10 Easy and Practical Ways to Make More Time for Art
Do you have trouble making time for art? Or maybe you want to find MORE time for art?
Here are some simple tips!
1. Have a collection of ideas ready to go
This collection of ideas can be quick sketches in your sketchbook. A folder on your computer. A Pinterest board. A list on a random sheet of paper. Or my new favorite way to collect ideas is by saving Instagram posts.
I like to create various Instagram collections to save posts that inspire me. Some examples of my collections are nature photos and inspiring art.
Having a collection of ideas will save you time so that you don’t have to spend your creating time thinking of what to even create in the first place.
It also helps me to consistently think about what I’ll be painting next and kind of daydream about it so that when the time comes for me to paint, I am in the mindset to paint and I feel motivated, excited, and I don’t have to think hardly at all what I’ll be painting. I’ll already have a clear idea.
2. Stop doing meaningless things (scrolling social media, hours of Netflix)
Replace meaningless things with creating time. For example, this could be social media and Netflix/TV. If you say you don’t have time for art but yet you’re on social media or watching TV or even YouTube videos for more than 10 minutes a day, you do have time. You just have to make the time.
3. Block out time for art in your calendar (and don't change it)
I like to use Google calendar to schedule out my days and keep track of how I spend my time. I like google calendar because it’s on my phone and desktop and I can schedule my days from hour to hour.
When you schedule your creating time, try your best to keep it that way. Don’t change that time for anything else. It’s your time and no one else’s time. And try to find at least 30 minutes a day to create. Anyone can find 30 minutes a day. It can even be in 10 or 15-minute chunks.
4. Have a designated creating space
Have a little space in your home, bedroom, or wherever you can find that is your designated creating space. In this space, you can have things and photos around that inspire you and get you in the mood to create.
And you can have your art supplies out ready to go when it’s time to create. You can also leave your art supplies out if you have to do something else for a bit and then come back to create.
5. Do less or delegate
I’ve come to the conclusion that my house will never be perfectly clean. I’ve accepted that. I feel like there is always something for me to clean and I used to stress out about it, so much that it would impact my creating time or even when I’m working on my business.
Sometimes you just have to do less to have more time for other things that matter more like creating time. This could be cooking, cleaning, not doing things for others that they can do themselves.
Of course, I’m not saying to eat delivery every night or never clean your house again, but could you exchange an hour a week of cooking or cleaning or whatever for creating time?
6. Wake up earlier (before work or school)
If you could find an hour to create before work or school, that’s 5 hours a week. That’s a lot of time to create.
I know of some people who wake up at 5 am so that they can focus on the first hour of their day for themselves. They work on something that matters to them and brings them joy.
Also, I think creating art during the first hour of waking up would be the perfect way to start the day. Since I work from home on my art business, I don’t have to wake up early to make time, but if I were in school or had to work a 9-5, I would most likely be waking up early to make time for art.
7. Have a sketchbook wherever you go
If you have a sketchbook you can take it with you to work or school or appointments, and you can create art (or ideas for art) during breaks and chunks of time where you don’t have anything to do.
8. Do an art challenge (week, 30 days, 100 days!)
You can start with a week challenge or a 30-day challenge. This will give you a kick in the pants to make time for art.
And then once you’re finished with the challenge, you will probably be much better at making time for art.
And you can have your art challenge be whatever you want. It could be for a certain medium like watercolor or a certain subject like flowers or animals, it could even be tiny works of art like 4x4 paintings. You can even set a time limit for your challenge, like 30 minutes a day.
(Psss… I share about an upcoming art challenge down below!)
9. BONUS TIP - Find a new way to make art
I recently got an iPad as an early birthday gift and you know what that means...I finally get to try Procreate!!
I am so excited about this new medium that I now find all the time I can make play around with it and make art.
Sometimes finding a new way to make art will help reignite our creative flame. We'll be more willing to make any time we can to create!
10. BONUS TIP - Make art with a friend
I know these times are a little tricky with in-person meetups. But if you can't meet in person with a friend to make art together, you can on Zoom, Facetime, etc!
It's similar to the idea of doing workouts or going to the gym with a friend..it helps us stay consistent and find the time!
Let me know if this helps you and if you have other ways to make time for art!
And I challenge you...
Pick TWO of these to do and reply to this email with your chosen ones! :)
