How disciplined (no pun intended) are you about your artwork? Is it hard for you to resist distractions, or is your artwork a wonderful distraction from everything else you have to do? Are you one of those wonderfully wholesome, green, hard working people who stay away from unsavory TV, movie and naughty books?
I'm grateful to have a nice pile of work to do right now, but other things, like exercise, talking on the phone, reading trashy books, or writing my silly blog about drawing portraits, seems to eat up most of the day. In today's blog entry, I wrote about NOT drawing portraits and my weekend's source of procrastination. Here it is, 2:20 pm and I've been on the computer all day instead of behind my easel.
http://pencilenvy.blogspot.com/2012/05/50-shades-of-procrastination.html
I SWEAR I am going to go up there right now!!! Somebody call me in five minutes and make sure I'm not fooling around on the computer any more today.
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Actually, while I don't think I could give up TV, I did give up Facebook games cold turkey. I was using them as little rewards, breaks and playing them in the evening. Each game is one minute and I'd often play for TWO HOURS at a time in the evening. What a complete waste of time. I think it was the ADD in me that made me enjoy playing them so much, I often consider allowing myself to play again within reason, but it is a slippery slope. Better to stay away from addictive distractions!!!
Great thread for me. I will now quit playing Words With Friends. War of Art book sounds good, ordering it now.
I would have to swear off social media if I were going to do the same, Jacki! I admire that... as much as I love wonderful stories (telling them, hearing them, reading them, watching them), it is such a huge time sucker.
Wendy, I don't lnow if you were here last December but Corey Johnston swore off TV. He swore it off so he could get his creative juices flowing and get some work done. He always sounds super busy and creative in his blogs so it must be working. I need some TV time to just veg a little. However, lately I have been thinking about wasting time and I realize that wasted time is lost time. It is gone forever and I am trying to not waste a lot of time anymore. We need to relax but I noticed that some days I accomplished almost nothing all day long. I am working to stop that from happening.
Hopefully some day Corey will give us an update on his No TV plan.
Yes, deadlines will definitely get you going. Trying to get a load through the kiln usually puts me on the other side of the procrastination equation. There are a lot of things I would like to do (yard work, gardening, read, blog, etc) that I just never get around to because I need to work in the studio.
That being said, I do spend way too much time on the computer in the mornings. Multiple e-mails, facebook, etsy, etc usually eat up an hour or two I could be in the studio.
I have not read it yet, but I have heard good things about a book called The War of Art by Steve Pressfield. It is supposed to address this very thing. I think it might be geared more toward writing, but I'm sure it is applicable to any creative endeavor.
You're right Christine - deadlines are amazing at getting me going. Every time someone says "oh I'm in no hurry" I respond with "please don't say that... I'll take as long as you give me!"
Eek! I am having one of those procrastination days right now! I need to get off the compu
The greatest motivator is a deadline. If you don't have one imposed upon you from an outside source, create one for yourself. You'll be amazed at how much you will suddenly be able to accomplish. Distractions will cease to be so intriguing.
I think it's a gift to stay focused and disciplined, Greg. Good for you! I need to crack a whip on myself.
I am 64 and have been self employed my entire life... one very important lesson I learned many years ago is that many and most people ....myself included... will distract you if you allow it. It is easy to get sidetracked and distracted and a good work discipline is a matter of habit..
When friends stop by while I am working I say "I hope you do not mind if I keep working while we talk because I have a lot to do"... A good friend will understand this.
When I feel ready to take a break from my work then it is time to check emails, get something to eat or drink or do whatever.
Many call me a workaholic ....and I couldn't imagine it any other way...it is my nature and I love what I do and always think how fortunate I am that I am not someone working at some job I dislike just to pay the bills. Every time I walk into my workshop I breathe deeply with a big grin on my face.
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