Be Prepared for Distractions in Creativity

 

Distractions during creative time will happen from time to time. Author, teacher, artist Julia Cameron knows that well and discusses this at length in her series of books The Artists Way.

| Read my personal summaries on two books here

Below is a list I recently created when I asked myself what I have done in the past and what you can do now to help alleviate distractions before your next personal creative time or project.

 

CREATE A HOME MANAGEMENT BINDER

If you have a family or others who live in the home with you, create a Home Management Binder with all the cheat sheet household information. You can include things like logins and passwords to household entertainment sources like Netflix or Hulu, calendars, school information or schedules, chore charts and things like emergency contacts.  This eliminates you having to be asked questions that will distract you from your creative practice time or creative projects. 

DEVELOPE A ROUTINE THAT FITS YOU BEST

Using the same timeframe (not necessarily having to be at the exact same time) every day or every week, consistently to devote to creative practice or projects is ideal. This will allow others to see that you are in fact in a routine and gives them a queue to respect your creative boundaries. In the event you create at different inspired times, you can also create a "working" sign and place it near you or set your calendar to block out these timeframes online so that you are not disturbed or expected to respond to disruptions at that time. 

| You can get my guided Routine Outline Worksheet here.

MANAGE TECHNOLOGY

Make technology your ally or turn it off! Turn off all alerts that are not connected to your creative time. If your work is tied to the internet, only have tabs or sites open that are directly connected to the task at hand.

| Also read: Change Your Relationship with Social Media.

CONSIDER YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Explore other places to work creatively. Consider taking smaller creative projects to the library or a coffee shop and work on things there. Or if you are limited on spaces in your home to work, you can connect with another art/studio space and inquire about time there in instances where you need to switch things up.

PREP YOURSELF FOR CREATIVITY

Practice having the next part of your creative project already ready for you. You'll know exactly where you will begin when you come back to it.

| Also read supporting post: Prep Yourself for Creativity

| Book recommend: Do The Work, by Steven Pressfield.

What are other ways you have eliminated distractions? If you are still struggling in this area, what would you say is the most challenging part for you?