Motivation and Staying Focused
Most of the time I have a difficult time staying focused during art. This typically stems from the fact that I like to multi-task and have a large to-do list that never seems to shrink. If I don’t have enough motivation to complete one task, I tend to jump back and forth between projects without getting much done. The following have helped me stay focused during the day.
A Planner: this sucker is color coordinated for clarity and has my schedule packed to the gills to make sure I don’t slack off. Assisted by weekly focus to-do lists, I am able to be organized and ready to go for the week.
Rewards: Whether it is candy (my favorite), fun sketch time, a walk with my cat, or something else rewards have been a huge motivator for me. They can be for large or even small tasks (like writing weekly blogs ) but they keep me focused.
Pretend Vacations: I LOVE bees, aquariums, and forests. Sadly I can’t always get what I want. I don’t typically have time or money to drive down and visit my favorite aquariums, the forests of Virginia are quite a ways away, and I can’t spend all my time watching bees around the neighborhood. So what do I do? Live animal cams from explore.org. When life seems less than epic, I tune into the jellyfish or bee cams and receive an instantaneous boost.
Water Breaks: I find that I typically don’t get enough water through out the day which can really bog me down. Getting in more water allows for more movement and micro breaks (up and down for more glasses), better hydration and the improved brain activity that comes with that.
Music Playlists: seriously, these are life savers. My favorite two are Art Binge Playlist and Art Binge Playlist (softer) that I created on Spotify. When those don’t suite me I tend to listen to Twenty-One Pilots, The Wombats, The Killers, Sea Wolf, or Stateless.
Audio Books: When music isn’t doing it for me, I listen to one of my kindle books through Balabolka. Having the program read to me allows my mind to be entertained while not being too distracted. This has helped a bunch when I’m painting or inking all day.
