We are always asked where do we get our ideas and inspiration from, and then the next remark is usually along the lines of commenting on how productive we appear to be. I say ‘appear’ because, actually, a lot of the time I don’t personally feel very productive, or at least, no more than anyone else. Time management and getting things done is a really important part of the creative process. I thought we’d talk a bit about that in my next couple of posts for you.
Those of you who’ve followed us for a while will know that I had a couple of near death experiences. I think you come out of that with either the philosophy that your body is a temple and you must care for it at all costs, OR, that life is very short and I’ll have pudding first thank you. I took the devil may care route and while I have no intention of deviating from it, six years down the road and realising that I’m actually still on the road, it began to dawn on me that it would probably be a good idea to try to make better life choices, at least sometimes.
And so, every day, I’m walking, power hiking, jogging. Jogging! Who even am I? Minimum, moving for half an hour, usually more like an hour and a half. I wake up feeling like it’s the last thing I want to do, but by the time I’m downstairs and lacing up my trainers I’ve cast that reluctancy aside. By the end I realise I’ve actually enjoyed it and could keep going for longer. My step count each day is ridiculous and I’m definitely a lot fitter because of it. The secret? I was consistent. I’ve done it every day, I’ve even started writing it on my jobs to do list each day so I have the satisfaction of ticking it off. It’s my new compulsion.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because it’s just about making habits stick. Whether it’s walking or making art. Sometimes I go through a period where I make some art every single day. I get into the habit of it. And then for some reason it slips and I miss a day. I’m probably spending it on the computer doing boring jobs. And then another day goes by and another. And then I realise that I’ve not done anything for too long.
The answer? Schedule it in! Write it on the jobs to do list. If you want to be productive and do something every day, then you have to make the time for it in your own head and on the calendar. If it helps you to block out time in your diary then that’s what you need to do. If you go to bed thinking that in the morning as soon as you’ve had breakfast, or even before, you’ll just do half an hour of something then that’s what you need to do to establish that productive mindset.
Just like with walking, smaller, shorter, bitesize chunks of time are easier to slot into the schedule. Maybe start with fifteen to twenty minutes. If you’re enjoying it, just keep going for longer. If those fifteen minutes are all you can spare each day, no worries, those fifteen minutes all add up to a lot of progress if you’re consistent and keep showing up day after day.
This past week I don’t feel like I’ve completed an awful lot so I will be taking a dose of my own medicine and will formally set some time aside each day to do something, anything creative. I might sew a garment, work on my English paper piecing, do something in a sketchbook, look through some of my collage scraps, iron some fabric, whatever. Will you join me? I thought if you would we could support each other. I’ll post each day on our Notes so you can see what I’ve done and keep me accountable until that creative habit sticks.
Laura x
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Jogging!! I'm well impressed. Well done you, and of course I'll join you in "notes' 😊😊
Nancy Zieman used to have a show on TV called 10-20-30 minutes. Her approach was you can always find a few minutes to complete a task. While her show was usually on making clothes, she used examples like "apply a pocket", "install a zipper".
I am a great believer in making lists and having satisfaction of checking it off.