Comments on: How Do You Motivate Yourself to Finish a Project? (Curious Monday)

By: Kimberly

Mon, 30 May 2016 15:45:52 +0000

In reply to Tami Bone.

I loved reading through these answers.

Interested to see The Pomodoro Technique (www.pomodorotechnique.com) mentioned only this once! I use it for bizness, art and life, making the sessions smaller and smaller and smaller — amazing what can be done in 5 minutes! — until I’ve shredded anxiety. And, at this point in my life and career, I understand that procrastination is (usually) the source, and the product of anxiety.

As far as going that last bit on a project that’s exhausted me, I’m afraid I’m very old-fashioned in my thinking about that — the project is either worth the effort, or it’s not. If it’s not — and I have a novel in a drawer that I believe falls into this category — I move on. There’s so much to make!! And if the project is worth the effort, it will stay with me, nagging, and putting that effort in when I don’t think I can is precisely what separates me-the-artist from me-the-hobbyist: doing it when it doesn’t feel good.

To juice myself up, motivation by all means necessary: the work of my fellows, accountability, books, pictures, music, beauty –. I am currently turned on by Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations; Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert; Ada Limon’s Bright Dead Things; and Jeremy Irons reading The Four Quartets (https://jeremyirons.net/2014/01/18/jeremy-irons-reads-ts-eliots-four-quartets/).

If none of the above works, that mean — horrors! — I’m tired, and it’s time for pulled blinds and a good novel — recent faves include Kate Morton.

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By: Bill

Sat, 28 May 2016 21:33:10 +0000

I finish just the way I start. I decide to get going early and put some time in. I tell myself that will free up my time later on. (Then later on momentum often decides to have another go at it.) The other aspect is that there is never, ever nothing on the easel. When I put one panel on the drying rack, another panel goes up and some marks are made. Then the next morning, I’m trying to sort out the marks and get to it all over again.

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By: Tami Bone

Sat, 28 May 2016 15:59:44 +0000

I’ve been dealing with this big time on several projects, and greatly appreciate reading how others handle procrastination. If I’m having a really tough time facing something, I’ll sometimes use small rewards, such as a treating myself to a movie if I work x number of hours. One thing that seems to help quite a lot, though, is the simple Pomodoro technique, which naturally I learned about from Alyson. Something about setting that timer on my phone, and hearing the soft tick, tick, tick in the background of doing my work, helps so much. And I don’t know if it’s the actual ticking sound, or the idea of having small deadlines of 25 minutes – or possibly the race against the buzzer, but somehow it helps me to focus and plow thru things better. I admit, though, that I haven’t used if for making art, only for projects around the art making, such as marketing tasks. Having said all this, I’m going to try it this weekend for tackling a new piece.

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By: Beth Thompson

Fri, 27 May 2016 19:56:16 +0000

To overcome procrastination, I break a project into 20 minute tasks, anything longer than 20 minutes is another project.
I allocate 15-20 minutes to do that task, time-blocking it on my calendar.
If I continue to postpone working on said project week after week, I get accountable. This might just mean telling my husband I’ve put something off for weeks. Or a friend, if I tell him and still procrastinate.

That said, there’s one huge project I’ve put off for years, and I’ve decided to claim 6 months to work towards its completion. But due to my show schedule, I am giving myself a start date in October, so I can stay human, and not set myself up for failure.
There it is, I’ve put it on the internet, so I have accountability to begin in October!

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By: Lisa Carnicom

Fri, 27 May 2016 19:13:53 +0000

These comments have all been useful tools – thanks, everyone! I’m the opposite of a procrastinator about everything except making art, even though that’s one of the activities I enjoy most. I get all necessaries done so that when I install myself in the studio, my mind is completely free of a To Do List. I am retraining my brain to let go of my self-appraisal that I am She Who Gets Stuff Done. I am accustomed to finishing everything I do to a certain level of craftsmanship. I am learning to let go of this tendency in making art because I don’t yet have the skill to be so fussy!

I’m pretty decisive about whether or not I’m going to finish or abandon a project, so there are few “maybes” hanging around the studio. When I DO decide to return to a “maybe”, I take 3 – 7 deep breaths and put on my art smock. I put a lucky shell, rock, or other object in my pocket. Hey, Costa Ricans schoolkids bring such things to exams, presentations, & other challenging situations. I decided I liked this behavior & thus have adopted it. I flare my nostrils a bit, put my “game face” on, and walk toward the piece as if we are going to wrangle, play, or be tenderly nurtured. Every piece is different; “tenderly nurtured” gets a different facial expression. Usually I melt into surrender to my Divine & chuckle at all my swagger. That’s the only way I get anything good done, so I’m happy this way. Apparently I enjoy going through my father’s ritual cosplay (John Wayne), with love. Usually, then, I begin to feel guided in what to do with the painting or drawing (or, sometimes, an installation). I often wonder if an ancestor is with me. I like to think of myself as embroidered into the weave of humanity stretching far back into history. For some reason, this is both inspiring & grounding. Would you like to see how this works? Test drive it for yourself?

I have been inspired by reading James Altucher’s take on exercising your “idea muscles”. He wrote that a healthy behavior is writing down at least ten ideas every day. Not only is this good for your brain; it also makes you feel more alive (which would affect all of the body’s systems in a positive way).

That’s the nutshell version 😉 So much happens while we are making art, isn’t it?

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By: Lisa Carnicom

Fri, 27 May 2016 18:22:58 +0000

In reply to Margaret Mair.

This is super-helpful. And well-phrased. Thank you 🙂

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By: Maureen

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:40:41 +0000

I am grateful for all the comments posted–most helpful! And helpful in realizing I am not alone.

I think how we school children at a very early age could affect this outcome. Our schooling was about following someone else’s deadline; test this Friday, paper due Tuesday. I don’t remember any self-starting assignment.

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By: Amy Evans

Thu, 26 May 2016 14:01:23 +0000

I try to stick to a schedule and force myself into the studio even when I have little inspiration. I will start another project if I feel the current one is the reason I am procrastinating. I hate the pressure of short deadlines, so having the luxury of time does keep me from stressing as well as doing poor work.

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By: Kathy Cole Ferguson

Wed, 25 May 2016 19:51:15 +0000

In reply to Jacqueline Perreault.

Wow, you’re comment really hit home. I wasn’t sure unable to make progress on this painting for months. I couldn’t start something new until I finished this, but I was frozen in fear! Yesterday, I finally just covered up a huge section of the painting with paint. It was so hard to destroy the areas I had work so hard on, but they just weren’t working and I couldn’t seem to move forward. Now, I’m excited again and feel like I can get going again. I’m not sure why I thought all that previous work was so precious! Thanks for helping me move past the fear.

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By: Orla Madden

Wed, 25 May 2016 19:44:35 +0000

a timetable and deadlines and motivating and being motivated by artist friends are what works for me …. and loving what am working on !

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