I work a lot. Probably too much. That’s not to say I deserve pity or commendation. It’s just that sometimes it’s easier to keep working than it is to just stop and relax. The vicious circle of “get it done today, or have it waiting for you tomorrow” is truly … vicious.
For a lot of musicians out there, having too much to do is coupled with the inability to prioritize. I know I need to be Tweeting, booking gigs, focusing on sales, rehearsing, writing, and they’re all equally important, right? Where do you start?
The better question is: when do you stop?
Friday night was spent at a CD release party for an artist, but for the first hour, I was tucked in the corner, iPhone in hand responding to a deluge of emails. There was beer, music, and fun all around me, but I was answering emails! Insane, right?
After this “epiphany” I tried something random: for the remainder of the weekend I didn’t look at my email. Admittedly that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but with a computer at home and an iPhone in my pocket, my email follows me everywhere I go. The panic of not being caught up to everyone else was palpable.
Interestingly, I got an angry phone call from a couple people who had sent me an (unanswered) email. My reply, “Gee, I didn’t check my email this weekend” was met with disgust. It seemed almost elitist, amazingly cavalier, and showed utter disregard for the sender. But then, if it was so important, why didn’t they just call me to begin with?
Without the email to deal with, there was a pleasant sense of distance from matters of work. I was able to relax, unwind, and have a weekend.
When I got to work on Monday, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself more productive than normal. The batteries seemed recharged, and I tore through a bunch of stuff, email included.
One other tip that makes a big difference: The Daily List
When I get to the office (earlier than I probably should…), I make a list of everything that has to get accomplished that day. This isn’t the list of everything I have to do for the next week — just what has to get done THAT day. If I get through the list, I’m done. Sometimes, if it’s not “quitting time,” I’ll move on to some other stuff. But I know that I can stop when I finish my list. I’ve moved things forward, and now it’s time to step away. Of course the list can change during the day, but knowing when to stop adding items is critical. Balance is key. All work and no play makes you a very cranky guy.
So as you musicians and workaholics try to figure out how to prioritize everything you’re doing, remember to give yourself that little bit of distance from what you’re doing all week. And be sure to keep realistic goals. Non-stop work will wear you down. And your non-work time isn’t remotely beneficial if you’re just “glancing” at email or dashing off a quick reply.
But then, you’re probably reading this at 2 AM ‘cuz you just finished a blog post and you’re about to start something else, and you’ve gotta get some sleep so you can wake up in time to go to work  and you just realized you haven’t eaten anything since breakfast … right?
