Yesterday I got my copy of Art Calendar magazine.
http://www.artcalendar.com/ This magazine is an amazing resource for artists and craftspeople. Great articles on doing shows, managing your finances, doing commissions, contracts, etc., plus an extensive listing of calls for entry.
Jack White writes a regular column for AC called Heart to Heart, and this month's topic is "Procrastination".
I almost put it off til today to read (haha, feeble joke) but decided to take action and read it immediately. I've been thinking about it ever since.
Jack points out that ALL artists procrastinate. But the ones who procrastinate the worst, never even get their art out into the world. He feels procrastination is the single biggest obstacle for artists becoming successful.
He lists being obsessed with perfection and fear of failure as being the two biggest bugaboos that invoke procrastination. One of his suggestions to get through it is to make a prioritized to-do list every night.
Well, I DO make a list every evening or morning. But it hasn't solved my problem.
Or has it?
I felt a bit guilty when I looked at my daily lists. The first thing I write down every day is not my art, but my time for exercise.
It might be kickboxing, it might be rollerblading, it might be riding. But every day, I try to get some form of vigorous exercise, without fail.
This morning I realized my highest priority right now is my health.
Is that something to feel guilty about? I don't think so.
I made a decision four years ago to do something about my weight and my health issues. I realized if I want to make art for the rest of my life (and I intend to), I had to PHYSICALLY be able to do that.
I joined one of those women's circuit training centers. That got me working out regularly and eating sensibly. From there I went back to martial arts. Even major injuries after that only inspired me to add MORE activities, not cut back on them. I took up riding as a promise to myself, and rollerblading because it's fun, dammit.
When my husband or kids suggest a walk, I try to never refuse. First, because it usually means they want to talk about something. But it also means exercise and a chance to hang with the people I love.
I take more time to eat right. I take time to make healthy meals, and sit down to enjoy them.
I make sure I get enough sleep at night.
Art may come second in my life right now. But at least I'll be around a long time to produce it.
