(RE) starting a daily creative habit

September is upon us (I know, right???)

It’s starting to be autumn 🍂 here in the northern hemisphere, and where I come from, a land Down Under, the earth is starting to wake up and enter into spring🌿.

These transition points throughout the year are always so powerful, for our motivation, for renewal, for reflection.

Reflecting on 2023 so far, while I am aware of ALL the things I have done, as often happens I am more acutely aware of all the things I haven’t done or that I could be doing differently. 

(🤔are you the same?)

at this transition point I am focusing on (re)establishing a daily design practice

want to join me? CLICK HERE or read on for more about habit building…

I’ll admit it here that my daily design practice has lapsed due to other demands on my time.

(anyone else’s schedule get all a bit squirrely during the school holidays??? 🤷‍♀️ )

So, I want to reconnect with my daily creative habit of sketching each day.

👇 READ ON for more on creative habit building  

why build a daily habit?

Habits are SO powerful in overcoming our natural tendency to have great ideas, and then never follow through…

While we often rely on willpower, thinking that ‘if I just push myself, it will be enough’,  the reality is, willpower is a finite resource.  

We start out strong, then fade away.  

Luckily, there is a way to overcome these peaks and valleys of motivation and willpower >>> build a habit.

This is like putting yourself on AUTOPILOT – instead of deciding whether or not you’ll go to the gym, or whether you’ll sketch something or not, just remove all decisions you have to make.

💪take willpower out of the equation, make the choice to DO IT, and then DO IT, every day.

Sounds simple, so why is it so hard to do? and how can we make it easier?

☑️ TIPS ON STICKING TO YOUR HABIT 

✅same time – set a reminder on your phone – use an alarm, or set a recurring task in your calendar.

✅same place – choose a spot in your house, or somewhere you have daily access to. Choose a spot that calls to you, your favourite armchair, your favourite seat by the window or at the kitchen counter.

👉Sit down at your appointed time and START.

Repeating the action each day and in the same place can be powerful in developing the habit muscles we need.

✅same equipment – have everything you need right where you need it. 

For sketching, have your sketchbook and pencil (or other essentials) all in one place. 

Use a tray, a pencil case, anything! that means when you sit down at your appointed time in your appointed spot, you’ll be ready to go without any excuses!

💥BONUS TIP: 

stack this habit onto a habit you already have.

Do you make a cup of tea or coffee at the same time every day? Do you have to leave the house at the same time each day?

Whatever you already do consistently, stack or associate your new habit with an existing one.

Example: you have a cup of tea at 10am each day. 

Your time and place are already chosen, so keep your sketchbook and a pencil handy. 

While the kettle is boiling, or while you are waiting for your coffee to brew, whip out your sketchbook and doodle for 5 mins.

DON’T GET HUNG UP ON THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE TO GENERATE A MASTERPIECE – this is a 5 min sketch exercise to get you into a creative habit. 

That’s it.

⚡⚡JOIN ME to build a daily creative habit

I’ve managed a couple of 100 day projects – but if 100 days sounds like a lot to you, you are not alone! 

Knowing myself, I am all enthusiastic for a week then I tail off… so to help you get into the rhythm why not start with just 🔟days. 

join me for the 10 design challenge

(You can start anytime you like, but I recommend setting yourself a start date and what better date than NOW!) 

And as a little bonus when you join I am including a printable 100 days tracker. 

You can use this habit tracker for anything you like (daily sketching, exercise, drinking water, whatever floats your boat!)

so, are you in?

Head here to get on board for the 10 daily design challenge – 

10 days, 10 design prompts to kickstart your daily design habits!

What better way to (re) start a daily design habit! 👉 Kickstart your daily creative habit and join me for a 10 day design challenge – you can find out all the details and register here.