorrow.
Find a Routine that works for you
Routines are important because they help you build structure into your day. When you have a routine, it's easier to remember what to do and when, which means less stress and more focus on the task at hand. Routines can be anything from waking up early every morning or going for a walk after dinner each night.
I like to build a weekly routine for my exercise schedule. Each week I perform strength training, pilates, walks and dance practice—and I also rest on days in between workouts. Setting aside a day for each thing keeps me stress free and helps me manage my guilt of "not doing enough"; A constant struggle in a dancer's life.
Add an activity that you look forward to everyday in your routine. I love my walks with my dog. Its a short 15 min walk around the block usually but its clears my mind in the simplest way. Somedays its with my husband or on most days I have podcasts lined up on my phone waiting to be heard. I specifically pick the ones that last 15-20 mins and no longer than that.
Take a moment to breathe
Breathing helps you focus on what is going on around you instead of being overwhelmed by life's daily stresses.
It might not be evident but being a dancer means learning to wear many caps at a time. Backstage and on stage can be stressful places and the pressure to attain perfection can get to us in different ways. My daily practice of quiet time really helps me focus on all the little details I need to tie together to pull off my long and short term goals.
Meditation requires practice but it is by far the most effective tool in keeping your mind and body in check. I love my moments of self connection. I take a 10 minute breather after my morning session of work. Do what works for you but give it some time to feel natural to you.
I hope this post will help you understand the importance of time management and how it can help improve your life. Remember that there is no one right way to manage time; what works for one person may not work for another.
The most important thing is finding a routine that fits your needs and lifestyle so that you can feel productive in whatever situation!
