Archive
Main Categories: Lists: ME/CFS: Your Important Work: Sustainable Creativity
Drawing
- Start to Draw Your Life
- Start to Draw Your Life is now available as a free eBook to download
- Find ten things to draw!
- Why I Love Moleskines (and some resources)
- 20 (More) Wonderful Drawing Blogs
- I have a drawing confession
- 20 Wonderful Drawing Blogs
- Beany #4 Now Available
- A sneak peak at the new Beany, a competition to win a copy (and a micro-podcast)
- A holiday card and stocking fillers to download (and a Beany offer)
- Win a drawing
- Back to Analogue series
- Start to Draw Your Life
- Tomorrow is #Drawn2FlickrDay
- Announcing the 75 Ways to Draw More Flickr Group
- Have you downloaded and made your copy of 75 Ways to Draw More?
- 75 Ways to Draw More
- Drawing Avatars
- this week I'm going to be (slowly) drawing avatars
- drawing what's in front of me...
- a day of portraits (or one way of keeping things ticking along)...
Guest Posts
- Guest post: One or two things I know about time and creativity
- Guest Post: How To Become The World's Strongest Artist (In 5 Minutes A Day)
- Guest Post: A simpler life for artists
- Guest post: Five (offline!) ways to find inspiration
- Guest Post: 8 reasons why should you consider sponsoring art and artists
- Guest Post: 10 easy ways to support artists
Lists
- Are some sprouting bulbs and a ball of red wool the secret to happiness?
- Remember to celebrate your achievements
- 8 ways to be present so you can stay aware of your limits and enjoy the journey
- Staying creative by accepting unpredictability
- Why running a minimalist business is perfect for an artist with low energy
- 20 ways to get through the bad days
- Ideas exhaustion and how to avoid it
- Resting, recuperating (and watching some tennis)
- Rediscovering a sense of wonder
- Why it's best to be a "One-Thing-at-a-Time Artist" if you want to get stuff done
- Gentle motivation from five of my favourite books
- 8 reasons why napping can help keep your creative flow flowing
- 10 ideas for ways to be kinder to yourself (and increase your creative output)
- 10 ways to just get on with your important work despite being tired or having limited time!
- 10 reasons to just do something creative and not care about the result
- 20 things to do to practice focusing on one thing at a time.
- 20 (More) Wonderful Drawing Blogs
- 9 Ways to declutter your studio or workspace
- Guest post: Five (offline!) ways to find inspiration
- 20 Wonderful Drawing Blogs
- 10 ways to be more creative (and a big thank-you)
- Guest Post: 8 reasons why should you consider sponsoring art and artists
- Guest Post: 10 easy ways to support artists
- 75 Ways to Draw More
ME/CFS
- The importance of pampering ourselves
- Trying to stay on track and not be seduced by new shiny springtime ideas
- Why being limited in energy doesn't have to mean you can't have a creative life (or even livelihood) and why I've written a book about it
- Trusting in the magic of one thing at a time
- Resurfacing after a trip to London (accepting the need to stop and rest)
- I like custard. What do you like? Make some time to remember what makes you smile
- Feel the guilt and do it anyway (drinking hot chocolate and declaring a Day-in-Bed day)
- Guest post: One or two things I know about time and creativity
- Why I'm throwing away my calendar and to-do list (at least for a month)
- Podcast round-up
- Staying creative by accepting unpredictability
- 20 ways to get through the bad days
- Five simple strategies for getting through a low energy slump.
- Rediscovering a sense of wonder
- Teleport to an exhibition for ME Awareness Day
- ME/CFS Awareness Month: Lessons for everyone from an artist with ME
- in an attempt…
Sustainable Creativity
- Porridge for breakfast (and thoughts on micro-productivity)
- One Thing Today #250: More thoughts on work, rest and play
- Free Video: Get The One Thing a Day Habit: Keep it simple
- The need for some radical self-care
- New mini course: Get The One Thing a Day Habit
- One Thing Today #240: At Gladstone's Library
- Video: Taking a sofa day (or two)
- One Thing Today #230: I'm still here!
- One Thing Today #220: Cheese muffins for breakfast
- Video: Back from London with a lime green teapot
- The magic of making a start
- One Thing Today #210: Lime green teapot
- Finally getting some tea making into a video!
- (mint) tea and sympathy (and deciding to hit pause for a few days)
- One Thing Today #200: The 200th podcast!
- New email course: Get Sustainably Creative
- One Thing Today #190: The grounding effect of a daily one thing
- Accepting a groggy day: typos, forgetting to hit "publish" and drinking tea
- Using artist's dates as a reminder to make fun a priority
- One Thing Today #180
- Deciding to work through The Artist's Way for a fifth time. Join me?
- One Thing Today #170
- Small treats and bribery to get our Important Work done
- A little affordable limited edition art
- A reminder about the usefulness of limits
- Podcasting in my pyjamas and eating Christmas cake for breakfast
- One Thing Today #162: New Year's resolutions
- Brewing coffee and recording the One Thing Today podcast
- The quiet oasis of the early morning cuppa
- I almost forgot to celebrate..!
- Hot chocolate and staying on creative track
- Some (affordable!) limited edition art
- An experiment in planning
- Unplugged? A week of trying to stay offline
- The power of tiny steps: Celebrating 100 One Thing Today podcasts
- Forget about seizing the day, enjoy it instead (a gentler translation of carpe diem)
- Balancing work and play - an experiment for August
- Letting go of routine (just a little)
- Packing light as a metaphor for sustainable living
- Today's One Thing Today podcast is available to everyone
- Celebrating 50 One Thing Today Podcasts
- Maintaining a gentle sense of momentum
- We should all have a big pink recipe book to help us celebrate our achievements
- Why I'm recording a daily podcast instead of hunting wooly mammoths
- If we're patient, eventually we all get to unpack our china tea sets
- The importance of pampering ourselves
- Avoiding the "jam tomorrow" tendency in order to get our Important Work done
- Why I would like the way I work to be more like the way I garden
- Make things as easy as possible to stay as creative as possible
- The Sustainably Creative tools: tea and cake!
- The Sustainably Creative tools: the energy diary
- The Sustainably Creativite tools: the little and often mantra
- The Sustainably Creative tools: the kitchen timer
- The Sustainably Creative tools: the one-thing to-do list
- Trying to stay on track and not be seduced by new shiny springtime ideas
- Why being limited in energy doesn't have to mean you can't have a creative life (or even livelihood) and why I've written a book about it
- Trusting in the magic of one thing at a time
- Don't get lost in making choices, just pick a direction for today to keep the creative flow flowing
- Being as creative as possible by keeping things as simple possible (or learning to draw with my finger)
- Sustaining My Creativity - a fortnightly letter about creating a sustainable income online
- Why I have a glass of smoothie and write a (very short) to do list everyday
- Remaining steadfast: the path to creative happiness and fulfilment?
- Why you should keep making your morning coffee (or whatever else you do every day) if you want to be creatively successful
- Resurfacing after a trip to London (accepting the need to stop and rest)
- Creativity and Focus: an interview with the single-minded Dan Goodwin
- I like custard. What do you like? Make some time to remember what makes you smile
- Remembering to take that nap: an interview with the deliciously insightful Lisa Baldwin
- Five microPodcasts answering Sustainable Creativity readers' questions
- Don't wait for the funfair, have (even a just little!) fun right now
- Are some sprouting bulbs and a ball of red wool the secret to happiness?
- Feel the guilt and do it anyway (drinking hot chocolate and declaring a Day-in-Bed day)
- If you can't avoid distractions learn to smile and get back on track
- Some of the low energy and non-deadline led ways I make money
- The joy of being able to work anywhere (and a very big coffee)
- Planning (just a little) for 2011
- Taking my own advice - looking back at what I've achieved in 2010
- Working with what is
- Remember to celebrate your achievements
- Guest post: One or two things I know about time and creativity
- 10 simple ways of feeling like you're on top of things (or even a little ahead)
- Clarifying what Important Work is
- Schedule a catch-up week (or month!) to get ahead and stay ahead
- 8 ways to be present so you can stay aware of your limits and enjoy the journey
- Why I'm throwing away my calendar and to-do list (at least for a month)
- Staying creative by accepting unpredictability
- Keeping it simple so we can work from anywhere (even bed)
- Remembering the importance of chocolate spread in the creative process
- Learning to not hover between resting and doing
- Accepting imperfection in order to get our Important Work done
- Sometimes a "one-thing to-do list" is the only way to get the (really) Important stuff done
- What could you say "no" to today to free up energy for something more important?
- Why I'm a great believer in the concept of "micro" working.
- A good place to start
- Why running a minimalist business is perfect for an artist with low energy
- The Importantance of Elevenses (or why it's vital to pace yourself and stay on track)
- Guest Post: How To Become The World's Strongest Artist (In 5 Minutes A Day)
- Achieve (almost) anything you want with a pen, paper and a pot of tea
- 20 ways to get through the bad days
- Have a morning triage session to keep your Important Work in focus
- Ideas exhaustion and how to avoid it
- Not feeling like you're getting anywhere? Do one small thing then take a nap
- Celebrating a "little and often" victory with homemade bread, jam and coffee
- Just five minutes of effort for hours of pleasure
- Pottering: getting things done the gentle way
- How doing one little thing can boost creative energy
- Five simple strategies for getting through a low energy slump.
- Resting, recuperating (and watching some tennis)
- Rediscovering a sense of wonder
- Why it's best to be a "One-Thing-at-a-Time Artist" if you want to get stuff done
- Gentle motivation from five of my favourite books
- 8 reasons why napping can help keep your creative flow flowing
- Distill your ambitions down to their essential core
- Don't compare yourself to others, just get on with YOUR important work
- Create limits to get more stuff done
- ME/CFS Awareness Month: Lessons for everyone from an artist with ME
- Don't wait for permission to create
- The importance of non-attachment in creative endeavours (especially if you're low on energy)
- Why perseverance is so important for creative success
- Just do it. Advice for anyone with limited energy who wants to get creative stuff done.
- Recharging my creative batteries with a "Day Away"
- Why focus is so important if you want to be creative but are low on energy
- 10 ideas for ways to be kinder to yourself (and increase your creative output)
- 10 ways to just get on with your important work despite being tired or having limited time!
- 10 reasons to just do something creative and not care about the result
- Reach for something a little closer than the stars (at least as a first step)
- Porridge, dog walking and a VERY big bed.
- Find ten things to draw!
- Taming the Television (or sometimes turning it off and doing something more creative instead).
- 20 things to do to practice focusing on one thing at a time.
- Guest Post: A simpler life for artists
- Take the 20 minutes a day challenge
- Little and Often
- 9 Ways to declutter your studio or workspace
- Getting on with the everyday to get past a creative slump
- 10 ways to be more creative (and a big thank-you)
- 20 things you can do in 20 minutes (and create a sense of momentum)
- Things you can do in twenty minutes. Number 6: Make a snowhead
- Guest Post: 10 easy ways to support artists
- Podcast: Just doing stuff
- Become remarkable!
- My analogue holiday
- Two week tea drinking holiday...
- Using the internet to distribute rather than just to encourage the consumption of art
- What have you got to give (away)?
- Remember to eat breakfast
- Thoughts on finding a niche
- Rhythm rather than routine?
- Still learning (more on my quest for a creative routine)
- The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money
- Reading Jung (and the Moomins)
- Dealing with criticism - your responses
- Staying focused
- Micro-podcast: inspirational books round-up
- Micro-podcasting: The Artist's Way
- Never too Late
- Ugly brown teapot ritual
- Thinking about a routine
- a day of portraits (or one way of keeping things ticking along)...
- Little Steps
- filling my pen…
- two steps forward…
- finally i'm...
- routine...
- on resting and tea drinking...
- taking time...
- anytime, anywhere...
- do something...
- the long view...
- bit by bit...
- on noticing...
- Sustainably Creative: an introduction...
Thoughts on Creativity
- Maintaining a gentle sense of momentum
- If we're patient, eventually we all get to unpack our china tea sets
- Trying to stay on track and not be seduced by new shiny springtime ideas
- Trusting in the magic of one thing at a time
- Don't get lost in making choices, just pick a direction for today to keep the creative flow flowing
- Being as creative as possible by keeping things as simple possible (or learning to draw with my finger)
- Sustaining My Creativity - a fortnightly letter about creating a sustainable income online
- Why I have a glass of smoothie and write a (very short) to do list everyday
- Remaining steadfast: the path to creative happiness and fulfilment?
- Why you should keep making your morning coffee (or whatever else you do every day) if you want to be creatively successful
- I like custard. What do you like? Make some time to remember what makes you smile
- Remembering to take that nap: an interview with the deliciously insightful Lisa Baldwin
- Are some sprouting bulbs and a ball of red wool the secret to happiness?
- Taking my own advice - looking back at what I've achieved in 2010
- Guest post: One or two things I know about time and creativity
- Staying creative by accepting unpredictability
- Keeping it simple so we can work from anywhere (even bed)
- Remembering the importance of chocolate spread in the creative process
- Distill your ambitions down to their essential core
- Create limits to get more stuff done
- ME/CFS Awareness Month: Lessons for everyone from an artist with ME
- Don't wait for permission to create
- The importance of non-attachment in creative endeavours (especially if you're low on energy)
- Why perseverance is so important for creative success
- 10 ideas for ways to be kinder to yourself (and increase your creative output)
- 10 reasons to just do something creative and not care about the result
- Tools of my trade
- Reach for something a little closer than the stars (at least as a first step)
- Porridge, dog walking and a VERY big bed.
- Keeping it simple: An essay and resources in Context 'zine
- Taming the Television (or sometimes turning it off and doing something more creative instead).
- 20 things to do to practice focusing on one thing at a time.
- Guest Post: A simpler life for artists
- Guest post: Five (offline!) ways to find inspiration
- Getting on with the everyday to get past a creative slump
- 10 ways to be more creative (and a big thank-you)
- Guest Post: 8 reasons why should you consider sponsoring art and artists
- Guest Post: 10 easy ways to support artists
- Become remarkable!
- Jack of all trades (or at least some relevant ones)
- Obsessed with cleaning products
- Using the internet to distribute rather than just to encourage the consumption of art
- Start to Draw Your Life
- What have you got to give (away)?
- Remember to eat breakfast
- Thoughts on finding a niche
- Rhythm rather than routine?
- Still learning (more on my quest for a creative routine)
- The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money
- Reading Jung (and the Moomins)
- Dealing with criticism - your responses
- Staying focused
- Taking some time to rest, reflect (and drink tea).
- Micro-podcast: inspirational books round-up
- Micro-podcasting: The Artist's Way
- Never too Late
- Ugly brown teapot ritual
- Thinking about a routine
- Developing a routine (of sorts)
Your Important Work
- Forget about seizing the day, enjoy it instead (a gentler translation of carpe diem)
- Avoiding the "jam tomorrow" tendency in order to get our Important Work done
- The Sustainably Creativite tools: the little and often mantra
- The Sustainably Creative tools: the kitchen timer
- The Sustainably Creative tools: the one-thing to-do list
- Why I have a glass of smoothie and write a (very short) to do list everyday
- Why you should keep making your morning coffee (or whatever else you do every day) if you want to be creatively successful
- Creativity and Focus: an interview with the single-minded Dan Goodwin
- Planning (just a little) for 2011
- Taking my own advice - looking back at what I've achieved in 2010
- Remember to celebrate your achievements
- Clarifying what Important Work is
- Remembering the importance of chocolate spread in the creative process
- Learning to not hover between resting and doing
- Accepting imperfection in order to get our Important Work done
- Sometimes a "one-thing to-do list" is the only way to get the (really) Important stuff done
- What could you say "no" to today to free up energy for something more important?
- The Importantance of Elevenses (or why it's vital to pace yourself and stay on track)
- Achieve (almost) anything you want with a pen, paper and a pot of tea
- Have a morning triage session to keep your Important Work in focus
-
I'm Michael Nobbs, an artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order).
I'd like to show you that it is possible to stay creative even when energy is in short supply, and how working on small creative acts on a regular basis can build over time into a substantial body of work (and even a creative career).
I've written a book called Sustainable Creativity. You're welcome to pay whatever you would like for it.
Delve a little deeper by becoming a member. If you'd like to delve a little deeper into the material offered here on Sustainably Creative, find out about becoming a member.
My new book, Getting Your Important Work Done, is currently free for members to download. -
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