“It’s vital to establish some rituals – automatic but decisive patterns of behaviour – at the beginning of the creative process, when you are most at peril of turning back, chickening out, giving up, or going the wrong way”
We’ve all done it.
Turned over a new leaf, decided that this time, we really are going to practice harder. We’re going to draw every day until we really see some improvement in our work.
So why is it so rare for these new leaves to stay turned? Why is it so difficult to keep up a regular practice routine?
It’s easier in the beginning, of course, when we’re full of enthusiasm for our new plan. But if there’s nothing but initial enthusiasm for fuel, we won’t keep running for very long.
Before long it will start to feel like a chore. Something we dread (and our art should never be that!) We’ll miss the odd day. Then a few days, then drop the practice altogether.
I know this is something a lot of you out there struggle with. So if you’re sitting there reading this, thinking “I do that!” and feeling bad about yourself – don’t. It’s not just you. It’s a lot more common than you think.
Why is it so hard to get started?
Well, I’ll tell you why I think it is.
Without knowing it, we make it really hard on ourselves.
There’s a crucial moment when you think about doing your practice. You can go eithe way – sit down and get started, or put it off. If you don’t have some powerful reason to drag yourself to your easel – open your sketch pad, whatever – and make a start, chances are you’ll end up putting it off sooner or later.
Maybe you’ll start wondering what you’re going to draw today. No matter how enthusiastically you start, trust me, at some point you’re going to run out of ideas for things to draw.
First road block.
Maybe you’ve still got enough enthusiasm left to make it through this one, but then…
Maybe you’ll start thinking about how disappointing your last few drawings have been. All those negative feelings can spiral into serious performance anxiety. What if you do another rubbish drawing?
Second road block.
Maybe you’ve been at work all day or looking after the kids or just busy and you’re too tired to get started right now. Maybe tomorrow you’ll feel more like doing it.
That’s it. Habit broken.
How to get started, every time
I’ve got some ideas about how you can make it much easier to make the right decision in that crucial moment and get yourself sitting down and making some marks.
It’s all about making it as easy as possible to start.
There are two things I believe will help you beat procrastination and get over that initial hump:
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A Habit
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A Plan
I’ve explained a little more about how these two things can help you get into a routine of practising every day in this video. I hope it helps you get started more often.
Have a watch tell me what you think.
If any of that made sense to you, and you want to give it a try, I’ve put those ideas into an exercise you can try for seven days to get yourself into a regular practice habit.
I call this exercise “Just Open Your Sketch Pad” (JOYS for short). If you want to give it a bash, click this link to download it in PDF format:
Download Just Open Your Sketch Pad
I’ve also decided to start posting my daily practice on Google Plus. The hashtag is #dailyartpractice. If you fancy having a go at this, why not join in? Just post your practice pics every day and add the hashtag. Please also connect with me on G+ and berate me if I miss any days 🙂
Good luck! And happy practising.
Paul
Posted: September 20th 2013
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Paul, very well thought out and presented! The explanation is very simple and easy to understand. I, as well as many others need this approach! I see now that not having a plan is a major obstacle. I give myself too many excuses because I’m confused with so much expectations. Well Done! Thanks! PS…. The package has been delayed. I’ll let you know when the Postal Service decides to go to work and deliver the mail. Helen
Thanks Helen.
You kind of have your plan sorted now anyway – the exercises will give you that. But even then, it’s good to know which one you’re going to work on ahead of time. Deciding the day before can be a good way to do it.
I know you practice regularly already though 🙂
Thank you Paul, great encouraging video and we all need this at times (have you talk to us). Being disciplined is very difficult and you are right once you develop the habit it becomes second nature. I find that I need a special place where I do my drawing and I just spend today getting even more organized.
Making a weekly plan what you are going to draw everyday is a great idea and I have not been doing this, so now I am starting writing it down specifically. I have my meal plans, but not my drawing plans. Just like food nourishes the body my creativity nourishes my soul.
Happy drawing
Helga
I’m pretty disciplined anyway. My art practice is what I do everyday, a bit like going to work. In fact it wasn’t until I started to think of my art as my everyday work that I moved forward. Even so motivation can be an issue so I really enjoyed your video, thank you Paul great stuff.
Cheers
Cynthia
I’m pretty disciplined anyway. My art practice is what I do everyday, a bit like going to work. In fact it wasn’t until I started to think of my art as my everyday work that I moved forward. Even so motivation can be an issue so I really enjoyed your video, thank you Paul great stuff.
Cheers
Cynthia
Love your post. Very helpful. I am going to get some rituals going today!
Thanks Cynthia. I think we all struggle with notivation sometimes – hopefully the trigger method will help you on those days when motivation is low. It does for me 🙂
That’s great to hear Terri!
Please feel free to email me if you’d like a bit of advice around choosing triggers.
I love this! I am not an artist but I think this applies to any creative practice. I am going to try this with writing.
Hi Paul, Thank You for your insightful,generous message. My constant struggle with practice and the consequence of not producing have been painful. Almost daily I torture myself saying I should be producing,but let so many “necessary” things eat away the time. Watching your video inspired my courage to think perhaps this intimidating barrier can be overcome. This was a timely welcome blessing. Cerise
Thanks Stephanie. It absolutely does apply to any creative practice, and in fact to just about anything you want to chip away at regularly – working on websites for example 🙂
I’d really love to hear about your experiences with it.
Cerise, thanks, I’m glad you found it useful.
The real test of course is whether it will help you get into a regular practice habit.
If you can just get started, even for just a week, I think you’ll find that new, more positive emotions associated with practice will start to crowd out all those negative ones. It’s extremely good for your self esteem too!
Remember, the key is to start small. Email me if you want a hand with it. Life is too short not to spend it doing what we love.
Thanks Paul! I’ve been wanting to develop a daily drawing practice as I did a Yoga practice 4 years ago and struggling with why I couldn’t make it work with this. The missing piece was the getting triggers set up specific to the drawing practice and a plan. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hi, Paul.
I just wanted to say about the typo and hence a broken link. Instead of ‘downloads’ it points to ‘donwloads’. Funny that nobody mentioned it in 4 years that this post has been around =)
Very helpful post, thank you!