5 STEPS TO SUPER PRODUCTIVITY!
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You might want to look at a book called “Get Out of Your Head and On With Your Life.” I know some people with anxiety that found the exercises it recommends really helpful.
Laurie DeMott
instagram.com/demotlj -
@demotlj thanks!
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One thing I will mention for light anxiety when it relates to illustration is managing expectations. (NOTE: This is not meant as a post for clinical and/or severe anxiety).
Managing expectations can have a huge effect on how it feels to create art (and a lot of other things too!).For example, if I had two students and was able to see what they wanted to get out of an illustration.
Student A wants "an award winning illustration that is better than anything else they have previously done".
Student B wants "to focus on making time for illustration and working on process".
Which one of these students will have more anxiety? Of course student A will! If you have an "outcome" goal, the pressure is huge. If you have a "process" goal, it makes it much more relaxing.
I tell students to make process goals only. For example, "I will do artwork for 2 hours each day". That takes the pressure off if the work isn't what you hoped it would be. As long as you are putting in the 2 hours and giving it your best, you hit your goal! Success is built this way. In small and attainable goals.
Hope that helps in some way.
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@TwiggyT I heard a podcast on another illustration podcast where they interviewed Dan Santat and he talked about his wife's anxiety and how they finally conquered it. For her it was meds tho I know not for everyone! I can't remember the podcast but can try to find it later. Led to his writing and illustrating the book "AFter the Fall" which is about anxiety and facing fears! It's a fantastic book!!!!
I have been experiencing more anxiety than usual lately too which is odd for me. Somehow I have been managing to turn it into working longer but I have been having trouble sleeping (hence being awake and drawing lol).
anyhow check out the book by Dan Santat, really great. I haven't seen it in person (yet) but I looked it up and youtube and had it read to me lol! -
@Coley @demotlj Those books sound helpful; I'll look them up.
@CLCanadyArts I hear you, games have been a big help. I got a cute 2048 citybuilder on my phone; it's mind-numbing and one game usually only lasts 5 minutes for me. Now if I get out my 3DS and play Pokemon (my perpetual favorite) I will be sucked down a rabbit hole and the whole day will be gone, so I try to save that for weekends.
@Lee-White That's good advice, especially as far as it relates to career growth, although it can easily be applied to other aspects of life, too.
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@TessaW I love this thread and all things productivity for work and my art. I get up every morning @ 4:45 and usually go to bed between 8:30 and 9. I often wake up earlier (not good) and have been reading about how sleep health is positively influenced by going to sleep and getting up at exactly the same time. Every single day. That’s a lofty goal. I do some drawing every morning before I go to my job, not as much as I like, but I do it regularly.
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Tom the Bear helps me to concentrate and get stuff done - bearfocustimer.com
