5 Productive Ways to Spend Your Idle Time

We freelancers often hear and experience people saying they’re not busy enough or that they don’t know what more to do to bring value to their creative career. We know we will be occupied for months as and when the project is in its swing, but what when the vacuum comes over and we don't exactly feel creative enough, which is quite healthy and to be expected in the initial days of your self employed career. So! What about those idle times?

How we manage those idle work phase in our career is a matter of mindset and prioritization. The unpredictability of such career choices does limit our planning and even though living one sounds like a Rebel holding a Bottle of Thumps Up and soaring the "Let me Challenge the Life" quote, in reality, it doesn't work for long. If we truly analyse our procrastination nature and the time spent on those pleasure only task, the realization that a lot of unproductive hours went past with no agenda met is scary as hell, especially when we had the fantastic opportunity to upgrade ourselves to bring in the cash flow we thought only our primary job is responsible for. I am glad to share there are a few amazing investment options to grab your hand on which your older self will be very thankful to you.

1. Financial Education: There has been never a great era to live in like the present. Any kind of financial crisis or setback is quite the constant worry every freelancer has and hence educating yourself with regards to finance and how to make money work for itself is a one-time investment and duly the best gift you can ever think of. Setting a few days or a week or two, listening to podcasts, audiobooks or simply grabbing a paperback or eBook is a great way to make the best of your idle time. Once you know how it all works, you will feel the needed superpower within.

As a part of the capitalistic world, where inflation and other basic needs are unavoidable and when payments are delayed for months, it's high time to get into the automation of saving (I at least keep a 6 months corpus aside as an emergency fund). Understanding various financial assets like PPF, Medical Insurance because chances of breaking a leg are higher than dyeing. Life insurance, only in case you have dependents, and best of all Mutual funds, not because "Mutual Funds Sahi hai!" but to allow your money the opportunity to work for you and even beat inflation in the long run.

Again, my expenditure is posted I invest into my respective investment columns (PPF (Tax saving), Medical insurance (Tax saving), Short Term, Midterm and Long term investment) every month, most of which are set on automation.

It's always advisable to seek a financial Consultant against one-time or retainer-based fees who is more than certified to guide you in the best way possible way.

2. Re-analyze your spending habits: I don't know if it's the millennial habit or a mere need for instant gratification, we very often end up purchasing for the sake of it with no intention in mind or even if we do its extremely occasional that we will end up consuming. I love my athleisure wear and my need to buy traditional wear is so rare as I almost don't end up wearing one for years. It's great to visit those import food marts and grab a pack or two of exotic sauce, cheese block, pasta or dark chocolate which end up moulding near its expiry date just because we don't know how to make it to the expectation we had during our last visit to that A la Cart menu.

The lesson is, that spending habits need to be checked once a week or twice a month max. Now-onward, open your pantry or fridge (trust me it's a house full of junk, more than you think of) and go through all you think needs to be refilled or removed as required. It is great to keep a basic grocery list in hand which needs to be sourced monthly and anything on top of it should be in the minimum quantity to avoid wastage.

Similarly, the frequent rant about "Having nothing to wear" sounds more like a teenage syndrome than a life crisis. Next time when you have the urge of buying that dress you eyed so hard during your last mall visit, go to the website and keep it on the wish list for a week and two to least fulfil the desire to buy and give enough time to yourself to find a reason to have it, I am pretty sure unless you are a shopaholic you will understand the exercise and thanks for thanking me later!

3.Learn to live alone: It all sounds rosy and exciting of how to lead one's life on its own terms, no one cares to understand the mental turmoil it comes with. The act of learning to live alone or being content is more than important, especially if and when involved in the creative business. It is a great practice to leave to someplace near or far all by yourself and journal down about all you have achieved so far. It doesn't have to be exotic, expensive or adventurous, as simple as having a two day and one night stay is enough to bring that anxiety and worry compounding in you below the bar of your tolerance level. Blowing your steam off is worth it and never apologized for it.

4.Read Autobiography :

Even before I share a few of my points about it, I must admit this is in my goal list too. It's entertaining to binge-watch all the series and movies showcasing the life of the biggest of the big and those who changed the world we live in. If anyone wants to know the real them, books and podcasts are the way to go. A creative license gives the freedom to edit the story as per the requirement to make the much-needed bucks vs books and documentaries have rules and limitations.

It will require a far stronger recommendation than imagined and decades of experience to work alongside Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and more and have the much dreamed in-person experience and learn all what they have achieved so far. If we shake our-self up hard enough we will realize it's a long way to go and I will encourage with every ounce in my body to chase the dream until met, till then read about them to learn from the best.

Remember, the best of the best are all declared book worms.

5. Sleep better: All along the months, I am busy with projects my sleep cycle is restrictive keeping the work schedule in mind and when there is a vacuum, a sudden shift is natural. Having a good night's sleep is crucial to the vital functioning of the body and brain though don't shy away from those extra hours napping during noon if possible and never feel guilty about it.

Many will swear by hustle and work till you die, keeping aside all the science which strongly supports the art of sound sleep, I have personally benefited a lot. My creative juices have thanked me again and again and my body is set to run the second cycle to work for the next 4 hours post-lunch with no fatigued felt within.

By spending your idle time effectively, you can increase your productivity and find yourself feeling more fulfilled. Most importantly, you don’t need to compromise on your peace of mind thinking about those days spent with no cash flow in. Next time Look for those idle times you can “steal.” How do you spend your idle time? Do share in the comment if it’s not mentioned in this post.

A few recommendations:

BOOKS:

• Psychology of Money

• Rich Dad and Poor Dad

• Let's Talk Money: Monika Halan

• Elon Musk: How The Billionaire CEO Of SpaceX And Tesla Is Shaping Our Future

• Steve Jobs

Youtube Channel:

• Labour Law Advisor

• CA Rachana Phadke Ranade

• The Financial Diet

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Myself, Shovona Karmakar is an advertising photographer and a product stylist in Mumbai, India. I have had an opportunity to work with upGrad, ICICI, Future Generali, Whisper, Pampers, Morningstar USA, Pepe Jeans and more. I live with my plants, and few adorable fur babies and anyone can find me at the gym. Check out my other work at shovonakar.com

LINK

Psychology of money

Psychology of money | by Morgan Housel

5 ways for you to be a better creative professional

The book is for anyone to understand the basics or to lay a foundation of financial literacy in one's life. It doesn't matter who you are and what you do, financial literacy and the concept of saving is very new. It is important to know how we behave with our money in general as most of it is often irrational and saving money should not have any agenda in general though it is important to inbuild the habit of doing so as early as possible in our lives.

I come from an era where creative professions were linked with failure, hunger and struggle all lifelong. I work in an era where the creative profession is considered for the strong heart and the risk-takers which eventually tops the chart of life considered successful.

It is sad to see though, many creative professionals often concentrate solely on creating and recreating content to generate a bank of work to prove their worth and many often neglect or shy away from the fact, that let one do what it wishes to do as long as it wants to do and when it wants to do. Money is often considered that corrupts one's mind and hampers its creative vision, in reality, it is the most important factor which let ones mind to be free from worry and create the stuff one wishes to.

If you are a photographer, illustrator, makeup artist, stylist, director, cinematographer, post-production artist or anyone who is a part of the media and entertainment industry, this book has a lot to teach you and I will also share a few aspects of how I behave when it comes to my money at the end of this article.

TO NOTE: Only a few points are been discussed considered fitting the agenda of the blog, though I will humbly suggest you pick a copy if you can. This blog is not responsible for any personal, professional, financial, psychological loss incurred if it may. Any mentioned pointers are to be considered as a mere suggestions and not professional financial advice.

1. Confounding Compounding:

Any aspirant starts their journey to be a professional from mere scratch. It either learns a skill to initiate or hold a mere talent in its native state.

Whereas any portfolio showcasing various aspects of creativity serving a set of premium audiences holds the much-needed growth gained in its past many years.

Eg: As a photographer, I started capturing images solely from a photography point of view minus post-production and creative manipulation though down the line I believed in various other mediums and owing those skills to recreate a bank of images that helps me hold an edge over others in the market.

Similarly, money, when let, grows for decades undisturbed gains power and an edge one needs eventually in its life.

Given said that, the amount is not what matters as much as the amount of time one lets it rest and grow, as like any talent needs its own time for it to get mature aesthetically.

2. Wealth is what you don't see

Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money

As with any creative profession, things are required to set up its space initially doesn't come cheap. As and when an instant desire to upgrade with the latest and greatest comes to mind that one may feel fit one needs for time being and hence are kept at the top of one's shopping list may sound like a wise call to take. On the other hand, this irrational act of buying robs one's bank of the much needed financial support if and when one may wish for it.

An emergency like the much-needed service of your computer, camera or a subscription of your graphic software must be for the project you need to submit at the earliest.

The latest phone or the wifi-enabled camera. The drone you hold or the accessories you wish to add to your photography bag may create unwanted anxiety and it surely gives an instant satisfaction when finally bought, blame it partial to the social media and advertisement that makes you believe that you need it. The way to have a hold over it is by being rational than irrational about one's needs and being comfortable with what one has and a bit below what you think you can live with, comfortably.

The choice of renting exist to unload the burden of buying things that you may need to sell to buy things you need.

3. SAVE MONEY:

The only factor you can control generates one of the only things that matter. How wonderful!

Having more control over your time and options is becoming one of the most valuable currencies in the world. There is nothing that can force me to deny what is been stated.

As our parents and our grandparents, where saving and the act of investment was directly proportional to various life goals like owning a house, car, planning for a world tour and child education. Saving in the present era should not exactly be pinned to any definite agenda, though the simple act of saving, is a good enough reason to be prepared for anything, which helps you to step up in life or hold you up in the worst of your phase.

4. You will change:

long term planning is harder than it seems because people's goals and desires change over time.

We, humans, are been carried away via various phases in our lives and yet we think we will retain the same characteristics we held decades ago.

Like a child dreaming to be a superhero in his mind which holds no fear or worry of life, eventually realises the world around and hence his goals changes. We change and we keep changing ourselves to best suit our survival opportunities.

A creative professional does have its set of phases to pass through and eventually feels the need to change or grow in various aspects. Our life plans and goals changes and so so does our priority.

In the worst scenario where your creative profession didn't turn up as per your expectation in a definite time period or you need a few years to gain a certain skill set very much in demand in your area, or a sudden personal pitfall, gives anyone a valid reason to save.

5. The seduction of pessimism:

Optimism is a belief that the odds of a good outcome are in your favor over time, even when there will be setbacks along the way

The life of a creative professional is full of uncertainty, one's economy is directly proportional to its standard of living. Yet in the past decades, we have observed and lived uncertainties and hence it justifies enough to be not too sure about the coming times. The future is uncertain and so does the economy.

We may not adore a negative person or an idea though it holds the most power and gains our maximum attention. This desire to survive and the instinct in us as a human lets our minds think about the worst than the best to make themselves prepared well for the pain we all must avoid. The fear to live for months with no work calls or pitches. The anxiety where the bank is not fed well for long is a good reason to think about how we behave with our money and how we set our life in general. A certain amount of self-pampering is good for mind and soul and indeed important, as money earned is not worth it if it was what you finally hold on your deathbed.

Above all, a desire to be a creative professional, where the mind holds the possibility to attain a life considered successful in conventional terms. One's financial planning and the decision will eventually help one to do and create at its own pace, choose the best of the clients one wish to work for, and live in the best environment giving the utmost standard of living.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Buying vs Renting:

As a commercial advertising photographer and a product stylist, I hold no reasons to buy the latest of the camera, computer, lens and else every time it is been launched. Instead, I believe in renting my equipment as and when required. The ability and possibility to reach out to the best of the vendors in the market updating itself with the best give me more reasons not to shed my own money.

2. Buy the best you can afford:

My investment choices are based on the factor of how often I am using it and the amount of time it will require to cover my base expenditure and how much profit I may gain eventually.

Any buying choices must be around the factor of investment vs return.

A high-end digital gadget's self-life vs its depreciating market value is a must think about,

Eg: a computer with a well-built metal body along with a fast, high-end processor which can serve you and your work demands for the next 5 years may cost you 6x, it may seem like an expensive choice to go for versus a system with an average configuration and plastic built costing you 2x and last for a year only. In the case of the latter, you will end up spending 8x more to suit your need in the coming 5 years.

3. Living below my comfort level:

I am not a fashion vista nor my job demands me to be and hence a few pairs of awesome sports shoes, formals and athleisure are all I hold in my closet. My clients demand me in terms of my work quality not how I look like. To add my occasional visits to movie halls, entertainment centres and restaurants and once in a few years, vocational breaks has helped me to be sane enough for those days unannounced.

Given said the above, it is your personal choice to splurge though keep in mind how much value it is adding to your life in general.

4. Saving for the sake of Saving:

Every nation in its democratic nature has led to various advantages for anyone running its own shop. Tax redemptions are not solely for the corporate but even creatives should be aware of. My choice around my money is more about investing in the market and government funds than splurging on things I will not need eventually.

5. Being Rational vs Irrational:

A trick learned years ago is adding all you wish to own instantly on your cart and let it sit for a week and two and if possible for a month. A month is a good enough time for anyone to understand its priorities and eventually one can take a call accordingly. The goal is to educate yourself about what is important vs a temporary gratification.

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Thank you so much for reading and I hope it helped you to understand your own relationship with your money better or share it with someone whom you think is an aspiring creative and needs a little nudge in regards to its financial understanding.

I am Shovona Karmakar, a commercial advertising photographer and product stylist based out of Mumbai, India. I specialize in portraits, editorials, people, products and cinemagraphs. If you are looking for a creative professional alike or wish to drop a Hi! feel free to ping me or use my contact form.

#psychologyofmoney #creativeprofession #photographyandmoney #moneypsychology #moneyforcreatives #advertisingphotographer #portraitphotographer

How to better communication skills, 5 ways to create your first impression.

We often hear the statement of why we don't get the response we look forward to and often complain about how difficult is to approach someone than wondering and understanding where we might have gone off track. I have been on both sides of the table and in past many years of being a commercial photographer have had the opportunity to understand and rectify the errors. Over this article myself sharing the secrets to effective communication with someone so that you don't miss out on the opportunities you deserve.

Numerous aspiring artists look forward to various internship programmes and opportunities. Often they face disappointment due to the lack of expected response and truth to be told it has less to do with the work one has to offer and more about the approach and attitude one carries.

I must assure you, I have committed similar mistakes like you and it is very human and hence unavoidable. How you effectively minimize and explore the possibilities beyond it is something we need to learn.

On a side note if you are a millennial like myself and annoyed by how the present generation Z acts out, let's not forget this is how our parents must be feeling about ourselves too, Haha!

Our parents and grandparents had their own unique struggles to be where they are and we had ours but it doesn't mean the present generation Z has anything less to fight for even with the easy accessibility to reach out to someone at the tip of their fingers. To add to their favour, there are far more possibilities and people to compete with.

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Hence Communication manners matters

In the past many years I have often found students dropping a one-liner "Hi, I wish to work with you" or simply "Hello" over my social media accounts. On an honest note, they just failed to gain my attention.

The very second strategy is to drop a Preset mail and if you do the same, let me tell you how bad an impression you just left over the receiver.

To conclude one fails to have the initial attention | conversation and often fails to have any.

Let me share a story with you to better understand what I mean.

A few weeks back I got a call around 10:30 in the morning from an unknown number. I did pick up the call considering it to be a potential work opportunity. On the other side of the Hello!, it was a 21-year-old photography aspirant looking for an internship. Post a simple and literal exchange of "hello!" and her name, she bombarded me with her, educational qualification, her desire to work with me and how it may add value to my venture which will help her to understand the industry better. It was all going well until she mentioned "wedding photography", please don't misunderstand me but I have the least experience in wedding photography, to begin with. When I enquired whom she is looking for, I must say it was the most embarrassing moment in her lifetime. She had no idea whom she is calling as she simply picked up the number from Google to add she had no idea what work I do and the worst she was completely unaware of my gender (yeah it does matter).

If I can be honest with you all, it was quite early as a working day to attend a call like this which often puts me off but instead, I was quite laughing my heart out and just wanted to keep it to that, and guess what, she simply lost my attention and any opportunity she may have.

If you have any lessons to take from the story above are following below:

Photography: Mike Meyers

phone call manners matters

• One should be well aware and know the name of whom you are calling, what they do professionally and where they are based.

• Exercise the act of addressing the person with their name at first to confirm the number and avoid any embarrassment.

• Do try to have a brief conversation and to the point, many often don't have the time and pleasure to know your entire story.

• Create a habit of concluding your conversation over a mail or a personal message as requested or you find it fit to keep it over the record for any future reference.

*Truth to be told, your target person gets numerous calls and mail every day seeking work or offering products and services and they are even topped up with professional and personal business to take care of hence it is not practical to assume that a mere call will suffice your approach.

Personalise...Personalise and Personalise...

Mail or personal messaging manners Matters

Photography: Erica Steeves

Everyone loves that attention and respect and however, it may sound vintage and boring but it works wonders. Remember the following points mentioned below when drafting your next one.

1. Address the person with their name and be careful about their gender.

2. It is a good practice to greet the person " I sincerely hope you are doing well" | " I hope things are great at your side" | " I hope you are doing well". Initiate with a statement that adds warmth.

3. Mention your reference point, it can be a person or simply a social link. To clarify how you got to know the person and be honest. (In case you are sharing a conclusion mail or message do mention the same "as per our last telephonic conversation")

4. State your full name, your location and your agenda.

5. Conclude with your contact details, attach a portfolio brief which mentions more of your work and needed qualifications only.

To note: It is good to have a preset or a pre-written formatted mail but feel free to edit as per the requirement.

Given said the above it may not fast track your success or land you places as and when you fancy. The above will definitely help you to have the very first impression the seeker looks for. The above doesn't guarantee or make you error-proof, be ready to face rejections and challenges as anyone else does. We all had our ways to chase our dreams and passion and we all had and have to learn to design what works for us.

I hope it helped you to understand and wish you the best in the coming venture!

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Hello, I am Shovona Karmakar, a commercial advertising photographer, cinemagraph artist and product stylist based out of Mumbai, India. In the past many years I have found my love for portraits, products and food and have had the opportunity to work with various national and international brands, agencies and publishing houses. It has been a crazy rollercoaster and I am glad to share my knowledge with you all.

For any internship or business query, feel free to connect with me over a mail or simply use the contact form.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

#communicationmanners #rejection #firstimpression #portraitphotograher #productstylist #mumbaiphotographer