Sometimes we just can’t get it all done.  Life is too busy, too crazy and moves too fast.  When there is an immediate, looming project that consumes us, we have difficulty having and doing it all.  By “it all”, I mean accomplishing all of the things that we really want to do as well as all of the “shoulds” in life.  And there are a lot of “shoulds” for an artist.

A partial list of “wants ” and “shoulds” for me includes:

            Creating art for my upcoming April show at Artists on Santa Fe Gallery;

            Sending out Mail Chimp invite regarding my upcoming show including the summer art fairs that I have been accepted into;

            Blogging;

            Reading and commenting on other blogs – such as:

http://rightbrainrockstar.com/general-advice/16-things-you-can-do-today-to-get-your-artwork-noticed/;

            Figuring out how to sell art on ebay;

            Determining which of the many websites to upload my art to;

            Posting my art in the many locations on the internet that I am already committed to such as Xanadu Gallery and Abstract Artists on Facebook;

            Reviewing Facebook postings and sharing those postings of other artists and venues;

            Basic house stuff – cleaning, cooking, paying bills, etc. (yes, I don’t yet have staff and my mother doesn’t live here);

Exercise and eating properly; and

            Hanging out with my sweetheart and my friends.

These are just a few of the many many MANY obligations in my life and probably in yours.  The burning question is how to prioritize; what to do and what to let go of.  My solution is as follows. 

First, I determine what absolutely must be done as well as what reaffirms me and keeps me sane and healthy.  So I make a list of what is most important.  Here’s my list:

1. I must create sufficient art for my upcoming April show at Artists on Santa Fe Gallery, lest I disappoint the Gallery and embarrass myself professionally. 

1. I must spend time with my sweetheart and my friends for my sanity and to maintain these all important relationships. 

1. I must exercise and eat properly to keep myself healthy and sane (and be prepared for my upcoming trip to Hawaii!  Think swimsuit!)

Everything else on my list either is not a priority or can wait a few days as I close in on completing sufficient art for my show.

My sweetheart, whose company I relish and who supports and sustains me, is a definite priority but (fortunately in this circumstance) he has a job which consumes at least 8 hours per day of his time. 

My friends, who also fall under the category of reaffirming, supporting, sustaining me, are completely understanding about me bowing out of some activities.  They know and understand that I must set aside mornings, right now all mornings, to work.  So they continue to invite me while understanding that I’m not totally available at the moment.

Exercise and eating correctly are critical components of my mental and physical health. 

I have found that nearly everything else can wait.  Housecleaning can for sure wait – other than the minimum necessary to keep my feet from sticking to the floor.  The bills can wait – a little bit, anyway.  Posting my work on line can wait – again, a little bit anyway. 

Prioritize.  That’s my solution to the dilemma of having only 24 hours in each day.