Creating more art is a goal for many of us.

But life is full of so much busyness, that often we feel overwhelmed by the idea of even trying to create more art. Where would I put it? When would I do it? How could I possibly add one more thing to my to-do list? These are all valid questions, but none of them actually stop us from making art. The only thing stopping you from making more art is YOU!

In this article we will explore how you can find time to be creative, and why every day you don't schedule your art into your calendar, you are wasting a day.

Knowing exactly when you'll work can help you stay on track and manage expectations.

Knowing exactly when you'll work can help you stay on track and manage expectations.

You should also make sure to honor these times as work. It's not about working whenever inspiration strikes, but rather about sticking to a schedule, even if it means doing nothing for some of those allocated moments.

This means that the rest of your life — family, friends, personal errands — will have to wait until you've designated another time for that.

Consider your schedule and your tendencies.

Knowing yourself and your schedule is the first step in creating workable change.

Consider your schedule and your tendencies. We all have a different approach to our schedules. Some of us love to plan ahead, others prefer to take it one day at a time. If you're like me, you get magical bursts of energy and focus when the mood strikes—or never if it doesn't! Knowing what type of person you are is important for determining how much structure you need, as well as how much flexibility will be successful for you. It might not be necessary for you to re-write your schedule every week or even every month; however, if that works better for you than an annual plan then by all means do it! You must decide what feels most realistic and comfortable for yourself as an individual. I also recommend considering other aspects or limitations in your life besides just work: family responsibilities (if any), social activities and mental health included! The point is to create a life where these things coexist harmoniously rather than clashing with one another.

HighBeam By Malcolm Xavier 

Find the right interval for you.

Think about your schedule. For instance, most people have to work or go to school. You are not a machine and you need time off to be able to function well. So plan in advance what will work for you. If this is the first time that you are committing yourself to create on a regular basis, choose an interval of time that will allow you to do it every day or almost every day. For instance, you could set aside half an hour each morning after breakfast and before leaving for work/school. An alternative could be half an hour each evening before going to bed: whatever works best for you within the framework of your schedule and routines! If you are working on a bigger project such as writing a book or creating a collection for your shop, try setting aside bigger chunks of time at least 3 times a week – I like Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – so that I can have some days off if the muse is not visiting me :)

Make it easy to see your plan.

By making your plan easy to see and follow, you are much less likely to get distracted. I keep my writing plan on a paper calendar in my office to see when it's time for me to write. For some people, this may not work, but play around with different things until you find something that works for you!

For example, if you are more of a digital person then maybe an online calendar would be best. There are several free calendars available online, such as Google Calendar or 24me. Or if you prefer in-home reminders then try a dry erase board or corkboard in your workspace. Or even set timers on your phone so that it will buzz at the times for each task or break (more about this later).

Whatever works for you personally is what will help make it easier to stick to your plan and create space in your life for art!

If you break your plan its ok, try again tomorrow

If you find that you're missing days, or aren't sticking to your plan as well as you'd like to, don't beat yourself up about it! You can just start over again the next day. Keep working until you find a plan that works for you.

You might want to keep reviewing and refining your schedule too. If something isn't working, it's okay to change it up. For example, if getting up first thing in the morning is impossible for you right now, consider moving your studio time to the evening instead. Or if the painting makes you sleepy and tired after lunch each day, do your sketchbook work instead of oil paints at that time of day.

You'll get better at all of this as time goes on and you make more art.

Don't get discouraged when you're trying to find more time for your art. You'll get better at all of this as time goes on and you make more art.

Don't let perfectionism get in the way of progress. It's great to be proud of the work that you do and want it to be the best that it can be, but don't let those desires keep your art from seeing the light of day.

Don't wait for inspiration to strike, just get to work. If you're waiting for an awesome idea or feeling of motivation to hit you, chances are it won't ever happen; artists who do their best work tend to put in long hours every day with no expectation of getting a burst of inspiration.

Don't be afraid to try new things. The only way we learn is by making mistakes and sometimes falling flat on our face a few times first! Don’t let doubts stop you from trying something new because even if it fails, there’s always another opportunity right around the corner!

And finally… don’t let failure stop you from trying again! If we never fail at anything ever then how would anyone know where or how far they need improvement? Accept that sometimes things don’t go well but then brush off those dust bunnies and start fresh tomorrow with even bigger aspirations in mind than before!

You just have to pick a plan, start following it and adjust as needed.

Most people never discover their passion. And if they do, they often don't know how to follow it or grow it. This is why we created You Create; to help you not just dream about your passions, but actually create them.

We're here to show you that art can be more than a hobby! Learn from our mistakes and get inspired by the successes of artists who have been where you are now. We have the tips, tricks, and techniques for you to not only create your art but keep creating it!

Love n War By Malcolm Xavier