How to Carve Out More Time to Paint Once and For All

One of the main topics that artists have a problem with is finding time to create. That's the number one issue. Time is one of those topics that, of course, is a big problem for all of us creatives: finding the time for art. That elusive couple of hours a day where we can spend time doing what we love as a hobby, making art, whittling out that little side hustle business to supplement income, or maybe transition into a full-time income.

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Transcript:

How can we find that extra hour or two?

Time is also a topic that I think is one of those things that triggers me, to be honest, because I'm at that stage in life where I can look back and think, my God, I wasted a lot of time! When asked how I have the time to do what I do, I often say that I am making up for lost time. I mean that. With that perspective finding time to create becomes imperative. It is the “why” taken care of.

And then I look at young people. I've got children in their 20s. And I think, man, if I was in my 20s and had the wisdom that I have now about making the most of time, well, what could be achieved?

It boggles my mind.

And then I look ahead to the older generation, my parents' generation, and they tell me just how they wish they had more time. I look at my parents who were sold the social contract of the 20th century, which ran pretty much along the lines of, Do your work, join the workforce, retire and get your pension at 65. Enjoy a happy five years of retirement, and then please be so good as to leave the building and punch out the time card for the last time on this planet. You have had your three-score and ten years!

Does that sound terrible or does it have the ring of truth about it? 

Well, the fact of the matter is that is the truth for a huge chunk of that generation. That is how it was meant to be. How do we know this? Look at our Western governments in particular. Absolute panic mode, Because they have been spending money like a drunk lotto winner in Vegas And all the governments are bankrupt. There's no point in denying it. They're bankrupt. They have no money. The welfare systems are broken. And they would like all the old folks over 70 to shuffle along and all the young people to join the labor force immediately making money, geinto credit card debt, pay taxes and play the same old game.

That system is a time thief. Once the time is up its gone.

Retirement? A horrible idea! It's a curse and should be erased from our minds.
Fact is, why would anyone want to retire when they are doing what they love. If you are doing the wage-slave thing then work to transition into something you love to do. Then you are free. Even if it is a business or salaried position, if you love it then it is in alignment with your spirit. You are free from mental bondage.

WHY RETIRE? Keep doing what you love until the end.

So words are extremely powerful. 

While we can envy younger people for the time they have, we have to remember that life is fragile for everyone, and we only have today or even this moment. So the words you use are very important because when you say, I don't have time, then you create that reality and you don't have time. 

Now, you've had people, of course, that have probably jumped down your throat and told you emphatically that they don't have time. And that defensiveness is an invitation to get into an argument. That's really a pointless situation. When you say you don't have time, you don't have time. 

But that's only your own reality created through your own words. We all have the same amount of time. Some people are not blessed with an extra 12 hours to create art. They have the same amount of time. What it really boils down to is whether painting is that important to you? Do you want to do it badly enough? That's the question. If you don't have time for painting, it really means it's not important enough. But if you say, I want to paint, then you open up the possibility. 

All you have to do is follow through and look for that time. Look at your day, see what has to go. Where is your time being spent? Are you spending a couple of hours in the evening watching TV? Can you do without that? Of course. If you really want to paint and it's important enough, then the TV will be switched off. 

Or if you're doing certain things that also take up-time, that are perhaps habits, are there ways to Start working at those little by little, whittling them away until you have more time. What it really means is you have to sit down and say, Right, I want to paint. I'm going to paint. And now I'm going to set aside time. I'm going to find the time because I need to create. I just need to isolate that moment, block it off in the diary, put a reminder on your computer or whatever, and see it within my grasp. 

See it there, blocked off in red or whatever color you want. Block it off, make that date. That is how people find time to do things when it's important enough. So let's not get over complicated with various apps and journals and all sorts of weird things that are going tocomplicate this.

It just comes down to finding the time, because you have made a decision.
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A decision about what's important to you. 

Now, there are other excuses besides time, but are related to it, like, I'm too old to start that. I'm going to look foolish. Or, I'm too young, I have to make money to pay the rent. And I work so hard all day. I want time to play with my friends after work, put on the video games, chill out with my mates, all that excuse making. 

These are just the same, tried and tested lame excuses. We all use them. I use them sometimes, except, of course, for painting, because that is something that has become a habit and is now too important. 

And when something becomes too important in your life to give up, you won't give it up. You'll keep doing it. You'll probably skimp somewhere else, until you figure that out and improve that aspect of your life. 

But never take it for granted. Never stop being grateful for your painting time. So the challenge is, have a look at your day, have a look at your week. Mark off some time, and make that a date with yourself.

Let everybody know those two hours are yours. Let everybody know that those two hours are your creative time. And keep at it until it becomes a habit and part of your life, and you'll wonder how you ever did without it. 

So good luck. Make your plans now. Let me know if you found those two hours in which you could start your painting.

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