Motivation in Rough Times

How to Art when you just feel like Shit...

It can be hard to be motivated or have the will to do anything when – for whatever reason – you feel unhealthy or uncomfortable. We all have those moments when doing anything at all just seems impossible but the trick is to stand true to yourself. Being in this state is simply awful, really. So, how do we get shit done when we feel like we can’t?

There is no easy solution but it is simple enough: just do it. As cliché as it sounds, it is the honest truth of the matter. It is a cheesy slogan originating in the late 80s for a reason: it works. This does not mean putting effort into finishing a major project because the end result may or may not live up to the expectations. It may feel overwhelming to try to work on something that already has hours of thought and efforts put into it.

My suggestion is to start something new, anything. This way, whatever feelings are present can be seen for what they truly need to be seen for. If your illness makes you angry, it will show in the work. This is one of the reasons why I suggested not working on other projects, it could morph the original meaning. This is not always a terrible thing and if it is the direction in which you want to take your work, then by all means, go right ahead. Your work is your work and the only way for it to be truly yours is to make it the way you want.

The point here is to throw yourself into those pieces and parts of your craft no matter how the rest of the world seems to be, even if it is falling apart. Even if by the end, the project seems a “mess,” it was still an experience that added to your portfolio and built skills. It seems a better place to be than where we started, unhealthy and unmotivated with nothing to show for it. So, get off the internet and go work on your craft.