The 3 Types of Artist Tasks (and Why Most Artists Mix Them Up)
If you’ve ever sat down at your desk, opened your planner, and felt instantly overwhelmed by everything you “should” do… you’re not alone.
From what I’ve learnt throughout all the community groups I am part of – is that so many artists treat every task the same.
And that’s exactly why so many creative projects stall halfway through, deadlines creep up out of nowhere, and you end the day feeling busy but not actually moving forward.
The truth is: not all tasks have the same impact.
Some grow your business.
Some support your progress.
Some simply keep things ticking over.
Some distract you from what you should be doing.
When you treat them all as equal, it becomes almost impossible to figure out what to work on first – and that’s where the overwhelm starts.
There’s a much simpler way.
The Problem: Too Many Tasks, Not Enough Clarity
Artists (especially the multi-passionate ones) deal with:
- ideas
- admin
- commissions
- client work
- design work
- uploads
- marketing
- pitches
- research
- planning
And it all blends into one big soup of “things I need to do.”
But when you separate your tasks into categories, something clicks.
Everything becomes easier to prioritise.
Your day stops feeling chaotic.
You actually finish things.
The Simple Framework That Changed Everything for Me
There are three types of tasks that show up in every creative business:
1. Success Tasks
The ones that move your business forward.
2. Support Tasks
Helpful, but not needle-moving on their own.
3. Admin Tasks
Necessary maintenance that keeps everything running.
Once you understand which is which, choosing what to work on becomes a whole lot simpler — and faster.
I used to skip this step… and that’s why I was so overwhelmed for so long.
Why It Works So Well for Artists
Separating tasks by type helps you:
- stop mixing low-impact admin with high-impact creative work
- keep your biggest goals front and centre
- know exactly where to start each day
- avoid the “I’ve been busy all day, why am I still behind?” feeling
- make steady progress without burning out
It’s a tiny shift, but the clarity is huge.
Want to Learn How to Use This in Your Own Workflow?
I’ve put together a free mini-guide that breaks this down clearly and shows you how to use the three task types to stay organised and focused as a working artist.
You’ll learn:
- how each task type works
- examples for each (art-specific)
- how to use them in a daily workflow
- how to see where your energy is actually going
- the simple habit that makes this system work
It’s quick, practical, and designed for artists who want to treat their creative practice more intentionally.
