Sustaining a daily creative practice-when you have no time
Thoughts on showing up for yourself and your art
I decided to *take music seriously* in my late teens. Since then, I’ve regularly spun up existential woe for myself around the quality and consistency of my creative practice.
All the books tell you to make or write or create every day. And okay, but what if you can’t? Or you can’t seem to make yourself? Or you don’t have enough time? And is there a right time to do it? And how long is long enough?
You can really see how see how the woe arises, huh.
This week, I’m sharing what I know about sustaining daily creative practice in the midst of other busy living, and in spite of any existential mental clanging to which you might be susceptible.
Keep going!
Lucy
HOW TO SUSTAIN DAILY CREATIVE PRACTICE
Commit to the behavior of capture
This means that when an idea comes to you, no matter where you are you get it down. The exact tools to use for this are up to you. Voice memos work for a lot of folks. You could also carry around back-pocket-sized notebook. Or use the notes app on your phone.
Start with a very short session
And I mean uselessly small. I mean a length of time you can will yourself to show up for even when you’re weary, or irritated, or stressed. It’s likely to be between two and 15 minutes, but experiment with what works for you!
Show up for it like you show up for cleaning your teeth
It’s not a question whether or not you’ll clean your teeth (or it really shouldn’t be). You just do it. It doesn’t matter if you feel like it, or if you think you’ll clean your teeth the best you’ve ever cleaned ‘em. It’s about the cumulative effect of cleaning your teeth, every day. Think of your tiny, useless sessions this way.
Put your daily work and captures in one place
This may take some time to refine, and it really depends upon your personal schedule and habits what precisely will work for you. It might be a folder on your voice memos app that works best, or a folder on your desktop, or a plastic bag filled with random scraps of paper you’ve written on. As long as you can return to it and see the volume afforded by consistent effort, it’ll work.
Make it easy to start
Get rid of as many barriers to starting as you can! Keep your instruments and equipment out in the open so you’re reminded to use them. If visual clutter is an issue, you could keep your most vital stuff in an easy-to-reach drawer. Also consider when it will be easiest to start each day, a.k.a when you’re most like to “feel like it”. For instance, my regular creative work always happens in the morning because my brain tends to tap out for the day around 4pm. Once again, experiment with what works for you.