Every month I try to open up a month long conversation about the creative practice, and this month I thought we’d talk about systems, rituals and routines.
What routines, rituals, or systems do you have as a working creative and what have they done for you? Any system that helps you run your life, not just the creative part of your life.
Use one comment per system and share as many as you like!
Some examples might be: a type of planner or journal, a warmup exercise, a diet, and exercise routine, a weekly meet up etc.
One thing that has saved a tremendous amount of time and mind space for me is to plan default meals. If I’m at home, I NEVER have to think about what to eat or when my next meal will be. I first did this by catering food daily for a year.
My wife has taken over the food duties and we plan the menu and get the groceries together. I’m so grateful for her :)
Food duties are my main hurdle - I have two hungry teenage boys who are back home every day from school at lunchtime so need lunch and dinner. It's not just the cooking of meals but the thinking about them, planning them, shopping for them - it all takes up so much time and energy. It sometimes feels hard to get a proper run-up into work, or a solid hours-long session where I can just focus. If anyone has ideas for a super-efficient and streamlined meal strategy, I'm all ears!!
OK, so forgive me, as this will sound tragic (someone told me once i needed to get a job....ho ho ho) but I plan a 2 week rotational menu. It means that we all know what's coming and I can economise on the shopping (which I do online as ethically as I can). It also means I can bulk cook and the freezer often has happy little treats stashed that can save a gaping hole of a meal. It's not perfect, but 80% of the time it runs like clockwork which means I get time off to not think about feeding the masses (or cooking or thinking what to have). Sad thing is that I like cooking, but as the only one that does it in the house, and with a vegan husband, 2 veggie kids, 1 intermittent student and my own IBD/IBS requirements it's a solution that's worked for me. (Don't ask what's happening now - got a husband and eldest down with covid.... which means it's like running a cafe) xxx
This doesn't sound tragic at all to me, it sounds like the holy grail! I always start thinking about something like this and by the time I get to the end of week one - all those lunches and dinners - I get overwhelmed and have to go and have a lie-down :-). But it's obviously the way to go - I'm going to have another stab at it.
Hope your family are on the mend and you haven't succumbed xx
Sorry Kate - I went down with it (hence the delay in reply) and now the fourth out of five has it.... so annoying - maybe we should have just tried to get it all at the same time at the beginning but last time round not all of us did get it. Hey ho. Never mind.
Good luck with trying a plan. To be fair, my new menu is already annoying me and so I'm planning on swapping stuff around already. 😝 xxx
Hope you’re feeling better Jo. Meal planning seems to be a moveable feast as it were. I always start ambitiously and after a week end up back at pasta x
I do this as I am the one shopping and cooking every day all day (for 4 and sometimes 5). Without it there would be too many arguments in the house. I have a two week menu that rotates and changes only between summer and winter! I find I have less odd spices that are unused and going stale then too.
What a great, simple, time-saving plan! I have a default breakfast shake that, now that you have me thinking about it, saves so much time and mental decision making. But lunch and dinner require puzzling it out each day. Hmmm.... Thanks for this!
I start my day with a protein bar. It’s a treat for getting into the studio. Having energy to start your day is so vital and a habit I only developed in the last quarter of my life…
I start everyday with a simple routine that works for me. This in some cases may seems so normal for others, but working at home can lead to compromises (like open window, breath air, drink12 oz of water) and I "fever write" for 10 minutes. It sets me up. On days I am scattered, I block my time into 2 hours blocks - that are specifically aligned with my vision for life: (Create, Production, being of service, family/friends, self-care). Thank you for the topic!
I love those kinds of topics! I always have been a routine person. Even as a child, I would plan my week on a sheet with a clear system and multiple colors. The funny thing is that my 8 years old has began to do the same this week. She has created a little calendar and uses it with post-it.
I really like bullet-proof journal. Each Sunday, I write down what I have to do on the next week with color codes for priorities. It includes works, personal projects/exercises/promo, and sports. I also add meal plans for the kids lunches and supper.
In the morning, I work on what needs the more attention. And I try to allow my self one hour of exploration at my drawing table per day, depending on the amount of work.
My routine has been a bit disturbed with COVID lately (my kids and I tested positive, but not at the same time. We had someone with COVID at home for almost 1 month and a half.) but like you cleverly said in today's email, rather than fight, I decided to put some of my stuff on pause and allowed me more free time (usually walks alone on tiny mountain we have in Montreal) than usual to at least keep my mental health. It was the good thing to do because this week, I felt the energy and the motivation coming back and I'm working on my routine this morning!
At the moment my work is on hold due to family illness. All my work and routines relating to them are out of the window. BUT I have a small sketchbook with me all the time and sometimes get to draw, even paint in it. But these are for super short bursts of max 15 min a time. For now that's all there can be. Reading what you guys are up to is really helpful. It opens a window onto the world that is currently shut firmly. So thank you.
There was a time when all I could do was draw in the margins of my work planner. I think it’s so great that you have this sketchbook practice, these 15 minute blocks are gold! Guard them!
One thing that has saved a tremendous amount of time and mind space for me is to plan default meals. If I’m at home, I NEVER have to think about what to eat or when my next meal will be. I first did this by catering food daily for a year.
My wife has taken over the food duties and we plan the menu and get the groceries together. I’m so grateful for her :)
Food duties are my main hurdle - I have two hungry teenage boys who are back home every day from school at lunchtime so need lunch and dinner. It's not just the cooking of meals but the thinking about them, planning them, shopping for them - it all takes up so much time and energy. It sometimes feels hard to get a proper run-up into work, or a solid hours-long session where I can just focus. If anyone has ideas for a super-efficient and streamlined meal strategy, I'm all ears!!
OK, so forgive me, as this will sound tragic (someone told me once i needed to get a job....ho ho ho) but I plan a 2 week rotational menu. It means that we all know what's coming and I can economise on the shopping (which I do online as ethically as I can). It also means I can bulk cook and the freezer often has happy little treats stashed that can save a gaping hole of a meal. It's not perfect, but 80% of the time it runs like clockwork which means I get time off to not think about feeding the masses (or cooking or thinking what to have). Sad thing is that I like cooking, but as the only one that does it in the house, and with a vegan husband, 2 veggie kids, 1 intermittent student and my own IBD/IBS requirements it's a solution that's worked for me. (Don't ask what's happening now - got a husband and eldest down with covid.... which means it's like running a cafe) xxx
This doesn't sound tragic at all to me, it sounds like the holy grail! I always start thinking about something like this and by the time I get to the end of week one - all those lunches and dinners - I get overwhelmed and have to go and have a lie-down :-). But it's obviously the way to go - I'm going to have another stab at it.
Hope your family are on the mend and you haven't succumbed xx
All the best! I’d love to hear how it turns out, changing the daily stuff has the biggest impact, on our weeks, months and years.
Sorry Kate - I went down with it (hence the delay in reply) and now the fourth out of five has it.... so annoying - maybe we should have just tried to get it all at the same time at the beginning but last time round not all of us did get it. Hey ho. Never mind.
Good luck with trying a plan. To be fair, my new menu is already annoying me and so I'm planning on swapping stuff around already. 😝 xxx
Hope you’re feeling better Jo. Meal planning seems to be a moveable feast as it were. I always start ambitiously and after a week end up back at pasta x
Much better thanks Kate. 😝 moveable feast is exactly right - luckily only two of us dining this evening so I can make myself an omlette - huzzah!
How do you find summer holidays? Easier or more complex? xx
I do this as I am the one shopping and cooking every day all day (for 4 and sometimes 5). Without it there would be too many arguments in the house. I have a two week menu that rotates and changes only between summer and winter! I find I have less odd spices that are unused and going stale then too.
What a great, simple, time-saving plan! I have a default breakfast shake that, now that you have me thinking about it, saves so much time and mental decision making. But lunch and dinner require puzzling it out each day. Hmmm.... Thanks for this!
I start my day with a protein bar. It’s a treat for getting into the studio. Having energy to start your day is so vital and a habit I only developed in the last quarter of my life…
I start everyday with a simple routine that works for me. This in some cases may seems so normal for others, but working at home can lead to compromises (like open window, breath air, drink12 oz of water) and I "fever write" for 10 minutes. It sets me up. On days I am scattered, I block my time into 2 hours blocks - that are specifically aligned with my vision for life: (Create, Production, being of service, family/friends, self-care). Thank you for the topic!
Jennifer, I love the idea of time blocks being aligned with your vision of life!
I use a 10 min rule for everything! This helps me overcome the initial hurdle of starting.
Thank you for this incredibly useful conversation topic Adam. I am a big fan of Trello for making visual lists on everything!
Time-boxing my calendar!
I also talk about my creative practice is some depth here: https://cocreatespace.substack.com/p/5-cornerstones-of-my-creative-practice?r=14jxzf&utm_medium=ios
I’m looking forward to reading what else other people do.
I love those kinds of topics! I always have been a routine person. Even as a child, I would plan my week on a sheet with a clear system and multiple colors. The funny thing is that my 8 years old has began to do the same this week. She has created a little calendar and uses it with post-it.
I really like bullet-proof journal. Each Sunday, I write down what I have to do on the next week with color codes for priorities. It includes works, personal projects/exercises/promo, and sports. I also add meal plans for the kids lunches and supper.
In the morning, I work on what needs the more attention. And I try to allow my self one hour of exploration at my drawing table per day, depending on the amount of work.
My routine has been a bit disturbed with COVID lately (my kids and I tested positive, but not at the same time. We had someone with COVID at home for almost 1 month and a half.) but like you cleverly said in today's email, rather than fight, I decided to put some of my stuff on pause and allowed me more free time (usually walks alone on tiny mountain we have in Montreal) than usual to at least keep my mental health. It was the good thing to do because this week, I felt the energy and the motivation coming back and I'm working on my routine this morning!
At the moment my work is on hold due to family illness. All my work and routines relating to them are out of the window. BUT I have a small sketchbook with me all the time and sometimes get to draw, even paint in it. But these are for super short bursts of max 15 min a time. For now that's all there can be. Reading what you guys are up to is really helpful. It opens a window onto the world that is currently shut firmly. So thank you.
There was a time when all I could do was draw in the margins of my work planner. I think it’s so great that you have this sketchbook practice, these 15 minute blocks are gold! Guard them!
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