Procrastination is a common challenge faced by artists, and it can have a negative impact on our creative productivity and well-being. Procrastination is defined as the act of delaying or postponing tasks or activities, and it can be caused by a variety of factors, including fear of failure, lack of motivation, and lack of clear goals or priorities.

 

Procrastination can be particularly challenging for artists, as it can disrupt our creative flow and hinder our ability to complete projects on time. It can also lead to feelings of stress, guilt, and frustration, which can further impact our ability to create.

 

On the other hand, mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment, without judgment or distraction, and it has been shown to have numerous benefits for artists, including increased focus, creativity, and well-being. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing, can help artists cultivate present-moment awareness and focus, which can be beneficial in the creative process. By bringing our full attention to the present moment and our artmaking, we can more fully engage in the painting process, rather than getting caught up in thoughts or judgments about our work.

 

Mindfulness can also help artists cultivate a non-judgmental and accepting attitude toward our own art. Letting go of the desire to create perfectly or meet certain standards, and instead, focusing on the process of creating. This can lead to more authentic and expressive art, as well as a more enjoyable and fulfilling artistic journey.

 

In addition to its benefits, mindfulness can also help artists manage stress and improve our overall well-being. By taking time to focus on the present moment and cultivate a sense of calm and balance, we can better navigate the challenges and demands of a creative life.

 

Get comfortable with uncomfortable:

Have you ever noticed, the first four letters of painting are pain. 

Anything worthwhile will present, with certainty, various doses of discomfort.

Plan on the discomfort, acknowledge it, work through it, and move on.

 

Don’t paint because the discomfort will show up. Paint because if you don’t, you and the world will lose out on one less beautiful image. Make the pain of not painting far greater than any discomfort you may have before or while painting.

 

And when you do paint, make the rewards far greater. We artists celebrate far too little. 

 

Celebrate the competition of each painting session. When the painting is completed, celebrate again. When the painting hangs and or sells, celebrate again. Reward yourself with praise and words of affirmation. Celebrate with other artists their movements and success as well. Build this good habit for celebration and you’ll start looking for even small things to celebrate. This celebration mindset will flood your life with rich colors toward building the right habits.

 

How do you prevent procrastination? 

To prevent procrastination, you want to avoid concentrating too much on the painting itself in its entirety. Instead, focus your attention on building processes—habits—that coincidentally allow you to do the creative tasks of painting.

 

When you focus on a product, you rely on a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. This is the rational ‘thinking’ part of the brain you use to visualize solutions. It’s also an inefficient, energy-intensive part of your brain.

When you focus on the process, you rely on a part of the brain called the basil ganglia. This part of the brain is used to execute habits (familiar work routines) and requires very little energy to operate. You have thousands of habits stored in your basil ganglia. By trusting the automatic execution of these habits and not obsessing over the end result, you bypass procrastination.

 

It’s a lot harder to think your way into painting than it is to paint your way into new ways of thinking. 

 

On Trust: Trust the process to bring you to a place in front of your easel where you’ll meet so many opportunities to create fine results that your enemies, Procrastination and its evil brother Resistance, do not have a chance to rear their ugly heads. This is a good habit to get into.

 

Case in point: On our last paint-out at Graceland Cemetery, I debated back and forth about the pros and cons of going vs. staying at home and painting something simple. That is if I’d paint anything at all at home. Home offered comfort and relaxation. Time off and some much-needed R&R. Going painting had its downside as well, The no parking in the Cemetery meant everything had to be carried or wheeled in. I’m glad the car was packed for painting and all I had to do was get in and drive in the right direction. I’m so glad I did go. I met so many fun and lively people while painting. Handed out so many business cards for the PAPC as well as my own cards. I felt I got good results that taught me lots of good things for the next painting. I then celebrated with some good Smokque BBQ on my way home. 

 

So, how can the combination of mindfulness and proactive strategies help artists overcome procrastination and increase our creative productivity?

 

1. Set clear goals and priorities: Having clear goals and priorities can help us stay focused and motivated, and it can prevent us from getting sidetracked by less important tasks. By practicing mindfulness, we can bring our full attention and intention to our goals, making us more likely to act and stay on track.

 

1. Break tasks into smaller steps: Large, overwhelming tasks can be intimidating and may lead to procrastination. Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help us feel more in control and make progress more easily. By practicing mindfulness, we can focus on one step at a time, rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire task. Motivation is a byproduct of results. Whether real or imagined. 

If you knew that the next painting resulted in moving yourself and others to tears of joy because of the deep connections felt, it’s clear you’ll do it.

 

3.         Move!

Make a commitment to yourself and others to show up to your easel daily, no matter if you feel like it or not… Because action brings clarity, and clarity brings results.

 

4.         Be specific.

Be super clear and specific about the details. I.e. “I’m going to paint for one hour per day, one painting for one month. I’ll paint on a 9”x12” panel, random objects around the house. They are going into my still-life stand that will always be up and lit with warm light on a middle gray background. At the end of one hour, I’ll stop. I’ll take a picture and post to social media, whether good or bad, my results. I’ll include a struggle and lessons learned. At the end of 30 days I’ll have 30 sketches. I’ll take the top 5 and repaint them larger, say 12×16. And offer these up for sale, put them in a show or just get really good frames and enjoy them.” At the end of the 30 days reassess your objectives and strategize where you want to go next.

 

5.         Create a supportive environment: A cluttered, disorganized workspace can be a source of distraction and procrastination. Creating a supportive environment, with a clean and organized workspace and a conducive work schedule, can help us stay focused and productive. By practicing mindfulness, we can be more aware of our surroundings and make choices that support our productivity, such as decluttering our workspace or setting boundaries for distractions.

 

6.         Find accountability: Having someone to hold us accountable, such as a mentor or accountability partner, can help us stay on track and avoid procrastination. By practicing mindfulness, we can be more aware of our progress and more motivated to meet our commitments to our accountability partner.

 

7.         Use time management techniques: Techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, in which work is broken into focused 25-minute blocks with breaks in between, can help us increase our productivity. 

 

8.         Manage stress and mental health: Chronic stress and poor mental health can lead to procrastination. If you find yourself often in this chronic position, seek professional help.

 

9.         Practice Delayed Gratification:

No matter how small or insignificant it is, get into the good habit of imagining and planning to wait or sacrifice the good now for the better later.

 

We do this while we are painting already. For example, when we start a new painting, we know the best parts of the painting are adding all those delicious details. We don’t start adding details right to the white canvas, do we? We know there’s a multi-level process to building a solid painting that works best and delivers the results we want. The same is true for all aspects of our life and art.

 

Delayed gratification is the ability to resist the temptation of an immediate reward in favor of a greater reward in the future. It is a key component of self-regulation and is often linked to success in various areas of life, including work, school, and personal relationships.

 

There are several benefits to practicing delayed gratification. For example, it can help individuals achieve their goals more effectively, as they are able to resist distractions and stay focused on their long-term objectives. It can also lead to greater self-control and self-esteem, as individuals are able to resist impulses and make decisions that align with their values and goals.

 

Delayed gratification can be particularly useful for us artists, as the creative process often requires the ability to resist distractions and stay focused on the task at hand. By practicing delayed gratification, we can more effectively manage our time and resources, allowing us to create more meaningful and impactful art.

 

Like procrastination, here are some steps that we can take to practice delayed gratification and improve our results:

1. Set clear goals and priorities: By setting clear goals and priorities, we can stay focused and motivated, and we’ll be more likely to resist distractions and make progress towards our objectives.
2. Create a plan: Having a plan can help us stay on track and make progress towards our goals. This can include setting deadlines, creating a schedule, and breaking tasks into smaller steps.
3. Find ways to stay motivated and focused: Staying motivated and focused can be challenging, especially when there are many distractions and demands on our time. Techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, and setting small rewards for progress can help us stay motivated and focused.
4. Seek accountability: Having someone to hold us accountable, such as a mentor or accountability partner, can help us stay on track and resist the temptation to procrastinate.
5. Manage stress and maintain well-being: Chronic stress and poor mental and physical health can lead to procrastination, so it is important for us to manage our stress and prioritize our well-being. Techniques such as exercise, self-care, and mindfulness can help artists maintain our physical and mental well-being, allowing us to stay focused and productive.

 

Overall, practicing delayed gratification can be a valuable skill for artists, helping us to create more meaningful and impactful art and lead a more fulfilling and successful artistic journey.