In this Q&A episode, I answer two questions that I often get which are closely connected.
QUESTION (s):
"How can I get more time to make my Art?" and , "How can I get more energy to make my art?"
ANSWER:
When you have more energy, you can make more time. When you have more time, you'll be able to create without exhausting yourself. Let's look at 8 ways you can have more of both.
1) Prioritize Your Time
In order to prioritize your time, you need to start by knowing where your time is going. Do you know where your time going? Try keeping a time journal for one week to find out. I know it sounds like a drag, but like a food journal, it will give you a baseline if you use it. It only works, however, if you are also completely honest with your entries for the week so you can see patterns. I don’t recommend making any changes to your “usual” here. This is meant to be your baseline against which to compare your new plan.
Marie talks about RPPs: Really Productive People.
Science proves exercise optimizes brain, mood, focus (book: Spark by Dr. John Ratey:
Now that you have an idea of where your time has been going, you can decide where you can cut out the non-essential things to make room for your non-negotiables.
There are always responsibilities you must make time for. You have to account for these, but the non-negotiables I'm talking about are the ones you prioritize AFTER you account for the things you have to do.I'm talking about time to make your art. Now you get to say “no” to things that sap your energy and your time so that you can focus on making your art.
As Marie Forleo says, “When you know what’s important, it’s a lot easier to ignore, what’s not”
Prioritizing your time means be careful what you say yes to. If you are a recovering people pleaser like me, it is crucial to remember that every YES is saying “no” to something you will no longer have time for. Take the time to know your non-negotiables, so they don’t get crowded out.
2) Get Enough Sleep
Let’s be honest, sleep deprivation causes The Stupid.
While there are times we may need to pull a late night to meet a deadline, this is definitely not meant to be a regular productivity “tool.”
Here is a list of negative effects caused by sleep deprivation posted by Healthline in May of 2020:
Memory problems
concentration is tough
Mood swings
Lowered immunity
High blood pressure (for those who regularly get less than 5 hours of sleep)
Risk for diabetes (it screws up your insulin levels)
Weigh gain (It confuses grelin and leptin, the chemicals that tell you you are full
Reduced sex drive
Risk of heart disease
It makes you more accident-prone
Science also shows that the less sleep we get the more vulnerable we are to becoming anxious and depressed.
My last reason to get enough sleep is that lack of sleep lowers creativity. As artists, I think that’s all we need to remember.
3) Eat Right
Please note that all mention of diet in what I am about to say is in reference to your plan for lifelong eating, NOT the temporary diet people go on to lose weight. I am a firm believer in finding a sustainable, long term way to eat that cares for your body without leaving you starving (not good for creativity or mood or energy).
I am NOT trying to be a drag here, but you know darn well that if you are taking in a lot of sugar, it’s going to sap your energy and contribute to moodiness and brain fog. It also creates cravings
Read more: shownotes
