Something I have learned recently as a creative business owner is this: creativity blooms in the quiet moments of reflecting and in the moments of space and distance.
Distance From Social Media
I need distance from social media spaces and constant thoughts about business to-dos. I have to breathe and create for myself in order to nourish that spring of creativity that makes art for others.
Getting any thoughts feelings or creative urges out is soooo important. Let the flood gates loose. Eventually, the water will organize and create a path, a slow trickling stream, or a rushing, rumbling, beautiful river.
Business Owner Reminders:
I keep reminding myself of the following:
done is better than perfect
I am learning as I go and THAT IS OKAY
To any business owners out there, hi! You have my respect. You are brave. You are resourceful. You are passionate. Running every part of a business - no matter what kind of business - is a big responsibility and takes time to learn the processes.
What do I do?
Who am I, you may be wondering? I run a creative business called Sam Nelson Art. I paint live at events and custom artworks for people like their pets, homes, or family portraits. I have an impressionistic style and I primarily use watercolor or acrylic paints. I am also an art therapist, so the other part of my identity reminds my creative business self of the need for rest all the time.
3 Strategies for Rest
Here are some strategies for taking time to rest as a creative business owner (what?? we need strategies to rest? When you work from home with work at your fingertips, the distractions are endless. That nagging guilty feeling telling you that you need to be getting something done lives there with you too. So, yes, strategies are helpful).
Make something with the intention of throwing it away.
Yep, make something, and then throw it away. This can help bring us back to the space where creating is solely to be curious and playful. Creative business owners live in a space where everything creative needs to be a beautiful final product. Take a break from that! Put away the distractions. Set the phone down. Turn off the TV and engage in something creative that is totally different than what you do for a living. Choose something random that you're interested in but have no pressure at all to get it right. If you put that pressure on yourself automatically, make something with the intention of throwing it away when you're done.
Go outside!
Get outside of the space where you work. Even taking a walk halfway through the day can be an enormous help. While you're out there, notice something you haven't before. Maybe it's a house nearby you never noticed, or the way a tree canopies over the road. Maybe it's the sound a bird makes or the color of a flower.
Spend intentional time with people in your life.
Intentional looks like setting down the emails and social media. It means creating that boundary so you can let yourself relax.
Are you a creative business owner? I would love to hear what strategies you use to maintain a balance. Can I connect with you on social media? Find me @samnelsonart