Get Off The Couch and Get Into the Studio
22. May, 2012 
19 Comments
 |
Get Off The Couch and Get Into the Studio
I often see comments on my blog or on Facebook , or even in an occasional email that says something to the effect, “Geez, where do you get your energy from?” or , “How do you do what you do every day, you amaze me?!” To me it is never enough so I’m always a little dumbfounded when I see a comment like that because the answer is fairly simple. I just show up. I show up and do something, anything, sometimes a lot of anything, day in and day out. You need to, in a sense, get off that proverbial couch of yours and get into the studio, get in front of the computer, pull out your notebook, draw out your sketches, brush off your running shoes, make sales calls, list your items online, paint that masterpiece (or at least paint a background!) and or prospect new businesses. You just simply need to show up and do the work.
Think about it. You can read all the self-help books in the world, subscribe to the most amazing newsletters or attend the hot class of the moment and come away with nothing. Nada. IF. IF. You choose not to do the primary and most basic activity that you need to do in order to be successful and that is first and foremost, to do the work. Practice your skills, hone your talents, paint, write, run, coach, play your heart out every day. And when you think you don’t have enough time to fit one more thing into your calendar, take a good hard look at what you do day in and day ou,t and I bet you will find a half hour here, an hour there, a day once a week….whatever it may be that is pertinent to your lifestyle that you can protect and engage in that activity you want to do that will make you great. Practice makes perfect and in order to practice, you need to make time to do what it is that you do.
But but….I have the kids soccer practice, volunteer at the school Thursday mornings, church on Sunday, laundry waiting for me, dinner to cook, floors to sweep, the yard to mow, projects that need my attention, phone calls to take, emails to return. So what? We all do. Some of us have more help than others getting those things and more done and others of us are doing it by ourselves and sometimes managing all that and more (maybe it’s a part-time job, full time job, home school). What I have to say about that is, if you want it, you need to do it. If you don’t want it, then that’s fine too. But stop making excuses and start paving the way, clearing the way if you will, to make room for doing things you want to do and doing them well. I subscribe to the fact that something, anything, is better than nothing at all. If all you can clear in a day is 10 minutes, then make the most of that precious time and do the work that will make you great, the work that will add to your inventory, that will gain you new customers, that will put you one step closer to living your dream or achieve the goals that you set for yourself. You can do it.
I’m going to end on this nugget of wisdom that has been self-learned recently. If you want more time in your day to do what you love, then STOP doing things that are not getting you to that place. Not every activity is necessary. Not every engagement is a must attend. Not every project has to be tackled today, right now. There may even be some business activities that you are doing today that are not netting the results that you desire, so take a good hard look at those as well. Can you do them better to make them more worthwhile? Are they still right for you to participate in? You should carefully choose the events that you participate in because everything, I repeat everything , takes time. You can’t get time back so make the most of what you do, let go of the things that are no longer serving the purpose it used to, or you thought it would in the past. Let go of the excuses and just show up and do the work. Simple. Focus. Determination. Endurance. Faith. Gratitude. You can do this, get off the couch now and lets’ get to work!
Jodi Ohl is a self-taught mixed media artist who resides in Aberdeen, NC. Having recently left her day job to pursue her artistic career full time, she is has built a body of work that is known for its distinctive texture, bold color combinations, often whimsical or abstract compositions, as well as motivational in nature. Her art appeals to those that seem to be young at heart and who appreciate the positive side of life whether communicated through words, colors, or composition. Published in a variety of international mixed media magazines such as Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studios, Artful Blogging, Artful Journaling, Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, and Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, as well as a contributor to two mixed media books, Art at the Speed of Life by Pam Carriker and Cloth Paper Scissors, The Book by Barbara Delaney, Jodi enjoys writing about her art and sharing the love of healing and motivation through creativity. She is represented by regional galleries in North Carolina and teaches at local and national workshops around the US. When not painting, she enjoys time with her two sons, Josh, 11 and Zach, 17 as well as other friends and family. Jodi welcomes visitors to her blog Sweet Repeats www.sweetrepeats.blogspot.com where you can find a full listing of classes, weekly musings, and additional artwork for sale.
About The Author
470 
1662
Just the kick in the butt I needed. Thank you.
Who doesn’t need a kick in the butt sometimes, gentle nudging, quiet prodding, cheer-leading…accountability–whatever you want to call it. We are here for one another!
Oh so true! As I saw that my time was taken up by various chores including creating my jewelry, I have decided to MAKE time. For example: last midnight I said OK – now for promoting my Etsy shop for only half an hour,I timed my clock, did it, and then went satisfied to bed.
I love it! Timing yourself for chores you need to do is a great way to make things happen. Good for you, and I’m sure once you did it, you found it wasn’t that hard at all to secure just a little bit of time to do what you NEEDED to do in order to keep moving forward!
Great words of wisdom Jodi, and really hits home here. I feel I’m running around in circles most days. There are just so many hours and that is a hard reality.Riorita, I like your idea of setting time limits. I have some success with that when I get on the computer for social media, blogs etc because I could spend hours on Sat. mornings blog hopping checking FB and Pinterest. So I’ve had to set limits. It’s not just for fun, tho it is, when I check out art blogs, and creative groups it is soooooo inspiring and I do make some fab friends…but it restricts my time to create.
Glad the article resonated with you Pat! There are so many things we need to do every week but there are some things and I think you’ve identified some of your triggers that can take away from what is at the core of our desires, and that is to create. But that’s not to say we need to give up everything, but set boundaries and limits. Carve away the time we need to do what it is what we need to do.
What a great article! thanks:) I remember when I decided to say no to the extras, even if they were good, and simply show up in my studio, and do something everyday-have really grown as an artist. My current area in need of discipline is marketing and promoting-have spent so much time trying to figure it all out-would rather be in my studio. Have made progress though..the idea of the timer is excellent!
It goes full circle Jan, doesn’t it…there is a lot to corral in the scope of things in our creative business!
Thanks for a great reminder!
I’ve added some notes or cheat sheets to my desk area in my studio. They include things like FB post ideas & simple things to do each day to promote my shop.
Since the time I do get to spend in my studio, isn’t always when I’m most alert, I can just focus on one of my cheat sheets and get to work anyway! I didn’t want to be guilty of frittering away the time I DID have.
Great idea on the cheat sheets! Love it. I constantly need reminders and when the well is dry, pulling out a list of things to do or want to dos is a wonderful way to keep moving forward!
wowzer…well taken advice! I’m off.
This was a very good subject to cover, and I like that you tackled specific excuses that we use to not be and do all that we can to succeed in a meaningful way.
Thank you for the feedback Annette, and the excuses are just a sampling of what is out there, we all can make a million excuses for why we can’t tackle something and in that same breath we take in making excuses, we could have done something to make our business, dreams, goals, yada yada come to fruition!
Thank you so much for this, this article was very helpful!
You’re so very welcome! Glad you found the article useful
Yes I love this. I get the same all the time – where do you find the time? Well, I make the time. I have worked out what I want, worked out what I need to do, and I make the time to achieve it.
Look at what you spend your time doing – then be honest with yourself. You say you want to run a home business but in a week you found no time to do anything towards it – well then be honest – you don’t REALLY want to run a home business. Because if you REALLY wanted to do it – you would have done!
There will be some perhaps reading this who don’t like what I say. But when you have a job, you work what, 40-50hrs a week for your wages. When you run your own business, how many hours do you think you would need to work to be successful and earn an income? One, two, none? That is just not going to work.
We have 168 hrs in the week. Say 50 you are at your full time job. 56 in bed. Some time say 3hrs every day for personal errands/eating/housework/family etc.
That still leaves 40 hours in the week when you could chose to work on your own business.
40 hours. That’s even with a full time job.
Make the time to be successful. If you want it – do it.
Awesome Deby! No truer words have been said. If you want it bad enough…you make it happen, even if it means sacrificing something else. More than not though, you can find the time once you let go of the excuses and ‘show up’ to do the work!
Very wise words and right to the point. Thank you for this call to action – to the studio I go! Katie.
So true, it’s so easy to get distracted. Thank you for the redirection!