Finding Time For Creativity
by Amanda on July 5, 2009
Do you get frustrated with your 9 to 5, practical self and wish he or she could help your creative, wanting to sip tea at the local cafe at 11am self? Creativity versus real life commitment is going to be the death of me.
All week long I dream about having that time on the weekend to get out there and take photographs and make something special. As a creative person, I get so miserably frustrated with myself that I cannot manage my time better.
I have been doing some poking around online to see if I can find anyone who has any clever ideas about how to manage this problem. One clever blogger suggested making that time that you make for doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping should also include making time either daily or weekly for your creativity. I have never thought about it this way before. If I get time to shoot, then hooray, but never have I actually thought about penciling it into my calendar and giving myself the time to do it.
Nina from Naturally Nina recently blogged about Artist Dates. An artist date is time you put aside for yourself to go out and do something creative. I think I need to pencil in my own artist date at least once a week.
Today I really wanted to shoot. The weather was gorgeous and due to time wasting in the morning and not getting myself organised the way I should have, it just never happened. I do this all the time and once I am home, I feel this regret and frustration of time wasted. Do you ever feel that?
I think I really need to take a step back with my job. I spend a lot of time after work doing extra things that could be time spent shooting. The weather is so beautiful right now, it’s too good to waste!
Some good ideas on ways to spend an ‘artist date’ and Keri Smith’s article on how to make a living doing what you love is full of great ideas on this topic, whether it be for a career or creativity’s sake.
How do you best use your time or make time for creativity?
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8 Responses to “Finding Time For Creativity”
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Ugh, I’ve been having the same problem. I seriously need to dedicate uninterrupted time for writing and photo walks. I work from home and find that the line between work time and play time has become very blurred. I think I need to tell myself that from 5 to 7 is creative time, or weekends.
I struggle with this too. From working out of home and being a parent, I have to try and dedicate more time to creativity. It’s frustrating at times.
Oh goodness, I thought by working at home you would have more time.
There is no end to it all…
Terrible question … I’m frustrated and wish I could take days for shooting and writing and developping projects around being a writer and a photographer. The think is : I also love my job which has nothing to do with all this, so … I call myself lucky anyway ;o)
This year as a birthday gift to myself I decided to block out Tuesday nights as art nights. I schedule it as my day off from exercise, social obligations, and chores so I can commit the whole night to whatever creative endeavor I am working on at the moment. It has been such a wonderful gift and I hope to be able to carry it through the rest of my life. It has been much more freeing than I thought possible.
I recently started what I call Sunday Summit. I’m single and my boyfriend has band practice Sunday early evenings… so it’s a really good time for my creative self-journey self. My business is creative, but it isn’t always what I want to create, my client’s dictate what they want. So Sunday evenings are meant for visual journal, photography – finding my voice as an artist. It’s really starting to work, and I know Sunday at 4:30 it begins.
Hi Amanda, I tried to send you an email but it came back so I hope you won’t mind a looooong comment and a couple of questions about Polaroids. Here goes!
I recently bought an SX-70 from Ebay. It’s in perfect condition, but I have no idea what to do with it! Mainly I’m concerned because I keep hearing that Polaroid film is going extinct and I’m wondering if I’m getting all excited for Polaroid photography at the wrong time. ;) Is the film going to run out at any time or do you think it will be around for a few more years? Also, in your opinion, what’s the next best thing to a Polaroid camera?
Thanks so much for answering my questions, Amanda, and for allowing me to post a few of your beautiful photos. I’m so happy to have found you, your blog, and your amazing photography! I would love to exchange links with you if you’re open to the idea. :)
~ Vicki
Oh I know what you mean…it’s easy to procrastinate, especially during the summer. What works for me is setting up my art table or getting my camera gear in order. It’s that first step. Once I get started I’m okay. Also, I break my projects down to steps so that I can feel like I’ve achieved something in a day.