Making time for Side Projects (and the Art of Balance)

If you read my last post, you'll know that I'm taking part in a 10-day challenge to create and launch a product. What you might not know, is that I've been working up to doing this for well over a year now.

So why the wait? Simple enough really - I never believed that what I had to offer could be given out in that sort of format.

But then the other day, thanks to a wonderful biz bestie, I realised something that I think many of us are guilty of, when we look to create sources of income as a business owner or freelancer. And that thing I realised?

We really, really DON'T need to overcomplicate things.

And that's why I'm so grateful to Gumroad for running this challenge. It's helped me realise that small products can be good - that I still do work well to deadlines.

They've helped me realise that the best ideas can come from the knowledge you already have - and that you don't have to create something completely ground-breaking to help people.

I have a habit of creating something out of nothing when it comes to my ideas. I think of idea after idea and once I latch onto an idea that I think has real potential - that idea grows and grows and grows. Heck, even The Revolutionary Brand Toolkit grew much larger than I ever anticipated. And on top of that, I have HUGE plans for how to extend that even further.

But sometimes, the best ideas are the most simple ones.

I am taking knowledge that I already have, that I already use in practice in my daily work with my wonderful branding clients...and I'm sharing it and making it more accessible to others. It's a side project, yes, but I'm slowly morphing to work both 1:1 doing design, branding and websites - but I'm shifting perspective to work on my own products and larger offerings too. I'm creating another level for people to interact with me and my work. I'm getting to help shape more brands, which is something I've always wanted to do. I'm, hopefully, eventually, going to create more impact.

The Art of Balance

Now I said earlier - I get idea after idea after idea. I have so many ideas that I sometimes don't know how or when I'll ever be able to get to them. And then there are some ideas that are just too juicy, too exciting, to let go.

But how do you balance working on these ideas, projects and callings - without sacrificing everything else in the process?

It is so easy to become overwhelmed with our "next big thing" and want to devote all of our time to it. But that isn't healthy.

Instead, what you need to do is take the time to balance everything out. Make time to work on your day job - whether that IS an actual day job, or just your regular 1:1 client work - and do the work you're here to do. Make time to relax, disconnect and spend time with your loved ones, if that's what you like to do. And THEN make the time for your ideas.

If you're like me, and you're a constant creator and want to be doing it all - then I'm here to tell you that you CAN do that. It's all about perspective, balance and consistency: keep your perspective shifted so that you are constantly keeping an eye on your bigger picture (whatever that may be); balance your life so that your priorities are met (whatever they may be); and keep it consistent.

But - where do I find the time?

The answer to that is the golden ticket, lovely.

I'm a big believer in life being what you make of it.

Not too long ago, I finished listening to the audiobook version of The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. The book is excellent in many other ways, but the bit that has stuck out to me is a concept by Mr Hendricks that he likes to call "Einstein Time". This has stuck with me over everything else I learned from that book.

And the concept of Einstein Time is that YOU are time - you can make as MUCH of it as you want!

Now that might seem kinda crazy. Of course, there are only 24 hours in each day, 60 minutes in every hour and 60 seconds in every minute.

But what I take from this, is that time is infinite yet constant. Time is what we make of it. We have all of the time in the world available to us - it's just what we do with it that matters.

And that's why I've decided to dedicate 10 days of my life to achieving the art of balance - working on what matters, making time for my priorities and launching a product. 🙂

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About Rachilli Creative Studio.

Rachilli is a creative studio dedicating to helping create more authentic brands for creative brands & businesses ready to grow deeper roots with their audience & build their business in a more aligned way.

Rachilli is also committed to helping empower other's with chronic illness to carve their own path and create a life & business that works for them and to lead the way by creating a platform for, and being a voice alongside, those with chronic illness in business.

Rachel, the founder, is an award-winning designer and photographer, published logo designer and author, and is dog mama to two - slightly crazy - pups, Storm & Jasper.

My Core Values.

Create with intentional flow.

Grow community through connection.

Be courageously creative.

Ground my work in deeper roots.

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