“How do you do all the things you do? Don’t you ever sleep?”
People ask me that all the time. Often it’s said with a laugh, but sometimes they genuinely wonder. I wish I could get by on less sleep—imagine how many more quilts I could finish or chapters I could write with an extra hour or two each day—but I need eight hours every night. Anything less and I’m not myself.
Still, I manage to get a lot done. Not always everything I’d like, but more than I used to. The truth is I’ve learned to manage my time well. It didn’t come naturally.
Some people seem to have organization and time management hardwired. In my experience, they’re often the math- and science-loving, left-brained types who find satisfaction in lists and numbered columns that always balance. I admired them from afar, but they weren’t my people.
Like many creatives, I started out as a right-brained person who relied on intuition and improvisation. You know the type: misplacing car keys, leaving the house with mismatched shoes, librarians issuing reminders, and preferring a cluttered desk because a “clean desk is a sign of a frightened mind.”
I love the instincts that make me creative, but living with daily disorganization and the stress it brings left me feeling constantly behind. The desire to reduce that stress, act on more creative ideas, and simply enjoy life more pushed me to learn better ways to use my time.
It’s been a journey of discovery, experimentation, failures, and successes. I won’t claim to have a perfect system—time management is always a work in progress—but I’m far better at it than I used to be.
The first step was confronting common time-management myths that can sabotage your efforts before you even start. Here are a few I’ve encountered.
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN ORGANIZED. I’M NOT ONE OF THEM.
Yes, some people appear naturally organized. But organization is a skill you can develop if you want to. Calling yourself “disorganized” can easily become an excuse that keeps you stuck. If you’re content with chaos and missed deadlines, that’s a choice—but don’t confuse it with an inability to change.
If I can become more organized, so can you. It takes intention and practice, not a special gene.
THE MYTH OF MULTITASKING
Multitasking sounds impressive, but often it’s counterproductive. There are obvious exceptions—walking while talking on the phone, knitting while watching a mindless show—but for tasks that require focus, splitting attention usually means doing each task less well. Trying to be fully attentive to two demanding tasks at once is nearly impossible.
I learned this the hard way—countless rows of knitting unraveled after I tried to watch a movie and knit at the same time. If you want quality results, give one task your attention at a time.
PLANNERS AND TO-DO LISTS
I’m a devoted list-maker and big fan of a well-designed planner. Using a planner helps me set realistic goals, break them into steps, and schedule time for the work that matters. My planner keeps my priorities visible and has saved my sanity more than once.
That said, a planner is only useful if you actually use it. Buying a planner and never scheduling time in it is like sleeping with a geography book under your pillow hoping to become an explorer. To benefit from a planner you need to block time for planning—try spending time each Sunday evening mapping your week—and then follow through. It requires an upfront investment of time but pays off.
TECHNOLOGY MAKES YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE
Technology can help, but it’s not a guaranteed productivity boost. There are countless apps and tools that promise efficiency, and some really do help. At the same time, technology creates endless opportunities for interruption. Email, social media, notifications, and nonstop connectivity compete for our attention. Studies show we process far more information now than decades ago, and that constant influx makes it harder to focus.
I use helpful tools selectively and guard my focused work time jealously. Technology can support your productivity, but the real key is setting boundaries—deciding when you’ll be available and when you will not be interrupted.
WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF TIME MANAGEMENT, I CAN DO IT ALL
No matter how disciplined you become, you can’t do everything. Time is finite. You can become far more productive by eliminating waste and focusing your energy, but no trick will create extra hours. Even if you cut out TV, social media, and other distractions, you will still need to choose what to prioritize.
What you can do is set clear boundaries and make deliberate choices about where to spend your time. Saying no is a skill, and it can be hard—especially if you’re inclined to please others. One simple strategy that helps is to ask for time to decide. If someone asks you to take on something time-consuming, reply, “Give me a couple of days to think about it.” Use that time to weigh the benefits and costs. You’ll often find that another person steps in, or you’ll realize it’s not the right fit.
Everyone has to pick and choose. You won’t do everything, but you can do what matters: the projects and relationships that align with your values and where you make the biggest contribution.
If you want more practical resources for setting and reaching goals, building routines, and cutting through procrastination, I’ve written guides and toolkits to help. Start by choosing what matters most, protect the time for it, and use simple systems—lists, a planner, and thoughtful boundaries—to support your creative life without losing your sanity.