Consistency. We know we need it, but why do so many people struggle with it?
Of all of my personal challenges, consistency is the hardest one for me to stick with.
I'll set a goal and have all intentions of fulfilling it, only to fall short or abandon the idea all together. Or I'll start working on something great, think of a better idea and start working on that one. This happens regularly and turns into a vicious cycle of why can't I get anything done?! If you're struggling with this know that you are not alone. Now that we've acknowledged the issue (acknowledgment is the first step to any recovery), its time to overcome it. But how?
Set Aside Time - In order to get ideas off of the ground you have to commit time to getting your ideas in order. Setting aside a small window of time everyday will help you stay accountable. Committing to at least thirty minutes to an hour to your project or craft daily will help you turn your ideas into reality.
Avoid Distractions - Between family commitments, cell phones, tv and The Internet, it feels almost impossible to avoid all of the distraction in our daily lives. But sometimes you have to get creative with a time that works best for you, when distractions are at a minimum. Early mornings, late at night, or during lunch breaks have worked best for me. Get creative. If not, distractions will take over your day.
Delete Social Media - Ok, maybe not delete, but unless your job is social media, it's best to limit your time on it. As a millennial I know just how difficult letting go of social media can be. But I realized that all of the time and energy I was putting towards watching others was just taking time and energy away from me doing productive things. Social media has a habit of robbing us of valuable time. Watching YouTube for five minutes turns into fifty minutes quickly.
Be Flexible - Perfectionism. The behavior that stops you before you start. Perfectionism makes you feel like your idea or project has to be flawless before you even get it off the ground. We're all guilty of it. Hell, I’m the queen of it. But knowing that if I set the bar too high, I don't give myself room to make mistakes or learn. Perfectionism makes your inner critic even more critical and that's never good. Be flexible.
Enjoy Yourself - Sometimes we (ahem, I) forget that our ideas or projects are something that we actually want to do in the first place. So why not make it enjoyable? There's no reason to loath setting aside time to completing a project of your own. Have fun, make mistakes and try again. Making brilliant ideas a reality isn't easy, but its worth it. I tell myself everyday to enjoy the journey.
These are steps that I have used to help me stay consistent during my creative journey. Hopefully, you can use some of them to help you stay consistent and turn your ideas a reality. I referenced some material from 99U's Manage Your Day - To - Day: Building Your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind for some of these tips. Wishing you much luck on your creative endeavors! Until next time...