The Importance of Creating a Daily Routine

The Importance of Creating a Daily Routine

 

I have been creating mini paintings and posting them for sale on the landing page almost daily for the month of January. Sometimes there is a thought just screaming to be captured on paper, other days it is more like I am trying to coax a shy snail out from its shell with a flame thrower. This mixture of elation and misery seems a bit unreasonable for what was supposed to be a simple task designed to kickstart my daily routine.

Then this little guy came back from the framers:

 

 

All of a sudden I feel like a professional artist and the time it takes to transfer brain impulses to actual images seems entirely reasonable. Odd how a simple frame can do all that.

I wake up, set the kettle to boil, pull out a little square of paper, and get to it. Because it is on my list of things to do that day, and I love checking off tasks as complete, I do my best to ignore the occasional whiny voice inside when the creation process goes less smoothly than desired.

Goals seem so cold, calculated, distant. Something my high school teachers would patronizingly ask if I had. I remember not too long ago everyone from financial advisors to government officials was talking about The 5 Year Plan. Where did I see myself in 5 years? Ha! Good luck with that one. I have not heard mention of the plan for a while now, I wonder if others have had the same reaction as me?

A routine is far friendlier, more accessible, and something to carry me through from one sketch to the next blog post. Wake up with the sun, boil water, pull out paper and pen and paints, choose a flavour of tea, sit down, and get to it. The scenery will change but I hope I will be able to cement this new rhythm into place before the next adventure arrises.

I find it difficult at times to keep up with the writing and painting while travelling, especially when I am moving quickly. At first I thought I lacked discipline, but now I know it has more to do with interrupted routine. It gets me down in the dumps thinking of myself as unable to drum up enough gumption and strength of character to post more regularly, to sketch street scenes more often, to journal more frequently. This way of thinking builds a negative inner space, ‘I want tos’ turn into ‘I shoulds’ making it additionally difficult to get doing. Creating a routine based on activities I already love to do distances me from those negative thoughts, takes the personal judgement out of the equation, and kickstarts my day.

Yeah, I am liking my little routines these days. Tell me about yours?

 

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4 Comments

  1. Maria

    My routine: Have a snuggle with my guy, get up, greet my dogs and get them out into the forest. A daily morning walk among massive Douglas Firs and Hemlocks – what a great start to my day 🙂

    Reply
    • Genevieve

      Sounds like a beautiful routine! =)

      Reply
  2. sylvia zerjav

    My routine is to start with 2 cups of coffee and then……

    Reply
    • Genevieve

      Hehe, nice. =)

      Reply

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