Three Things Creatives Should Not Do When Honing Their Craft

Do Not Expect Support from Family or Friends

Do not look for support and encouragement from your family or friends. The biggest mistake is expecting the people closest to you to understand, encourage and support your art. Depending on how you grew up, family only perceive you in a certain way and often downplay your gifts or talents.

They will normally praise others of their work but will not see the same talent in you. They are often judgmental, critical or jealous. If that is not the case, often they want you to pursue a field or interest that is socially accepted.

The average person who is not creative “Just does not get it” so don’t waste your time trying to explain or prove yourself to them. It will only frustrate and discourage you.

Your friends may also not understand your ideas or thoughts. They may not even have an interest in the same things that interest you. If you are too passionate, some friends may try to block you from trying to pursue or attain your goals especially if they don’t have their own goals and aspirations in life so be mindful of who you accept into your space. 

It’s so important to surround yourself with like-minded people and build a support system of creatives so you can share your failures and victories, as well as express yourself freely and openly. When there’s a free-flowing imagination, it releases more creative energy.

Do Not Compare Yourself to Other Artists

The worst thing you can do as an artist is to compare yourself to other artists. Each person is created with their own abilities, gifts, and talents. It is uniquely your own. Your art and creative ideas should be celebrated and expressed. 

Unfortunately, social media has made it even harder to block out the creative voices around you however, you can use the creativity around you to inspire you. Just make sure you take breaks from social media so you can connect and hear your own voice through your artwork.

Do Not Constantly Switch Your Craft

It is important to give your artwork time to develop. Some artist jumps from one form of art to another and never focus on developing the skill required to become great. You cannot become better at something if you don’t practice it. Allow yourself space to make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes make the best artwork. It’s from the repetition of performance that you gain experience and skills so just continue to have patience and endurance during the creative process. Take the time to sharpen your skills. Make sure you continue to learn new things and gain new insights. This will keep you motivated and inspired.

Most of all, enjoy the journey!

10 Simple Ways to Increase Productivity for Creative Entrepreneurs

The balance of life and work can be very demanding. Our full-blown schedules dictate our daily routines that can sometimes make us feel scattered, stressed and pulled in so many directions.

Here are ten ways to keep it simple:

1. Create a to-do list with 3 to 5 action steps per day. Sometimes, we add too much on our plate by making a long list of duties and never being able to scratch anything off the list because it’s just too much to do in a day, week or month.
2. Pair down your weekly meetings or activities. In this new millennium, we are definitely social creatures and love to connect, collaborate and spend time brainstorming or resolving issues. Make your time count. Have an agenda with clear goals and action plans. Make sure the scheduled time is well-spent and worthwhile. Nothing is worse than re-hashing that same project over again or not being prepared or organized for an appointment. Sometimes, less is more so plan accordingly.
3. Be aware of energy drainers. Take a look at your environment. Is it a positive or negative space? Is morale low? Whether it’s a person, place or thing, eliminate anything that is draining your energy. Unfortunately, if it’s a job, family or even the world news, you will have to make adjustments or compromises to regain your peace of mind.
4. Get off the internet. Be aware of time-drainers. Although technology is a productive tool, it can also waste valuable time. Be conscious how much time you spend online, especially on social media. It may be challenging if you operate an online business but setting priorities and incorporating automated tools will make a big difference in your productivity.
5. Trust your intuition. When you trust your instincts, you avoid senseless mistakes or obstacles that may cost you additional time, frustration or energy. Have you ever felt like you should have turned down an alternate street but decided to keep going and then realized that you were stuck in traffic due to a car accident or construction on the road? Trusting your gut saves you time, money or energy in the long run.
6. Delegate your tasks. Don’t be afraid to share responsibilities. If you are a perfectionist or control freak, you may find it difficult to assign projects to others because you’re afraid they do a sloppy job, not complete it by the deadline or may not complete the task at all. However, if you have a great team of people around you. It works to your advantage. Remember, it works for the whole T.E.A.M (Together Everyone Achieves More).
7. Eat balanced meals. Don’t skimp on nutritious meals, especially breakfast. Make sure you’re eating healthy and getting a variety of fruits and veggies. Don’t forget to drink water to hydrate the body.
8. Get proper exercise. No matter how busy your life may be, you should include at least 15-20 minutes of exercise in your daily routine. That also includes stretching and raising the heart rate.
9. Go to bed early. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. The body needs to repair the cells in the body which aid against sickness and disease. When you’re fully rested, it decreases stress, shifts mood, and energy levels. You will also have clarity of mind with the opportunity to begin the day refreshed and renewed.
10. Take a break. Allow yourself time to breathe. It’s more productive to take short breaks during the day than to jump from one responsibility to another. This also includes taking a vacation. You are much more focused, regain concentration and energy. When you take the time to let it go, breathe and embrace the moment, you see things from a new perspective.