Recently I took some online workshops and tele-classes where I learned some valuable information. And since, I’ve had several life-lessons that reminded me why some of those things that I learned go hand-in-hand, and why they are important. Sometimes we have to experience a lesson ourselves, or “suffer” the consequences to be reminded of why we need to do something (or not do something.)
I took a tele-class from Eric Maisel through the , and one of the many things I learned was to make art first thing in the morning–before you do any other work. Artists need to create meaning, and if you create your meaning first thing in the morning, it will set the tone for the rest of the day.
From Alyson Stanfield‘s online workshop Go Get Organized*, one of the many things I learned was not to check e-mail first thing in the morning because you’ll get distracted and off in a different direction than you intended.
It’s easy to say “sure, I get it” to both of those things, and go along your merry way. For awhile, I practiced both of those things. Then I let life, or more like old habits, start to slip in and I got out of both of those practices.
Yesterday, I woke up feeling grand, had big plans of all the work I was going to get done. I ran an errand first thing in the morning (which really had to be done first thing), and my intentions were to get home and get to work in the studio on some artwork. But instead, I decided to check my e-mail before I went to the studio. Bad idea.
First off, I get a lot of e-mail everyday. A LOT. I scanned through and saw several e-mails that were about a few different projects I’m working on. I read them, and was instantly upset. And because I had read them (and was upset), I felt I had to deal with them right then. I was upset the rest of the day. The e-mails had triggered some things for me, which took me to the place of “why bother working so hard when it never makes a difference.” I did finally make it out to the studio, but I didn’t work on art. I only packed up orders and shipped them off. I tried to shake how I was feeling, but really couldn’t.
While I was packing the orders, I thought about the day, and knew that really, reading those e-mails first thing set the tone for my day and they could have been read later, with no consequences. And, had I followed my plan of getting out to the studio first, things would have been different. I’m sure I still would have been upset by the e-mails, but I would have already accomplished my meaning-making for the day, so I would have had that boost of accomplishment on my side. That would have balanced out the e-mails, and more than likely, kept those negative thoughts/beliefs from getting triggered. Or at least, kept me from getting so down about them.
I’ve found (and been reminded) the same thing goes for checking e-mail late at night. It might depend on your life-style and the type of work you do, but for me, I’m self-employed. If a client e-mails me, I feel I need to do what they are asking right then. (sometimes they imply that, sometimes it’s me taking that on, wanting to please them.) So checking e-mail before I go to bed is not a good idea. It means sometimes I stay up all night to work on a project for a client that really should have/could have waited until the morning. Life would still go. And, I’d get more sleep.
With being reminded of all of this, and not happy about feeling crappy yesterday, I was strict with myself today. DO NOT CHECK E-MAIL FIRST THING. Go make art.
So that’s what I did. The photo shows what I worked on this morning. Three are pieces I had started previously, that I worked more on, and another is a new piece. Then, I took the photo and typed up this post–without checking e-mail first. Go me! And guess what–the sky didn’t fall. Plus, I got my art on. Now I’m ready to deal with the rest of the day, which includes dealing with e-mail.
*Since I am an affiliate, I might make a small percentage of any sales on the website when you click on the links here. Please know that as an artist myself, I would only recommend something that I personally like or think is helpful.
Traci, thank you for sharing! Just what I needed to read. :0) It’s easy to be distracted by email, whether you just opened it or you are waiting on a reply. I think scheduling a time for email might be a good strategy for me. Have a great day!
A very timely post for me too! Thanks, Traci!
I’m glad you both got something out of it. We all need reminders! I just went through my e-mail, and did it with a different attitude since I had already done some artwork & posted to my blog.
I always check my email first thing in the am and before bed and why?? There is rarely anything important, but I think because less is said and done via real conversation it is a connection that I may be missing. I think that not making it the first or last thing of the day is an excellent idea!!
some days the only thing that gets to me wake up is checking my email WHILE in bed. it motivates me to wake up and get to work 🙂
@Debbie: It makes a huge difference for me.
@Claudine: I think you are definitely an exception here! Some days, checking e-mail isn’t a problem before I get to work. But, then there are the days where an e-mail has an interesting article that I read, which has me click over to another site, and another site, etc., until way too much time has gone by. Or, the days, like yesterday, where a few e-mails make me feel like it’s time to give up and become a walmart greeter.
Traci – this is brilliant! I’ve never heard that before and yet I know already it would make a huge difference in my day if I stayed away from the computer until the afternoon. I would get so much more done. I end up spending the day thinking about those articles I read that stirred me up, etc. Thank you!
Thanks Janet! I wish I could take credit for the brilliance, but that goes to Eric Maisel & Alyson Stanfield. It’s amazing how much time & energy the computer can take away from us.
Absolutely right! Authors Iris Murdoch and Paul Bowles, among others, didn’t even get out of bed before writing entire stories and chapters of books. Bowles even went back to bed to write later in the day because it gave him “first thing in the morning freshness”. I know we probably can’t spray paint or dye yarn in bed, but doing it first, before anything else, makes a huge difference and sets the tone of the day–the same way a negative email would–only positively. GREAT POST!
They must not have had an old, hyperthyroid cat! I have to feed my pets first thing, or there would be a revolution. But yes, if it’s possible to work before doing anything at all, that’s the best. Eric Maisel talks about solving dilemmas/blocks with your work while you sleep–by giving yourself a prompt before you go to bed, then you do “sleep-thinking.” If you work as soon as you wake up, you can harness what you resolved in your sleep. It sounds like for Bowles, being in bed was equivalent to a ritual, that would trigger the work-flow.
Thank you for saying all this and more!!! Sometimes it needs to be pounded into my head. Email and communication with my clients is important but creating is more important! I’m an early bird and its way too easy to be distracted by the computer first this….now I’m off to make art!
I am one of those, it seems, who needs to learn some lessons a few times. It can be so easy for had habits to start slipping back in–and this is definitely one of them. Checking e-mail, or social sites, or even surfing, can be addictive . . . and an avoidance . . .
I was without the internet for 36 hours yesterday/today and I got more done than I normally do in a week.And I also agree I worry if I have not commented on blogs and social network sites,how ridiculous is that.
Yeah, we put s lot of the pressure from “shoulds” on ourselves.
If I check my emails first thing and I do not like what it says I am liable to reply back a nasty remark. If I wait and then check my email when I am fully functional I have more sense not to reply with a nasty note.
AWESOME post Traci as I needed this GOOD reminder. I walk past my studio to come downstairs in the morning and from now on, I’ll go spend at least a couple hours in there before coming downstairs. As like you, I get lots of emails and getting sidetracked by them & answering plus social media needs to change!
THANKS for posting!
So often I have found myself wasting time when I am up early. I could get so much done if I started the day in the studio. Thanks for this reminder to start with art!
hi traci…absolutely totally agree…..the internet has both helped and hindered my creative time…..and it is up to me to manage it, no the other way around…and i have to always remind myself of this simple fact….i also need reminders of what i already know and believe….
Thanks for the confirmation of what I used to do, but after years of up-and-out-and-off-to-work had forgotten works best for me!
These days, being unemployed I start my day off looking at a few favourite blogs and then somehow, once I’m up the day starts to unravel because I approach art and craft as a reward for myself rather than what I really, really want to do. In the past I used to get up and start something and then find myself still unshowered and in my pyjamas at 11:00 and starving but very happy!
What am I doing when I finish my morning coffee? Not housework, not grocery shopping, I’m playing – although I might shower!
You know, I’ve got that horrrrrrible habit of checking my phone first thing when I wake up. Every single time I do it, I always get pissed about it and spend a large portion of my morning sorting through what’s worthwhile or not… Then I usually spend the rest of the morning not accomplishing any of the things I told myself the night before I would do. So I’m thinking this is good advice, and that it’s time to break the cycle. I HATE my addiction to the internet, and I hate that it tears people away from one another, and I hate that it’s pretty much pointless to constantly be plugged in like that. If something important happens, I’m sure I’ll be called about it. E-mail can wait. I’ve decided. Tomorrow I am going to wake up, get dressed, unpack my kitchen and home studio (just moved to a new apartment this week!) and GET SHIT DONE. There is NO POINT in wasting all my time online when clearly, it’s not going anywhere. Life is too important to just let it pass me by any more.
You will love it! Every day I feel like I’m playing hookey by starting off with art instead of the computer.
Thank you for this post, great advice and a great reminder for us all!
Traci – thank you for the knock upside-the-head with a 2×4 – I am going to start listening more to that little voice in my head that says, “you DON’T need to check your email. you NEED to go melt some glass.”
Sometimes it’s REALLY hard to not listen to that voice–myself included. Which is why I got out of that practice and had to start again!