120: Parkinson's Law
Use this to master your time!
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Welcome to Week 120 of the Draw or Die Club Newsletter for Artists.
Hey, did you know half the year is over? Often times when we get to this point, we think we blew it! We’ll never get that project done now, why even bother starting?!
That’s the trouble with time. We always seem to think we have more of it than we actually do, OR that we don’t have enough to do anything meaningful. It’s the ultimate excuse… “not enough time:
Let’s talk about a concept that might just change how you think about time, and your creative process and productivity: Parkinson’s Law.
Parkinson’s Law states: “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
Here’s a breakdown of what that means for us artists:
1. Time Constraints Influence Work: If you give yourself a week to finish a comic strip, or a new painting, it will take you a week. But if you only give yourself a day, you’ll find a way to complete it in a day. The task at hand will stretch (or shrink) to fit the deadline you set for yourself.
2. Avoiding Perfectionism: By setting shorter deadlines, you can avoid overthinking and overworking a piece. It forces you to focus on what’s essential, pushing you to prioritize and make decisions quickly, which can often lead to more dynamic and energetic work.
3. Boosting Creativity and Efficiency: Constraints can actually enhance creativity. When you know you have limited time, you tend to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions more quickly. This can lead to fresher, more spontaneous art.
4. Preventing Procrastination: If you know you have plenty of time, it’s easy to put off starting. But a tighter deadline means you have to dive in right away, which can help build momentum and keep you productive.
Applying Parkinson’s Law to Your Art
• Set Clear, Short Deadlines: Break your projects into smaller tasks and set short, clear deadlines for each one. For example, if you’re working on a comic strip like I am, maybe give yourself a day to focus on outlines, another day dedicated to sketching, and so on.
• Stick to the Schedule: Be disciplined about sticking to your deadlines. Treat them as non-negotiable.
• Embrace Imperfection: Remember that done is better than perfect. Each piece you finish adds to your growth as an artist.
• Review and Adjust: After completing a few projects, review your process. Were the deadlines realistic? Did you find yourself more productive and creative? Adjust your approach as needed.
By understanding and leveraging Parkinson’s Law, you can manage your time better, reduce stress, and increase your productivity.
Right now, I’m personally running on Parkinson’s Law.
I have lot of irons in the fire behind the scenes. Beyond just producing a daily comic strip for VeeFriends, I’m also writing and lettering the first comic book, putting on livestreams and traveling around to some shows. PLUS doing my best to run our little brand and spend a little time talking to as many artists as I can who message or send questions in through DM, e-mails, or comments on Youtube.
No doubt, it’s a lot. I haven’t had much time to do videos for my channel BUT you can catch me this week on VeeFriends channels Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am-9:30AM EST.
Wanna Win this VeeFriends Original Artist Trading Card?
There’s still time Sunday- Simply comment over on THIS instagram post using the word “losing” in your comment by EOD today.
I’ll do a random drawing on Monday’s comic stream, around 9:10 AM EST
Today’s Drawing Prompt…
“TIME’S A TICK’N!”
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear or read that? DRAW IT OUT!
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Back to the drawing board for me!!!
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Ooof. I use lack of time as an excuse too often. Good reminder though.