Beck Wadworth
New Zealand-based Beck Wadworth, founder of An Organised Life, shares her creative journey and how although her work days are never identical, they’re always prepped and planned for in advance.
Photography: Ana Suntay-Tañedo
‘In terms of products for An Organised Life - I’m always trying to fix a problem or help others organise a certain area of their life, or hoping to inspire others,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Ana Suntay-Tañedo
‘Prep and planning is key to living an organised life! I always allocate the last 30 minutes of my day to prep and organise everything for the following day,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Ana Suntay-Tañedo
H&F: Hi Beck, tell us a little about the An Organised Life journey – when was the idea first realised?
Beck: I always relied on a diary year after year to write down my important dates, lists & goals. I studied Graphic Design for 4 years at Massey University in Auckland before starting my career in the fashion industry. When I moved to Sydney in early 2013, I was on the lookout for a new diary, however, I couldn’t find one that was functional yet had an element of style to compliment my monochrome and minimalistic aesthetic. I realised there was a gap in the market and this was when An Organised Life was born. From there I designed my first diary, found a printer and bookbinder, produced just 300 diaries and started on my marketing and PR Plan! They sold out in 3 weeks and there was no turning back after that!
What does a ‘normal’ day at work look like for you?
To be honest, every day is different for me. I could be designing, working on strategy, shootings, deep in spreadsheets, analysing reports and everything in between however below are a few tasks I do every single day:
Move: I always make sure I move my body each day - even just a 15 minute walk with my puppy, or a reformer pilates class or bigger walk in the evening to clear my head.
Nourish: Nourishing your body is so important, I always plan my meals in advance (even just the night before) so that I stay hydrated and fueled for the day.
Timeblock: The first thing I do when I sit down at my desk in the morning is look over my to-do list for the day and my emails – From there I prioritise my to-do lists with my three MIT’s (most important tasks) and time block my day.
Prep and Organise: Prep and planning is key to living an organised life! I always allocate the last 30 minutes of my day to prep and organise everything for the following day. Firstly, I check my diary and plan out my schedule and to-do list for the following day, I set any alarms or reminders needed and prep anything else required. Finally, before I switch off for the evening, I always clean up my desk and ensure the space is organised. There is nothing worse than starting your day in a messy space. A clean space equals a clear mind.
Can you tell us a little about your creative process and how you come up with new designs?
In terms of products for An Organised Life - I’m always trying to fix a problem or help others organise a certain area of their life, or hoping to inspire others. I don’t have a set rule on how many products I need to launch a year, I keep it pretty flexible so I can ensure they’re the best of the best. For example the Wedding Planner took Greta Kenyon and I a year to design and create because we spent the first 6 months interviewing so many people in the industry plus real couples to ensure we made the best possible wedding planner.
What do you love most about what you do?
One of the unique aspects of An Organised Life is that we aren’t constantly launching new products. As the creative director and designer, one of the things I love most is finding new ways to show off our styles. Constantly pushing and improving our content, design aesthetic, articles, features and more. So many people use stationery across a variety of industries and this is something I always love focusing on and coming back to.
“My favourite feeling will always be seeing or speaking to someone who owns one of my products and hearing that it helped organise, inspire or motivate them.”
‘A habit takes time, dedication and a diary is the perfect product to keep you focused, keep track of your progress and set targets for yourself,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Holly Burgess
‘As the creative director and designer, one of the things I love most is finding new ways to show off our styles,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Ana Suntay-Tañedo
‘A diary is the perfect place for your daily to-do list, with a written to-do list the satisfaction of crossing items off as you go gives you a sense of accomplishment while also reducing your stress,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Rosalie Molloy
‘I have so many pinch me moments as a business owner – I’m constantly so proud of my team and watching them grow within the brand,’ says Beck Wadworth. Photo: Ana Suntay-Tañedo
In the age of technology, with most things done online, what are the benefits of a traditional diary for organisation?
I definitely agree there is a place for both digital and traditional diaries to work hand in hand nowadays. And I personally believe, you can’t beat putting pen to paper for so many reasons. Not only does a traditional diary help you manage your schedule, our AOL diaries hold everything you need for day to day. From your goals, budgets, favourite memories, yearly and monthly calendars, notes, lists, appointments and more to your bits and bobs like your receipts and business cards. Unravel those ideas in your head, prep, plan and ultimately organise your life.
Some other benefits of a physical notebook or diary include:
Organise your time: A diary is the perfect place for your daily to-do list, with a written to-do list the satisfaction of crossing items off as you go gives you a sense of accomplishment while also reducing your stress. And if you are using it for your personal life keep track of appointments, birthdays, travel, social events and more.
Achieve goals: A diary/notebook is also the perfect tool for planning and achieving your goals, research shows you are more likely to achieve a goal if it’s written down. A diary is a space to create your action plan, add weekly or monthly smaller stepping stone tasks onto the specific dates in your diary so that you create focus and stay on track. By tracking your goals in a diary you can monitor your progress as you reach each milestone.
Good habits: From drinking more water, to exercising and everything in between. A habit takes time, dedication and a diary is the perfect product to keep you focused, keep track of your progress and set targets for yourself.
What has been your proudest work moment to date?
I have so many pinch me moments as a business owner. I’m constantly so proud of my team and watching them grow within the brand, and my favourite feeling will always be seeing or speaking to someone who owns one of my products and hearing that it helped organise, inspire or motivate them.
What is the best piece of advice you would give someone embarking on their passion project?
Go with your gut, find your point of difference and what makes your business unique, be patient and work hard.