Renée Phillips is the Director of Manhattan Arts International, an author of several books and a public speaker. She is known as "The Artrepreneur Coach" and provides empowering life and career strategies for creative individuals.

I took this photo while at a spa in Connecticut. It was so relaxing. We all need more time to rest, relax, reflect and recharge our creative batteries.

Could it be we are partly responsible for not having enough time to do what we love to do?

If only we were more like the worker bees and queen bees who rule in efficiency in the natural world. However, we are humans and we waste time unintentionally, some of us more than others.

Top Time Wasters

. Make the commitment. Set aside time each day and/or week to work on your career. Ideally, this should be a peak energy time when you have the ability to focus and concentrate on details.

Are you guilty of any of these?
Telephone socializing, junk mail/e-mail, a poorly organized work area, lack of essential information, excessive red tape and paperwork, poorly planned procedures, failure to plan and implement priorities, poor skills in delegating, training and conceptualizing, procrastinating, poor scheduling, overcommitting, attempting to do too much at once, and striving for perfection.

Creativity has its own force that refuses to abide by logic, organization and discipline. It is easy to become immersed in the creative process and let time disappear into thin air.

To be successful "Artrepreneurs" we need to manage time efficiently. If we want to decrease the stress in our lives we need to employ some time management tools.

If we use just a few of these time management tips we will increase productivity and gain a lot more time. Try some and see for yourself.

10 Simple Time Saving Tips

. Be committed to the project at hand
Set aside sufficient time without any distractions. Rehearse the task mentally. Quiet the mind. Focus your attention. Take each step deliberately. Become totally absorbed in what you're doing, and a free-flowing momentum will transpire.

. Use modern technology to improve efficiency
Answering machines, fax machines, computers, copy machines, scanners and digital cameras are user-friendly and very affordable. Multi-purpose machines combine fax, scanner, phone and printer and save desk space and hours of manual labor.

. Use Organizational Tools
Incorporate your career plans into your daily routine. Make and use lists, calendars and appointment books. Alphabetize your files and organize your materials to help you locate them quickly.

. Add pleasure to your tasks
Buy and/or create such materials that are colorful, well designed and aesthetically appealing to you to make working with them a creative experience.

. Create a clutter-free work zone
Your environment should be free from visual and sound distractions. If possible use a separate room for an office or arrange a space in a corner of your studio, bedroom or a closet. In this work area place your phone, computer, book and a file cabinet to store your photographs, Photo CDs, résumé and business receipts.

Also organize your art supplies on shelves or in containers for quick and easy access. In my small apartment I converted my linen closet into an art supply closet. On the shelves I stack plastic, pull-out transparent drawers (shoe box size), that contain supplies that are organized by paints, craft supplies, small tools, etc.

. Plan Ahead
Make tomorrow's plans and write your "To Do" list the night before and arrange the activities in order of urgency. You'll save time by avoiding trying to answer the question, what should I do today?

• Be Ready To Take Action
Create promotional materials by the dozens and have several sets of Photo CDs on file. Keep several copies of your current résumé ready to go. Maintain your mailing list on the computer and keep it up to date. When you need to take action you will be ready, set and can go!

. Keep a closed door to your private studio
This should be your sacred space. Let others know that you want to be left alone with your creativity. You should also provide time to brainstorm, daydream, meditate and restore balance. Set limits on your social and family demands. Read Joseph Campbell's qoute on the right column.

. Break large projects down into smaller chunks
If you are setting aside important projects waiting for that big block of time to be available you'll discover that it may never arrive. It is better to use the five-minute strategy and tackle the project with small amounts of time on a regular basis.

Need some career coaching and art marketing advice to stay focused? Renee is known as The Artrepreneur Coach, helping artists design strategies to excel in their careers. Her advice for artists are immediately effective in increasing creativity, publicity and profit. Learn more about her consultations and coaching programs.