How To Deal With the Daily Grind of Creative Work

The act of creating should be a joy, not a chore.

Many people, I think, don’t appreciate how challenging it can be to engage in creative work day in and day out, all year long. It can be tough to stay fresh. It can be hard to stay productive.

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about writing, painting, music, crafting, or whatever. Creative work can take a lot out of a person.

What’s an artist to do?

Take heart.

There’s no reason you need to crash and burn.

Here are some strategies you can use to successfully deal with the daily grind of being a professional creative.

Don’t get too focused on the idea of doing this daily

True.

Even professional cartoonists whose work appears in daily newspapers or online have learned how to schedule their work, so they get time off. Most cartoonists batch their work so they finish two weeks’ worth of comics in a few days. Many take a few days to plan out their strips for the entire year ahead.

Doing that, they then have a little time to relax and refresh.

Most creatives can apply this strategy to their own work. As much value as there is in writing every day or playing music every day — if it gets to a point where you’re feeling the stress… having a “bank” of work (or practice) to fall back on as a cushion gives you the cover you need to take a short break.

Plan smart.

Don’t force it

Writer’s block is a thing. And similar things happen to artists of all types.

For one thing, remember that inspiration never entirely runs dry. At worse, it gets a little stopped off. Give it some time, and inspiration will flow again.

Try switching up the medium you work in. If you’re a visual artist, try writing a poem. If you’re a writer, find some clay and make a small sculpture.

Talk things out with friends and colleagues.

Or just read a good book.

Your block might last a few days, but it might also just be an hour or two.

Find something else to think about, and let inspiration return naturally. You’ll recognize it when it happens.

One thing at a time

Try to stick to one project at a time. If you’re writing, focus on the writing. If you’re learning to play a new tune, keep focusing on that. If you dilute your attention with other things, you’ll find yourself being less productive and effective.

If you’re hitting a block, sure… go ahead and try something different. But if you’re in the creative flow, try to stay there and stay focused on the job at hand.

You’ll be more likely to finish the particular project you’re on, and you’ll gain satisfaction from a job well done.

That will help the grind become more rewarding.

Dare to fail

We learn a lot from mistakes and failures. I learned to be patient when painting and let some layers dry before continuing. I learned how not to over-tune a violin by accidentally breaking one. (It was a cheap, student-level violin, but it shouldn’t have broken like that if I hadn’t wound the strings way too tightly.)

I learned how to properly invoice a job by not doing it correctly and losing money in the process.

It may have been easier to learn the proper ways to do things the first time around, but experience does an exceptional job driving certain lessons home.

Every time I mess something up, I learn from the mistake, so it doesn’t happen again.

Creatively, not all ideas are hits, but it takes trial and error — it takes experience — to really internalize that knowledge.

Refresh yourself with old comforts

Even the best strategies can’t hold up to creative burnout when it comes crashing down.

When that happens, it’s time to be kind to yourself. Find an old creature comfort and indulge. For me, it’s a pot of tea and some Jeeves & Wooster (either in book form or the television series starring Fry & Laurie). Or, weather permitting, I might take my pipe and go sit in the backyard for a bit.

I might drive down to Iggy’s Clam Shack for a bag of wholebellies.

Whatever I choose to do, I feel I’ve deserved a treat.

So do you.

When you’re feeling stressed, overworked, or otherwise put upon by your own work or process, instead of punishing yourself, reward yourself.

You’re an artist, dammit. You create things.

How awesome is that?

Pretty awesome.

Take some time to reward yourself, and you’ll find yourself getting back to work with a renewed sense of satisfaction and purpose.

Staying at (or near) the top of your game.

There is really no better life than the life of an artist. I can’t imagine anything else I’d rather be doing.

But it’s like anything else. Too much can be overwhelming.

To keep your love for your art alive and keep you producing and making a living, it’s a good idea to take good care of yourself.

Eat right. Sleep right.

And try some or all of the above suggestions.

You’ll do fine. And be happier for it.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.