This week we’ve asked Jessica Davis, from Atelier Davis & Nest Studios to talk all about how she starts her day. Let’s get to chatting!
Q: Let’s start by being very real when it comes to managing time and plans for the day. Take this scenario, for example. You’ve created your to-do list, you’ve written in your planner, and now you are off to do your big things. Then, a client calls with a brilliant thought, your child can’t connect to the internet, there was a no show for your Zoom call, and on and on… How do you interrupt those off schedule and chaotic days to get your task back on track?
A: This is the definition of my day. I try to build in time for unexpected things and just general admin and buffer time. I have this ridiculous color-coded excel sheet that is a combo calendar and to-do list. I’m a super visual person so this helps me map out my day. And when things go awry as they inevitably do, I just start cutting and pasting tasks to other days and time slots.
A: I mentioned my strange spreadsheet. Here is a screenshot below.
A: Both. I use google calendars as my longer-term calendars for both work and personal stuff, but I transpose things into my visual to-do list weekly. I also have a paper calendar for the family that we can all reference.
A: We try to do this on Friday or Saturday mainly because I don’t like to anything that feels remotely like work on Sunday evenings.
A: What can you let go of? Sometimes we pile on things that really aren’t a priority. Can the lawn wait another day to be mowed so you can get a client proposal out? What can you delegate? Can you hire a lawn guy who charges a lower rate than you do so you can really focus on getting quality work out to paying clients? I always like to think of my time as money and that helps a lot.
Thank you for your inspiration and insight. Let’s chat again soon.
