Karen Brown Tyson

Category: Creative entrepreneur

Relaxed Productivity: How to Add Calm and Focus to Your Side Gig
Starting a new side gig is exciting. You wake up every day eager and focused on getting your product or service into the hands of new customers. But as time moves on, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do. Then, before you know it, you feel frazzled as you start to lose focus.

But what if I told you there are ways to make your side gig less stressful and more productive? I will share some tips for relaxing while you work in this post. By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you’ll find it easier to stay focused and get things done. So let’s dive in!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Schedule regular brain dumps

When I try to hold all of my thoughts, ideas, and tasks inside my mind, I start to feel overwhelmed. So to add calm to my day, I like to do brain dumps. Brain dumping is a technique that helps you clear your mind and organize thoughts. It makes it easier to focus on things that need to be done instead of just letting everything bounce around in your head without any organization or structure. I use a brain dump list to get everything out of my head and organize it based on what’s important. Depending on the project, I use different notebooks, flipchart paper, PowerSheets, or Workflowy. For your brain dump sessions, find what works for you.

Identify your priorities weekly

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey popularized a theory from President Eisenhower called “The Decision Matrix.” This matrix consists of four boxes that describe different types or levels of importance and urgency. The quadrants are — 1) Urgent/Important; 2) Not urgent but important; 3) Urgent/Not Important; and 4) Not Urgent and Not Important. These labels can help solopreneurs, and creative entrepreneurs identify what they should think about, not waste unnecessary thought or energy.

When I am overwhelmed, I start prioritizing my to-do list with the method below:
- Urgent & Important = tasks I need to do this week, like client assignments or get a post ready for next week.
- Urgent & Not Important = things I can delegate, such as trips to the office supply store.
- Not Urgent but Important = these are important things, but they do not need to be done now. Some examples include buying a gift or having lunch to catch up with a friend.
- Not Urgent & Not Important = these are things that can be deleted or scheduled for later.
Once I understand what’s on my to-do list, I then decide what are the three most important tasks I need to work on each day. Since I get up early every day, I like to knock out my three most important tasks first. Now, if you work all night, say from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., you may not be able to tackle your three most important tasks until the afternoon or whenever you wake up. The point is that you divide and conquer. Prioritize your to-do list by identifying the top three tasks you need to accomplish each day based on urgency and importance. Here are a few planning worksheets to get you started.

Set boundaries between your day job and your side gig

Stress can creep in if you have a full-time job and a side gig. As much as possible, avoid letting your full-time job collide with your side gig. For example, don’t work on tasks for your side gig when you’re scheduled to work your 9-to-5 job. Doing so will only add stress to your day. Instead, schedule time on your calendar where you can work on your business without feeling guilty about neglecting your day job.

Make time to see the positive in each day

Waking up and going to bed with what seems like tons of work can feel overwhelming. However, studies show that if we make an effort to see the positive each day, we can develop an optimistic outlook. One of the things I like to do to stay positive is write in my gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a great way to reflect on people you appreciate or ways your day was unique and special. I like to reflect on the things I’m grateful for and any accomplishments made throughout the day.

Take a brain break from your side gig

Managing a side gig takes a lot of time and energy. In addition to running a business, you might be in a season of your life that’s very busy – maybe you have a new baby, or perhaps you’re caring for a family member – be kind to yourself. Pick one day per week to take a break from your day job and your side gig. Give your brain a chance to rest and recharge each week. Go to a movie, read a book, or try a new spin class at the gym. Then, when you return to your side gig, you will feel refreshed.
January 27, 2022
How to Boost Your Creativity with a Little Bit of Structure

Creativity is an amazing talent to possess, but it can be easy to get lost in the chaos of ideas swirling around in your head. That’s where I use structure to help me keep everything together. Instead of trying to brainstorm and execute in a haphazard way, try setting up some organization for your creativity to flourish. With a little bit of structure, you’ll be amazed at how your creativity flows.

Photo from Adobe Stock

When talking to some creative entrepreneurs, there is a sense that structure limits flow. There is concern that structure may stop us from creating our best work. For this reason, it can be easy to throw structure out the window. It sometimes feels hard to apply processes like outlines, deadlines, or other creative limitations when we’re trying our absolute hardest to get through one day without feeling restricted by some outside force.

But with uncertainty comes confusion. I find it difficult to concentrate without direction. In the past, I ended up working harder, not smarter, by being less productive.

It can be hard to reach the perfect flow without any direction if you’re anything like me. But, even if it’s a simple outline on a napkin or sticky note, I find that some type of direction is better than nothing at all. So here are five tips on applying a little bit of structure to the creative process.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

#1 Use regular brainstorming sessions to maintain creativity

Every creative project deserves at least one brainstorming session. Brainstorming is a great way to explore various ideas and options before starting any creative project.

Whether you decide to conduct research, talk to friends, use photos, or pull out the whiteboard, brainstorming may be the boost your project needs to get started.

#2 Allow scheduling to help you stay on track

Creativity is messy. Some creative entrepreneurs hear the sound of a schedule and cringe. However, scheduling time for your creative work offers the organization you need to help you focus. When do you have the most energy during the day? At what time of day do you get your best ideas? During these times, schedule time to capture your ideas. Then, write your thoughts down in a journal or notebook.

#3 Declutter your work environment

To say creativity can be messy is an understatement. Caught up in the passion of using your imagination to connect unseen dots does not always result in a clean environment. However, when the clutter builds up, it is no longer a representation of the method to your madness but rather a blockage. So keep your creative workspace clear of unnecessary clutter.

#4 Find tools that help you stay creative

After brainstorming, scheduling, and cleaning, you might wonder how to add structure to your creative process. Since inspiration can strike at any time, always have something handy to capture ideas, whether a recorder, camera, or notebook.

I also like to use tools that help me stay creative. I’ve used PowerPoint, Adobe, and Microsoft Word to create graphics, presentations, and templates in the past. Today, I use Canva, the perfect online graphic design tool that anyone can use. With its intuitive and straightforward interface, you can create beautiful designs.

#5 Use deadlines to reach your goals

The first step in managing a project is setting yourself a reasonable deadline because then you can work backward from that point and make sure it gets done. Next, you can use a simple planner to organize your project. I always start with a deadline and end goal in mind. Then, I set aside specific blocks of time to get each component done. Using deadlines allows me to utilize my time effectively while leaving room for new perspectives, changes, or mishaps. Most importantly, it limits procrastination. The earlier I complete one project, the quicker I can move on to the next.

January 13, 2022
Work Smarter, Not Harder: 5 Ways to Be More Efficient

How many times have you heard the phrase, “work smarter, not harder?” I’m guessing you’ve heard this slogan dozens of times. But sometimes, working smarter seems easier said than done.

As a creative entrepreneur, I’m sure you have a lot you need to get done. So it’s easy to think you have to get it all done at once. When I first started my business, I was so excited to see my dream come to life. I found myself seeing every task as urgent. It wasn’t long before I had to return to a few of the efficiency strategies I used in my corporate life.

Fast forward to today, I have more client assignments, more tasks, and less time. Working smarter, not harder, is more critical now than ever if you’re anything like me. If you need a few tips on working smarter, not harder, here are five ways to be more efficient.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Don’t start before you plan

First things first – if I don’t make time to plan, I waste loads of time. I know a lot of people who see planning as unnecessary, especially to the creative mind who wants to flow freely. But the secret to getting things done involves planning. So if you want to get more done, try planning.

Of course, it might seem impossible to plan when creativity will strike. Don’t wait for creativity to strike. Schedule time on your calendar for writing, researching, filming, and all the other components of the content creation process. Planning will keep you on track and ensure that you meet your goal.

Work in smaller bits

The idea of tackling a big project can be overwhelming. When I talk to people about writing a book, some of them admit that the idea of writing a book from beginning to end seems complicated. The best way to get to the end of big projects is by breaking them up into smaller bits.

By breaking up my larger project into smaller bits, I can focus on one part at a time. In addition, this approach keeps me motivated to get each step done. As I check off each smaller task, I gain momentum and feel inspired to get the entire project done.

Master the art of delegation

Let’s not argue on this one. You have a lot of work to do. However, some people have the skills you need to tackle some of the tasks on your desk. For example, if you are a writer, you could consider hiring someone on Fiverr to tackle the research phase of your project. You could also hire a virtual assistant to vet clients for you before you accept projects. By leveraging the time and talent of others, you could significantly increase your productivity.

Fight the itch to multitask

Too many creatives work like circus jugglers. We create videos, write content, have a full-time job, and tackle multiple client projects simultaneously. Rather than working on one thing at a time, we try to multitask. An article by NPR exposes the myth of multitasking. We often think we are getting a lot done because we are so busy doing many things. Unfortunately, this affects efficiency. Instead, focus on one task at a time.

Using a timer to complete tasks

It’s easy to get carried away with the tasks we enjoy. But, ironically, it is also easy to spend lots of time on tasks that we don’t want. An effective way to maintain efficiency is to set a timer for tasks. For example, suppose you have scheduled one hour in the morning to respond to your community or four hours for blog writing. Set a timer on your phone that will alert you when the time is up. This approach will help to ensure that you do not spend too much time or too little time on tasks.

Becoming more efficient doesn’t happen overnight. Therefore, make sure you extend grace to yourself when you have not as productive days as you’d like. Keep working, keep creating, and keep inspiring those who are watching your story unfold.

November 18, 2021
5 Daily Habits to Help Boost Your Creative Confidence
If you had all the creative self-confidence in the world, what would you do? As creative entrepreneurs, we face a lot of obstacles, including confidence in our creative abilities.

Unfortunately, when it comes to mindset as creative entrepreneurs, we sometimes do things that limit our growth. Self-doubt, negative self-talk, and fear are some of the obstacles that block our path.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I say, ‘Enough already.’

Whether you run a full-time or part-time creative business or write, paint, blog, make music or videos, we don’t have time to let self-doubt, negative thoughts, or fear hold us back from reaching our goals.

To help me stay on track, I rely on Isaiah 41:10:

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.

In today’s post, I’m sharing five daily habits to help boost your creative confidence.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

What is a habit?

A habit is a learned behavior that becomes automatic over time. A specific setting often triggers the behavior. For example, you may automatically brush your teeth before going to bed as part of your nighttime routine.

Habits can be healthy, unhealthy, or neutral. For example, a healthy habit might be stretching for ten minutes a day or writing in your journal at the end of the day. An unhealthy habit could be biting your fingernails or texting while driving. An example of a neutral habit would be eating the same things for breakfast every morning or taking the same route to work every day.

How to break a habit?

To break a habit, especially an unhealthy habit affecting creative self-confidence, it’s important to:
- First, pay attention to the triggers that feed into the bad habit.
- Then, replace the unhealthy habit with a positive one.
- Finally, get help from friends, family, and other professionals as needed.
5 Daily habits to help boost creative confidence

Start the day with a journal

At the start of my day, I like to write in my journal or idea notebook. This has helped clear my mind before I start working on my client assignments. I like to write for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t have much time, write a few sentences. Carry your journal or notebook with you throughout the day. If you need a break or if new ideas come to mind that you don’t want to forget, write them down.

Set daily goals

Every day I like to write down the three most important tasks for the day in my productivity notebook. Each task is associated with one of my goals. When you set a goal, it’s important to review your plan for achieving that dream. You may find yourself forgetting about what was most important because life gets busy, and new things are always coming up. Setting aside time every day can help remind us of our dreams, so we don’t lose focus or motivation when faced with challenges along the way. Once I accomplish my three most important tasks for the day, I feel inspired to keep moving forward.

Use time-blocking to manage your daily schedule

Nothing kills your confidence like losing track of time. Have you ever sat down to work but had no idea where to start? I have, and it can be frustrating. However, I save a lot of mental energy by planning out what I need to work on ahead of time. I like this technique called “time blocking.” Time block everything on your list and see how much progress (in hours) might happen during each specific timeframe; don’t forget about any important deadlines or events either–they need attention too. Through time-blocking, I feel confident and in control of my day.

Set phone boundaries

Do you ever find yourself checking your phone every few minutes? While working on my second book, I fell into the habit of constantly checking my phone. I was checking email, answering text messages, or reading my USA Today app. Before I knew it, my focus and flow were shot. To get back on track to finish the book, I started to limit the time I spent on my phone by setting boundaries. First, I only looked at my emails at scheduled times throughout the day. Next, I dedicated one-hour time blocks to work on projects before taking a break. Finally, I put my phone in a separate room during work hours.

Finish the day with a review

As part of my evening routine, I review the day and plan for tomorrow using a notebook. This 5-minute process helps me to prepare for what’s ahead in an organized manner. After reviewing what I accomplished and understanding what needs to be done, I feel productive and more confident to start again the next day.

As creative entrepreneurs, it’s easy to lose confidence from time to time. But trust the process. Establish a few habits that work for you and help you stay on track. Give yourself permission to learn, make mistakes, and try again. You never know whose life your work with touch. Build your confidence day by day, and keep moving forward.
October 21, 2021
30 Ways to Help You Reset Your Creative Time, Mind and Soul

Since starting my business in 2018, I have been going nonstop. My days have been filled with client meetings, freelance assignments, speaking engagements, writing books, teaching classes, and community service. I’m grateful for everything God leads me to do. My public relations, corporate, and marketing communications background has helped me develop creative ways to grow my business. But lately, it seemed like my beautiful, creative life was moving into overdrive. By the time I reached August 2021, my creative time, mind, and soul were running on fumes.

As someone all about continuous improvement, I decided to use some of my Lean Six Sigma training. From my days in corporate America, I learned to use Lean Six Sigma to make things better. So, how was I going to improve my creative time, mind, and soul? I decided to hit the reset button (one of my favorite things to do).

While I was on a business retreat, I challenged myself to do one of three things: 1) Keep the habits I know work for me, 2) Return to the habits I stopped doing, or 3) try some new things for 30 days. This process helped me reset my creative time, mind, and soul while helping me find new sanity-saving routines.

Since I strongly believe in Hebrews 10:24:

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works.

I thought I would share some of the ideas I came up with for myself and add a few to give you 30 ways to reset your creative time, mind, and soul, too. My prayer is that these ideas will inspire you to add something different to your creative life.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Mind

Adjust your thinking every day.

The way you think can affect many things in your life, including how you work. For example, holding onto negative thoughts or replaying bad memories can put a damper on your mindset. So at the start of each day, adjust your thinking to focus on positive thoughts.

Read 5 pages each day.

Reading 5 pages a day is a great way to relax. But remember…if you don’t like to read, try audiobooks!

Exercise your brain.

Give your brain a break from work. Exercise your brain by learning a new language, playing games, and taking a cooking class.

Take a walk.

Going for a walk isn’t just good for the body; it’s also great for the mind. It can help improve your mood and let you clear your head at night after a stressful day.

Allow yourself to make changes in your day.

When you feel like something is off with your day, take a moment to reflect on what that might be. Then, whatever it is, permit yourself to change things up.

Schedule regular “me-time” moments.

You deserve to take a break from your hectic schedule. So make sure you have the time to relax and unwind every day.

Keep a self-care journal.

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I recommend keeping a journal and writing down your feelings regularly. This will help you feel better and think more clearly throughout the day.

Schedule regular breaks to unplug.

It’s important to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to help you stay focused.

Close your eyes for 30 seconds.

You should close your eyes for about thirty seconds. It’s an easy way to relax and reduce stress.

Step away from social media one day per week.

I recommend that you give yourself a break from social media every once in a while. I do it once a week, and it really helps me stay focused.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Soul

Schedule moments of silence and solitude.

One technique I use to keep balanced is creating moments of silence and solitude. Taking time out every day for focused reflection helps reduce stress, making me more productive.

Meditate on Scripture.

Scripture meditation is an excellent way to quiet your mind and rest in the presence of God.



Surround yourself with positive affirmations.

I think the best way to achieve your goals is by surrounding yourself with positive affirmations. That’s why I created a list of my own, and I hang it on my wall so that they’re always in front of me.



Find a way to encourage someone daily.

One of the best ways to nurture your creative soul is by encouraging others. So keep an eye out for opportunities to pat others on the back or make someone smile!

Help someone in need.

Consider volunteering. Not only will you be helping someone in need, but you could also make a new friend and improve your community.

Create a wind-down routine.

It’s important to set aside time each day to decompress from work. Even if you only have a few minutes, it can make a big difference in your mental health and well-being. Try doing something you enjoy, like taking a hot bath, listening to music, or reading a book.



Warm yourself with a cup of tea.

A nice cup of tea is always soothing. If you find yourself feeling stressed, try some chamomile flowers or mint leaves for a calming effect.

Record your thoughts in a gratitude journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal is important because it will help you appreciate the little things in life.



Remove clutter from your work and living spaces.

Clutter can make even the most organized person feel disorganized. Not only does it take up your space, but it could also be a distraction! However, cleaning your home and workspace is a great way to feel refreshed. You can start by purging the items you don’t need and then organize what’s left.

Dream BIG!

The best way to take care of your creative soul is by dreaming big. Make time in your day to think of all the possibilities that are out there for you. If you need an inspiring book, consider Bob Goff’s book, Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Time

Work on your most creative and fulfilling projects when your energy level is high.

I am a morning person. I wake up every day around 4 a.m. to begin my day. My problem is that I have been trying to work all day and half the night. As you can imagine, I start to lose steam by 7 or 8 p.m. So instead of spreading my creative projects over the day, I set aside a certain amount of hours each morning. I’m using my afternoons for non-creative tasks, meetings, and emails.

Focus on 3 daily goals instead of monthly goals.

Although I have a planner that outlines my monthly goals, I’ve been using daily goals to make it through each day. Using a combination of notebooks and Post-It Notes, I write out my 3 most important daily goals each morning.

Build a habit of single-tasking

In my attempt to do as much in a day as possible, I fell into the trap of multitasking. Instead of getting more done, it only left me feeling overwhelmed. So, using my PomoDone App, I switched to single-tasking by focusing on one task at a time.

Adopt the time-blocking method

Time blocking is a technique used to plan out every moment of your day in advance and dedicate specific time blocks for certain tasks or responsibilities. Once I started time blocking, I felt more control over my time and the tasks I needed to complete.

Batch email time

Nothing kills your creative time like email. Don’t get me wrong; I love email. But when I found myself reading every email as it popped into my inbox, I knew I had a problem. So, I decided to schedule the times when I would read and respond to my emails. Then, outside of my scheduled time, I turned my email off to avoid interruptions.

Start a creativity journal.

The best way to ensure that you stay inspired and creative is by journaling. The process of writing ideas down will help you keep track of the concepts, and it allows for reflection, which can serve as inspiration in future challenges.

Switch up your work environment.

To focus better, don’t be afraid to move to a different work environment. Clear out distractions like clutter and use sounds, light, plants to help guide your attention in the right direction.

Don’t let productivity kill your creativity.

Productivity is vital in any business, but don’t let that stand in your way of being creative. If a cluttered desk or work table helps you think and works for you, don’t feel the need to change. Instead, focus on surrounding yourself with the things you need to keep your creative juices flowing.

Make time to daydream.

I can remember when people would say, Get your head out of the clouds! While this statement was meant to stop people from daydreaming, the clouds may be the perfect place for creative entrepreneurs—schedule time to daydream or brainstorm new ideas or products.

Test your ideas.

As your ideas move from daydreams to actual products, make time to test your ideas. With each test, you will be inspired to make changes and keep moving forward.

How have you reset your creative mind, soul, and time?

September 9, 2021