How do you guys manage your mental when it comes to drawing and doing other things like video games, movies, tv, etc? Any time I try to relax and do something else, my mind keeps telling me that I'm wasting time I could be using to improve and that there's no point in playing a video game, and I just end up feeling very anxious. Anyone have advice on managing this? I've seen really big artists say they make time to do other things but I have no idea how you're supposed to focus on anything else when your brain keeps holding your skill level as a hostage.
Drawing is a full-time commitment. There is no room for anything else.
>>7982115>Any time I try to relax and do something else, my mind keeps telling me that I'm wasting time I could be using to improve and that there's no point in playing a video gameI used to feel like this to and thought it was an issue, but now I've kind of accepted that my brain just finally prioritizes drawing over video games and that's a good thing. It feels kind of weird at first because if you were a big video games guy for most of your life it feels like you're losing part of your identity, but those things you liked in the past can always still be a source of inspiration for your work. I also don't think it's bad to play games in moderation or anything, but I don't force myself to play games anymore I only do it when I have an itch for something specific I have in mind vs just playing games for the sake of it. I usually go a month or two without playing something now.I do still watch a lot of movies though, but that takes significantly less time than most games to do so I don't really think about it
>>7982131Oh one more thing though I forgot to mention.If you do get the itch to play something, please don't do it for anything competitive with ranked match making. Playing a single player game that'll give you inspiration for visuals or story is fine once in a while, playing co-op games with friends for fun is fine once in a while, but if it's some something like League of Legends or something you'd be better off just staring at a wall. Those things are specifically meant to make you addicted and pissed off there's no point, and you're trying to get skilled at art so there's no point trying to get good at video games anymore. Play shit on normal or just whatever difficulty is actually the most fun
>>7982135Also, don't bother with games with mechanics that are meant to pad out the runtime. Anything that requires significant grinding is dropped. You can have fun, but it is good to be mindful and critical of when the developers just straight up don't respect your time. I didn't play Silksong despite loving Hollow Knight for example because I heard they implemented some bullshit mechanics that require grinding and playing super defensively to finish the game. Enjoy your media, it's still essential to take some in for inspiration for your creative stuff, but try to be more critical of which ones are actually worth your time and have something to provide you with. If you're just only interested in constantly grinding you probably aren't doing anything when you draw except study, which studies are good, but if you do exclusively studies your creativity starts to rot away because you're not putting it into practice and you just become a dude making boring realistic portraits or something
>>7982115Just stop thinking about it.
>>7982126that can't be true, don't successful artists say they indulge in a lot of media for ideas?
>>7982115Sounds like a mental health issue. Try meditation, therapy, medication.
That’s a great idea. Naps work better.
>>7982115Get into music, mate. I spent most of my free time gaming and anime watchin etc but after I got invested in my project the only thing that really gives me a fix is fucking music. Its the only fucking shit that I can take in that also helps me reflect on shit like my projects/life in general. I can also do it as a passive activity. I cant always listen to music and draw at the same time but if Im out grocery shopping I pop in my headphones and listen to tunes.
>>7982126there is definitely time for low investment stuff like fitness or gardening
>>7982115Art should be your biggest priority (when you're first starting out). Your downtime is best spent on hobbies and interests that help you rest from drawing but also serve to benefit your art skills.>bicycling, a ball sport, running>puzzles and thinking games>simple video games>movies and music>a good book>gardening>collecting models/toy kits/figuresThe key is harmony. Do not let your anxiousness eat away at you as this will result in excess stress that ends up hurting your performance in art. Be kind to yourself and give yourself a well deserved break. As long as you aren't lazy, you'll be fine.
I don'tAt most I'll do stuff tangential like low poly 3D n easy animation Gym is like 40min per day and has been a net positive to my healthEverything else I've dropped. Games are boring I'd rather be drawing.Anime is boring I'd rather be drawing.I don't really have time for leisure besides taking a long hot soak once or twice a week (usually I shower)I used to be a swimmer but driving to the pool and back took too much timeOf course if I wasn't a wageslave one of this would be an issue but with life as it is, I'd rather maximize my time drawing
>>7982293can you expand on how going to the gym has helped you? losing an hour of my day before/after my 9-5 sounds pretty awful given how little free time i have
>>7982860nta but you're going to waste time anyways, might as well get some fitness in, it actually increases your learning gains. oxygen and blood flow is good for your brain health, also eating well
>>7982115everything else is pretty timeboxed (work, gym, yt, etc)and drawing is the default for my free time
>>7982143>I heard they implemented some bullshit mechanics that require grinding and playing super defensively to finish the game. What the fuck are you talking about
drawing is more fun than vidya once you get decent enough
>>7982115I gave everything up to draw. I don't play games, I dont watch anime anime (its all shit now anyways) I don't watch movies (Same reason) I don't go out or talk to friends (economy priced me out of living) I just spend time with my family to keep up appearances, draw, and scroll the web until the big event.
>>7982890i'm nearly 3 years in and i still dont feel like its more fun, how much longer do i need
>>7982860like the other anon said, if I'm going to waste some time away not drawing I might aswell just lift or do some cardioIt's definitely reduced my backpain from lengthy drawing sessions and a lot of my arm/elbow painsStretching has also got me feeling pretty good and limber
>>7982115this is a technique that works uniquely for me because im an idiot trannyfaggot but basically i found this amazing artist who does cool art of a trans OC of theirs, and every time i see it i get hit with the double whammy of >god i wish i could draw thatand>god i wish i could BE thatand the anger that im wasting my time playing video games or whatever the fuck else instead of making progress and improving in either of those goals is enough to make me quit most games and other pointless bullshit and focus on art and self-improvementhaven't touched a game since i saw the art for the first time, will probably relax more once im better at drawing and can consistently finish the shit i start but until then i want to stop wasting time and just get better
>>7982143Think I needed to hear this thank u anon
>>7982115not what you asked but, I used to beat myself up a lot, like anyone who sucks badly with art. one day i realized I was being unjust with myself, attacking myself for doing things that were actually quite reasonable mistakes. im a catholic, I refuse to be unjust. so if I ever self depricate, it has to be for a just reason, or I won't allow it. this effectively resulted in me never self-depricating ever again. when I mess up, i tend to either forgive it, or see it as the fault of my process.
