Create something (anything) everyday

I've spent most of my adult life picking up creative hobbies for a few weeks and then setting them down for months at a time. When I'm in the middle of a creative run, it feels fantastic. I feel more energized and creative, ideas are flowing easily in the hobby as well as in work. And yet, it always fizzled out. I'd finish the project, I'd have a bad day, and I'd stop showing up. A few months later I'd start a new creative project only to go through the same loop.

Six months ago, I decided that I did need to draw regularly. Enough with the on and off routine. It would be good for me. *firm nod* So I told myself I was going to draw everyday. This was relatively successful, but really clicked two months later when I changed it to "create everyday".

The gist: Every day, I put some of my energy into creating something—a drawing, a few stitches in an embroidery project, some notes on a writing idea, maybe I cook dinner. It's often less than half an hour, sometimes it can stretch into multiple hours. I show up, I create for the sake of creating, I move on with my day.

Not long into this practice I stumbled on Steph Ango's piece on "Nibble and your appetite will grow" and it really resonated with me (still does!).

Procrastination is the state of waiting for motivation to come. Paradoxically, the most reliable way to create motivation is to start doing the thing.

Actions precede feelings. If you want to feel a certain way, create the environment that allows you to nibble your way there. Don’t hope that inspiration will come. Take a small bite. Action precedes inspiration, not the other way around.

This has been my experience. By creating at a nibble-scale everyday, I've gained momentum rather than experienced the usual flame-out loop from the past. Over time, it's become easier to show up. Because I express ideas, I have more ideas. I've even been able to get over barriers that in the past would've derailed me, like disruptions to routine like travel. One thing flows into another, nibbling leads to a larger appetite.

There were a few conscious decisions I made to set up my environment for nibbling, I hope maybe you'll find one or two of them work for you too:

Set the goal as “practice”

The goal isn't to create something beautiful (though I'd like to) or to share what I've made with others (unless I made dinner). Some days all I've done is a row of stitches on an embroidery project, other days I've written a thousand words for my book. Both days count the same.

I keep a few guidelines for myself to help keep to the goal:

Time commitment is 5 minutes: Essentially, “show up.” If I have no energy, I can still put five minutes into something. Quite often I find I thought I had no energy, but doing something creative for a few minutes taps into a reserve and helps me recharge.

No sharing on social media: It's very difficult for social media to not distort your goals and then your relationship with craft. I've found the easiest way for me to avoid the distortion is to avoid posting.

Keep expectations low

The goal is practice because that's what's good for me, more so than end result. So I set up my environment such that I can't obsess over what the end result could be. I keep everything minimal so that all the possibilities are also minimal.

Few materials: What're the fewest materials you need to practice a craft? For drawing, I use a basic small notebook and a single pencil. I might switch the paper or drawing material if I have a specific idea in mind.

Fewer decisions: What's the smallest thing you can make? Not physically the smallest, but perhaps the project with the fewest decisions. I got started with embroidery by doing a kit—better yet, my mom had picked it out for me—so the pattern was set, thread and fabric were there, all I needed to do was sit down and pick which stitch to start with.

Make it easy to start (and stop)

A common barrier to getting started for me is anticipating the set-up and clean-up around an activity, especially if I plan to only spend five minutes on it. Solving for set-up and clean-up ahead of time means I focus on the activity and it's easier to pick up and put down.

For projects with many bits and pieces, I solved for clean-up by putting everything needed to work on the project on a portable workspace, specifically a serving tray. (For a smaller project, I've used a small bowl.) By keeping everything I need on one space, setup and clean-up is simply taking out and putting away the tray.

For activities with few materials, I've found it's easier to start on them if I simply leave them out where I'll pass by them throughout my day. For drawing, I leave my notebook-pencil combo next to the couch. I'll pick it up as I go by, work in it, and put it down wherever I happen to be.

Be flexible

Because the goal is to create everyday, I've given myself space to use the medium that feels right for me in the moment. I'm not trying to get better at any particular thing, I'm not trying to complete a large project, I've got no deadlines nor expectations to meet. I simply follow my energy, motivation, and inspiration—all of which are at different levels, everyday.

I've found this makes it easier to keep momentum going. One day I'll draw because I was inspired by an interesting use of colour by an illustrator. The next day I make a stew I know by heart because I have no energy but I still get the satisfaction of having made something.

Activities I count include drawing, photography, sewing, cooking, baking, writing, and working on personal projects (like this website or Walnut).

Conclusion

That's it, really. A simple practice, though a long-winded description. If you do creative work—or have done and want to return to it—I hope something I've found works for me might inspire an idea for you.

Cheers!