I love this. I’ve actually been reading a lot about habits and will power lately. Most research suggests that we have a certain amount of will power and it gets depleted throughout the day. Setting reasonable and easy goals is huge for changing habits. I had an epiphany about this recently too. I have a blood pooling disorder which is fairly painful at times and my doctor told me it’s not treatable. Basically her advice was “don’t ever gain weight” but also “be careful because most exercises will make it worse”. I did some research and ended up getting into yoga. Something about the low impact and inversions took ALL the symptoms and pain away. I just needed it to be a habit, and that has been so hard! On bad days I’m motivated by the pain, but other days it’s draining to talk myself into a “workout”. It just dawned on me this week that I don’t actually need that much will power to do this. I need enough to walk onto my matt and turn on my yoga video. That’s it. Once it’s on, I kinda just zone out and do it. Just that mental switch from “I’m gearing up for an hour of yoga” to “I need to push play on my video” is weirdly effective. I definitely changed my goal and it’s amazing how often I get my morning yoga in. Now, I just need to figure out the trick for daily drawing. ☺️
Pamela Fraley I am reading "Tiny Habits" that dovetails with this approach (Lee's 4 levels add a nice dimension). One of the Tiny Habits concepts that I find very helpful is to anchor the habit you want to develop (e.g., yoga) to an already-established routine. That is probably a LOT more difficult with children, but for me it's my morning coffee that NEVER varies except for fasting blood draws! so my anchor is "when I turn on the coffeemaker, I do 5 minutes of counter yoga". I hope you find the yoga helpful. Health challenges are not fun, especially when pain is involved 😩Best to you!
That's great that you found something to relieve your symptoms! I have chronic health problems as well, so I know how difficult it can be. Good for you for finding solutions for yourself! That's something they mentioned in a recent 3 Point Perspectives podcast--creative people are more likely to keep looking for an answer, or create one on their own. You are right--just getting started is often the hardest part. It's like the law of inertia. But if it's an easy goal, it's not so hard to get started.
This was super helpful. I am (you guessed it! ) an “all or nothing” thinker! I have some art goals, and other goals, that I really needed process steps for. My mind races to the product outcomes and then I get bogged down and discouraged. But doing the steps I can control and at the intensity I can handle on a given day makes reaching goals a lot more attainable. I love your channel and am always ready for the next addition way before it comes out. Keep up the good work. It’s helpful to me and I am sure it’s helpful for many others! Now I’m off to do some baby steps toward my goals.
Your "systems approach" is always so thoughtful, succinct and practical. I was itching to tackle your Light and Shadow course because I know it will be very systematic & logical, but I am following one of your precepts here and will take it slow, focusing on just one course (perspective) at a time for now. Looking forward to your Light & Shadow though!
Fantastic and again, super helpful Lee. I've been working on how to take my ideas from just a concept to a completed project. It is super easy to have a goal when someone outside yourself sets up the parameters. You don't have to think about it you just follow their criteria and rules. When your setting up your own goals to achieve you have to find your own motivation. Your 5 steps fit right into the process cycle I've been fleshing out. Thanks again for posting these, they are at the top of my list of art tutorials. A lot of people post technique oriented vids, but not many post design-thinking ones. How to 'think' about what your doing is as important as doing it. Awesome info!
Thanks for this motivational video! I'm really enjoying the SVS podcasts and all your videos. I gotta stop that "all-or-nothing" thinking you mentioned when my art work time is lost to other intrusions and I have just 1 hour instead of the day I thought I had...I should draw for an hour rather than give up! haha Thanks for the encouragement!
I put it into practice today! This video was that inspiring. I struggle with health problems that sometimes prevent me from working at my desk and having my eyes uncovered, but instead of throwing in the towel, I designed some images and worked through illustration problems in bed with eyes closed! I am a bit further along now drawing tonight, compared to where I'd be if I'd just thought about something else today. :)
Very interesting video, very nice breakdown. If theres one flaw with myself its overthinking, which had and has always lead to not accomplishing my goal or goals. one example was expectations was way too high when I was expecting a job this month with my school and turned out theres a budget crisis that got worse. and failing to look at external options in advance just incase. it didn't work out which of course happen.
I stopped making New Year's resolutions a couple of years ago just because I'd end up feeling really fed up when I'd inevitably not keep up with them. I can definitely relate to the 'all or nothing' syndrome which seems to have snuck into our society too so I like the idea you suggested of giving yourself a pat on the back for doing something rather than nothing at all. Another great video, thanks :)
Wow, these are all great ideas! Thanks for sharing them! That is so true that it's better to start with an easy goal & work your way up. Re: Exercise - I read a book about figuring out the diet & exercise that is healthy for you, which said that different people's bodies like different types and amounts of exercise. I've heard other people say that they got sick from exercise that was too intense as well, so it could be that it was too much all at once, or maybe your body was just telling you that it's too intense and unnecessary for your body. Adequate sleep, water intake, & a diet that your body digests easily have a lot more to do with fitness than most people realize. I love your idea for variable intensity for a goal (and having a clear definition for the different levels). Re: #4 (All or Nothing) I think this is partly from Social Media, since we can easily see the best of everything in the whole world, and even regular people are displaying only the highlights, so if you aren't aware and are too absorbed in entertainment & media, it's easy to have a skewed sense of reality. Even in the Olympics, you see people who are disappointed with Silver or Bronze! That is an amazing accomplishment!
Great to see another video from you Lee! Excellent advice! Now I think it's time for me to stop scrolling the internet late at night, so I can get a decent schedule together. haha, Thank you!
I love this. I’ve actually been reading a lot about habits and will power lately. Most research suggests that we have a certain amount of will power and it gets depleted throughout the day. Setting reasonable and easy goals is huge for changing habits. I had an epiphany about this recently too. I have a blood pooling disorder which is fairly painful at times and my doctor told me it’s not treatable. Basically her advice was “don’t ever gain weight” but also “be careful because most exercises will make it worse”. I did some research and ended up getting into yoga. Something about the low impact and inversions took ALL the symptoms and pain away. I just needed it to be a habit, and that has been so hard! On bad days I’m motivated by the pain, but other days it’s draining to talk myself into a “workout”. It just dawned on me this week that I don’t actually need that much will power to do this. I need enough to walk onto my matt and turn on my yoga video. That’s it. Once it’s on, I kinda just zone out and do it. Just that mental switch from “I’m gearing up for an hour of yoga” to “I need to push play on my video” is weirdly effective. I definitely changed my goal and it’s amazing how often I get my morning yoga in. Now, I just need to figure out the trick for daily drawing. ☺️
Pamela Fraley I am reading "Tiny Habits" that dovetails with this approach (Lee's 4 levels add a nice dimension). One of the Tiny Habits concepts that I find very helpful is to anchor the habit you want to develop (e.g., yoga) to an already-established routine. That is probably a LOT more difficult with children, but for me it's my morning coffee that NEVER varies except for fasting blood draws! so my anchor is "when I turn on the coffeemaker, I do 5 minutes of counter yoga". I hope you find the yoga helpful. Health challenges are not fun, especially when pain is involved 😩Best to you!
That's great that you found something to relieve your symptoms! I have chronic health problems as well, so I know how difficult it can be. Good for you for finding solutions for yourself! That's something they mentioned in a recent 3 Point Perspectives podcast--creative people are more likely to keep looking for an answer, or create one on their own.
You are right--just getting started is often the hardest part. It's like the law of inertia. But if it's an easy goal, it's not so hard to get started.
I like your point about outcome based goals and process based goals. The process of developing good habits is so important to success.
Yay! Lee uploads! Have been finding your videos super valuable. Thank you! Happy new year :)
Thanks Renee! Glad you are liking them! : )
This was super helpful. I am (you guessed it! ) an “all or nothing” thinker! I have some art goals, and other goals, that I really needed process steps for. My mind races to the product outcomes and then I get bogged down and discouraged. But doing the steps I can control and at the intensity I can handle on a given day makes reaching goals a lot more attainable.
I love your channel and am always ready for the next addition way before it comes out. Keep up the good work. It’s helpful to me and I am sure it’s helpful for many others!
Now I’m off to do some baby steps toward my goals.
Awesome Jennifer! Glad this might help ya out. Good luck! : )
Your "systems approach" is always so thoughtful, succinct and practical. I was itching to tackle your Light and Shadow course because I know it will be very systematic & logical, but I am following one of your precepts here and will take it slow, focusing on just one course (perspective) at a time for now. Looking forward to your Light & Shadow though!
Cool! Glad you are liking the steps!
Thank you Lee for putting these practical thoughts out there.
Great idea to set manageable goals... makes sense, and really interesting to hear how your body is more receptive to them! Thanks 😊
Fantastic and again, super helpful Lee. I've been working on how to take my ideas from just a concept to a completed project. It is super easy to have a goal when someone outside yourself sets up the parameters. You don't have to think about it you just follow their criteria and rules. When your setting up your own goals to achieve you have to find your own motivation. Your 5 steps fit right into the process cycle I've been fleshing out. Thanks again for posting these, they are at the top of my list of art tutorials. A lot of people post technique oriented vids, but not many post design-thinking ones. How to 'think' about what your doing is as important as doing it. Awesome info!
Glad the video might help you hit your goals. Good luck! : )
Love this one, super important and well explained. Thank you Lee!
Thanks for this motivational video! I'm really enjoying the SVS podcasts and all your videos. I gotta stop that "all-or-nothing" thinking you mentioned when my art work time is lost to other intrusions and I have just 1 hour instead of the day I thought I had...I should draw for an hour rather than give up! haha Thanks for the encouragement!
I put it into practice today! This video was that inspiring. I struggle with health problems that sometimes prevent me from working at my desk and having my eyes uncovered, but instead of throwing in the towel, I designed some images and worked through illustration problems in bed with eyes closed! I am a bit further along now drawing tonight, compared to where I'd be if I'd just thought about something else today. :)
Very interesting video, very nice breakdown. If theres one flaw with myself its overthinking, which had and has always lead to not accomplishing my goal or goals. one example was expectations was way too high when I was expecting a job this month with my school and turned out theres a budget crisis that got worse. and failing to look at external options in advance just incase. it didn't work out which of course happen.
I stopped making New Year's resolutions a couple of years ago just because I'd end up feeling really fed up when I'd inevitably not keep up with them. I can definitely relate to the 'all or nothing' syndrome which seems to have snuck into our society too so I like the idea you suggested of giving yourself a pat on the back for doing something rather than nothing at all. Another great video, thanks :)
Thanks Rachel! : )
Wow, these are all great ideas! Thanks for sharing them!
That is so true that it's better to start with an easy goal & work your way up.
Re: Exercise - I read a book about figuring out the diet & exercise that is healthy for you, which said that different people's bodies like different types and amounts of exercise. I've heard other people say that they got sick from exercise that was too intense as well, so it could be that it was too much all at once, or maybe your body was just telling you that it's too intense and unnecessary for your body. Adequate sleep, water intake, & a diet that your body digests easily have a lot more to do with fitness than most people realize.
I love your idea for variable intensity for a goal (and having a clear definition for the different levels).
Re: #4 (All or Nothing) I think this is partly from Social Media, since we can easily see the best of everything in the whole world, and even regular people are displaying only the highlights, so if you aren't aware and are too absorbed in entertainment & media, it's easy to have a skewed sense of reality.
Even in the Olympics, you see people who are disappointed with Silver or Bronze! That is an amazing accomplishment!
Great to see another video from you Lee! Excellent advice! Now I think it's time for me to stop scrolling the internet late at night, so I can get a decent schedule together. haha, Thank you!
Thanks Anna! : )
I always appreciate the thoughtfulness in your videos, thank you!
Thanks Donella!