I find that when I get out of being creative it makes me
grumpy. Being creative is healthy.
It's like going to the gym or going to the
movies - it's really, really good for you!
Depending on your personality type it may actually be something you have
no choice in, something you just have to do.
That's all well & good in an ideal scenario but few of
us live in the perfect environment
so how can we make it happen? How can we get
to spend more time each
& every day doing what we love, that makes us feel
so good?
1. Make it a
habit. Do something creative every day.
A creative habit can be formed, in just
the same way
we form other habits, through regular doing.
2. Make it an
appointment. Choose a time to meet with yourself,
that you know you will be able
to stick to. It doesn't need to be
exact but think of your work area like a
person who is waiting for you.
3. Set up a
dedicated work space. In other words somewhere where you just create.
Obviously
this one depends hugely on the home you live in & what is available.
I have a
small office/work room that we created by converting the entrance hall
of our
home, so we now enter our house straight through the dining room.
Just like I did, creating your own special
space may mean sacrificing something.
It may even mean an area of your lounge
or bedroom. It doesn't matter where
you create, as long as you can keep some
stuff out & set up at all times
so there's a place that's calling you - a
place to go & be.
4. Set yourself
goals - big &small - written & unwritten, depending on where you are
in your life at the moment. Right now I am very distracted because I am dealing with
some massive life issues, but at the end of every day I am still spending a few hours
in my workspace, which transports me mentally, out of my situation & into one
which is way less stressful. Give yourself a reason to get into your
workspace,
decide in advance what you will be doing in there & make that your
mission.
5. Cultivate an
Obligation to your Stash. In a lot of
countries, like South Africa,
where I live, art & craft supplies are
difficult to get hold of & expensive, so buying
them means sacrificing
somewhere else. This has never been a problem for me
fortunately as I'm not
into anything else in a major way, so it's where I choose to
spend my money, even though I've never had loads of disposable income, so
I've always had to be very choosy, given that I import a lot myself & pay huge
shipping costs & 20% duty on top of that.
. I
realised after a few years in my new-found vocation, that I was buying faster than
I was creating. BIG MISTAKE. Work out your purchase/create ratio & don't buy
beyond your needs. Yes
really. Don't do it. Don't let anyone tempt you, least of all
sales. Everything
I'm stuck with that I don't like came from a sale & storing it
ain't cheap!
All year I've been in a mission to sort out my storage space & it's
been a
monthly expense. So be accountable to
your stash.
Only buy what you have real intention of using, soon.
6. Simplify your work area. This is a whole topic on it's
own but the bones of it is
- keep your stuff organised & accessible. Forget
about beautifying your space.
That comes RIGHT AT THE END. The most important
thing is that you can
find what you need, fast & without frustration. If you
can't, the thought of
getting into your space will be more like going to Hell
than going to Heaven!