how to get motivated by drawing

How to Find Motivation by Drawing

Motivation is the desire to work on tasks. It depends both on internal and external factors. You can learn to manage that desire by knowing yourself better. Learn how to find motivation by drawing. Above all, make the most out of objects you can rely on like a piece of paper and a pen. With this trick, you will observe and enhance your motivation.

Many times we don’t feel inspired to work on things, and that is ok. After all, we are not machines and there are moments when we feel more encouraged than others. For this reason, it is important to observe your behavior. As a result, you will take advantage of those moments of inspiration, when everything just clicks.

When you do this, you cherish those moments of motivation. You work towards a goal that you can achieve. The rest of the time you can do things that don’t require too much concentration. Also, you can do things that don’t have a deadline or even waste your time. It is perfectly fine to sit still or sing.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted

John Lennon

Look at these artists’ routines (I keep looking at these, it’s fascinating). They observed and discovered what worked for them. You can create your own source of motivation merely by observing. In this post, I propose a way of finding and cultivating motivation by using art, particularly by drawing. Discover how you can find motivation by drawing.

Paper and something to write with

How to find motivation by drawing relies on the powerful technique of visualization. You recognize what you want to accomplish, you break it down, and then you do it. By accomplishing tasks, you start to gain momentum and you develop your willpower.

how to get motivated with ink
Photo by Nicolas Thomas on Unsplash

Use a notebook, and draw things to have a clearer picture of how you can find motivation. Use this notebook to draw the items of the following list.

  1. Begin: the hardest thing is to start.
  2. Focus on the things you can control.
  3. Imagine the place you envision for inspiration.
  4. List possible distractions.
  5. Draw to disconnect, rest, and recharge your motivation.

The key is to start small and start building your willpower. As a result, you do it automatically and you feel fulfilled with what you have accomplished. You can train your willpower as you do with your muscles. However, you don’t want to overdo it like you wouldn’t with your body.

What we all need is the satisfaction of this little uplift that we get psychologically from finishing something.

Joyce Carol Oates

1. Start

The first step is always the hardest. Imagine for example, when you need to clean your house. You think about it and you don’t want to do it. The more you think, the more you get away from achieving a fresh house. As soon as you start doing it, you just do it and then finish.

If you think about it, the hardest part was beginning, not cleaning the house. The same happens with exercise, and things that you have to do.

This works as well for motivation many times. Don’t expect to always feel like doing it. You have sometimes to push yourself to do it. Also, if you train your willpower, it will get easier with time.

Just do it

Sit and start doodling to feel that initial push. When you need to start working on something and you don’t feel like it, start doodling.

doodle how to find motivation by drawing
Doodling by Sepia Flora

According to this article, when you doodle you are possibly finding pieces of lost information. Your brain is activating parts that were in your subconscious and you start using them for your own benefit. These parts many times are the fire to ignite your motivation.

I like doodling with ink, with a wet pen. If I don’t know what to draw, I draw an object that is on my desk repeatedly. Usually, I draw the same plant every day. This way I activate my imagination. Consequently, I have a fresh perspective on the things that I want to work on.

2. Notice the things you can control

a. Paint dumpster of feelings that don’t have use

Scribble hard or soft, what works for you to calm yourself. Sometimes, you lack motivation because you are afraid, or you have imagined things to be difficult. You are anxious because they are things you can’t control. Get rid of this anxiety and doubt by scribbling on a piece of paper. Focus instead on the things that are in front of you. For instance, focus on the things that are happening right now.

scribble on how to find motivation by drawing
Scribble to dump your anxiety

b. What you control, envision superpowers

Draw the things that you know you can control. For example, how much time you can work on a certain project. Also, think about your strengths and draw them. Think about the things that you like and fill yourself with positive affirmations. According to this study, if you draw things that make you happy, you will have a mood enhancement. Consequently, you will feel motivated.

Focus on the things that are real and the ones you control. As a result, you can start to envision a plan for the things you want to accomplish. Draw that plan, step by step. Visualization works when you have a plan for each step you need to take to fulfill your goal. Therefore, draw each step and visualize clearly how you want to accomplish them.

how to find motivation drawing
Plan step by step to find motivation

Draw the things that you need to do in conjunction with the things that make you happy. You will have a clearer picture of your goals, and you will also feel good about starting them.

3. The place where you work

When you draw the place where you work, you could have a clearer picture of what you like. For instance, you will notice how you can be more concentrated and motivated. That is to say, picture yourself working and think of the things that surround you. Do you like what you see? How do you feel about certain objects?

You could think about how you feel towards certain objects. For instance, whether or not they help you concentrate or drive you away from motivation. For example, I like a clean space to work. All I have on my desk are a few plants, a candle, notebooks to sketch, and something to drink. I like having coffee in the morning, tea after lunch, and the rest of the day I just drink water.

my desk by sepia flora
Envision your place of work by Sepia Flora

I drew all the things that I previously had on my desk. While I was doing the exercise, I discovered how I felt towards certain objects. For example, I used to have a lot of books, and while I was drawing them I felt anxious. As a result, I knew that I didn’t like them. It was a constant reminder of a lot of information.

Therefore, I really enjoyed the process of painting my working space. I discovered what I really like. Most importantly, by being creative, that is to say, drawing, I discovered how I find motivation.

Never underestimate the power of drawing objects. I drew chairs and discovered that I like reading on the couch. It sounds simple, but I always thought that I needed to sit on my desk to highlight while I read. When I drew the couch, I visualized reading on it. It turns out I concentrate and enjoy my books easily on the couch.

draw chairs to find motivation
Chairs by Sepia Flora

To clarify, get in touch with your creative persona to discover how to find motivation. You can do this by drawing and observing how you feel during the process.

4. Possible distractions

Think of possible distractions that may arise. It’s quite beneficial to prepare and to visualize possible distractions. It is good to have a plan, and the more detailed and broken down, the better.

Drawing distractions that may arise could show you a clearer path on how to find motivation. You will have a better notion of your purpose, and you will prioritize your decisions. For instance, a possible distraction could be the noise from people you work with (individuals with cups of coffee). Don’t pay attention to the conversations, let it become white noise to avoid losing your motivation (sum of the cups).

distractions by sepia flora
Don’t pay attention to conversations by Sepia Flora

For example, I used to think that I could just put my cell phone on discrete to avoid distractions. It wasn’t the case. I constantly reached for it to check just for a few seconds whether or not I had received a message. When I drew the distraction, I knew I had to put it in a different room from where I was.

Certainly many times it is better to draw things because you use your ability to visualize outcomes. Consequently, you have a clearer picture of how to find motivation.

First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.

Aristotle

5. Rest

Journaling before going to sleep is a great way to get free from all the thoughts from the day. The piece of paper collects your thoughts so you don’t have to think through them during the night. Consequently, you can work on them the next day. You don’t lose information because you placed it on paper.

The same happens when you draw. You make a rough sketch of everything in your mind. Don’t try to make a beautiful drawing because it can be counterproductive. That is to say, your mind will engage in the process of drawing. As a result, you won’t think about your ideas, but the drawing itself.

The best thing you can do is draw a rough sketch and disconnect from the day. You can use this tool to help your unconscious mind come up with a solution while you sleep. The beauty of drawing instead of writing is that your mind could visualize solutions in the process. Also, you remember better your drawings than your words. As a result, you are helping your subconscious work through the night while you rest.

Also, you could use scribbles as a breathing exercise to ground you in the present. I scribble while I breathe and code my todo list in the shape of a pizza. This way, I remember the six more important things for the next day.

draw rest to find motivation
Dump thoughts to rest

Drawing is the answer

Stop thinking you can’t draw: everybody knows how to. You can observe and make your own interpretations. To convince yourself further, read this interview. Dan Roam wrote The Back of the Napkin, a book about solving problems with pictures.

When you add pictures, you add layers and dimensions of thought that are almost impossible to achieve with words alone.

Dan Roam

Start doodling, sketching, scribbling, drawing, whatever you feel like doing. Enjoy the process and savor the way you find motivation with pictures.

Do you have a creative method to find motivation? Please comment below.

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