A few weeks ago I wrote about my focus for 2025, rooting my actions in intention and purpose. Focusing my energy on living in the present moment, purposefully choosing how to structure my time and energy to support the life I’m trying to create.
I’m lucky enough to realize that the life I’ve deliberately built looks pretty similar to the daily life I dream of for future me, a healthy mix of:
time focused on connections with my family and friends.
daily creative time to do my work, painting and writing.
movement of my body and quiet connection with my inner self.
Where the recovering perfectionist, type-A, first-born daughter, people pleaser in me breaks down is committing to these things daily, consistently, EVEN when my family / the world / a messy house / the latest breaking news / other commitments compete for my attention.
For most of my life, I have had a love-love relationship with routine. A structured day keeps me focused, tracking progress toward goals, and able to feel pride and accomplishment at the end of each week. Working as a creative executive, with a large team and budget, I had no choice but to live by a tightly run calendar and a robust to-do list.
As I moved away from the c-suite and into studio life, I found myself eager to break from routine. Abandoning a to-do list, rarely looking at the calendar, letting my energy lead my focus - this felt freeing, rebellious, cathartic. This freedom lead me to be my most creative self, leaning fully into art and creation. Making first small paintings, then one original wallpaper, ultimately launching a wallpaper and art business. Things I might not have been able to realize to if I were following a plan, a to-do-list, a structured life plan.
This year’s focus on intentional action feels like yet another call for a change in schedule. 5 years into my full-time existence as an artist and business owner, I find myself having less time to paint and create. The daily operational tasks consuming a good chunk of my week, coupled with a creep in other life responsibilities, and an unhealthy scrolling addiction - often days or weeks will pass before I realize I haven’t truly painted anything. I’m treating my purpose and passion like a hobby, instead of like my soul’s purpose - and a shift is in order.
I have too many paintings and color combinations and compositions floating around in my head, my dreams, and my sketchbooks to not prioritize studio time.
Inspired by Steven Pressfield’s Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, I’m committing to a studio schedule. 11-2 Monday - Thursday, my feet will be in my studio. Painting messy. Painting bad. Painting through blocks. Painting things I love, and things I don’t. But the point is I’ll be painting.
Because showing up is the hardest part, I’m writing it out loud here - so you’ll keep me accountable.
Tell me friends, what are you working on? Where in your life are you avoiding showing up because the stakes are too high / too personal / too scary? Tell me in the comments so we can all cheer each other on and keep tabs on our community to do the hard things.
Things I’m Loving Right Now:
Listening : I made a March playlist that’s been on the background while I paint and play, I hope you love it as much as I do.
Longing : In my studio, or in the wild, I’m perpetually in a sneaker. My current faves are the classic New Balance 574, and I’ve got my eye on this happy new color for spring.
Looking : Still slowly reading Slowing, and loving it more and more with each new page. And also recently started Martha Beck’s newest book, Beyond Anxiety, and can not devour it quickly enough. If you are looking for a new take on anxiety, and how creativity can help you - do yourself a favor and read it now.
Locks : My beauty routine obsessed teenager gifted me the Crown Affair duo of dry shampoo and leave-in conditioner for Christmas, and I’m obsessed. If you’re a fan of air drying your hair like I am, try these, your hair will be so happy.
xx.
Jill
Love the art featured in this week's Studio Files. I would love to focus more of my time on pottery. Not that I want to build a pottery business, but I just enjoy making pottery and want to get better at it. When I am making art, I am my happiest. It takes me out of my anxiety spiral. I am a full-time attorney, but hope one day to be able to retire from practicing, so I can fill my life with creative endeavors.
I've been on a similar path the past five years and your last post about action really rang home for me. I took time to recover through Daily pages (Artist's Way) but have noticed that even though writing is one creative medium in my toolbox—pages aren't the same as studio time. Thanks for this share and nudge (as journaling isn't the same as making). I too have been deliberately wandering through my days to flirt with the muse—but for the mediums I'm seeking more results in (paint, clay, photography) some structured studio hours create a wonderful container.