Images in this post are selections from a recent photo trip to Alaska

Any time that I am out of my studio for more than a couple of days, I find it can be a struggle to get my pace and flow back on track.  This is especially in my mind after recently taking two weeks of for travel and then, just as I was getting back to my stride, getting knocked out again with Covid.  Here are some of the methods that help me reset and get back into my normal rhythm.

Assess short and long term commitments:

One of my first go-to tasks for getting my head back into the studio is to lay out all of the projects in front of me.  I’ll either make lists or write up post-it notes to be able to clearly see everything on my agenda.  Post-its can be extra useful as I can sort and arrange them as things come together.  I like to break things down into a few categories:

Work for other people – commissions or obligations I have agreed to.  The urgency of these are often dictated by due-dates and so these are the ones I like to work everything else around

Work for me – personal projects should not get left behind just because I’m feeling a bit scattered.  It’s useful to refresh on what I had plans for and see where they belong.

Outside-the-studio commitments – anything else that needs to be scheduled, addressed, or kept in mind.  From preparing for an upcoming convention to getting on top of cutting the grass.

Once I feel I have a pretty comprehensive overview of where my time and attention is going to be needed, I can prioritize things and calm any anxiety that it all needs to happen right now.

Clean my space:

Something that I struggle with is maintaining a good cleaning habit in my studio.  Especially when I’m in the weeds on multiple projects, clutter and mess can easily accumulate.  Getting back into the studio after time away is a perfect opportunity to straighten up a bit.  It might feel like time I don’t have if there are projects waiting, but having an organized, welcoming space makes it easier to focus and that helps me get back in the zone quicker.


Keeping social media to a minimum:

I know I’m out of my routine when I catch myself procrastinating in socials because jumping back into work feels scary.  The truth is, it never helps.  If I do need some downtime or I’m not ready to pick the brush back up just yet, I try to point myself towards other things that at least help me feel rested and recharged.  Instead of online socials, that tends to be in-person social activities, outside time, or catching up with hobbies.  It doesn’t have to be go-go-go when you get back to work, but try to make sure your down-time is on something that makes you feel good and not just the nearest convenient distraction.


Take stock:

Reviewing recent work can help get me back in.  Sometimes when I’m away, I feel anxious coming back because I feel my work hasn’t been up to standards recently.  Whatever place this emotion may be coming from, it can help to look at where things were when I left them.  Often, I find I’m happier with where I left things that I remembered, which is encouraging.  On the occasions where I am still unsatisfied with recent efforts, I may have a fresh perspective to figure out where they’ve gone wrong.


Seek inspiration:

This is also an opportunity to look forward.  I can think about where I’d like to go next or how I might push or guide the projects I have ahead of me.  In doing this, it’s helpful to look to other artists that I admire or seek out new work that might spark some inspiration.  Returning to the studio can be a good opportunity to establish some new priorities, goals, or areas of curiosity.

Set a schedule:

If, despite all of this, I’m still struggling to find my groove, I might outline a schedule to get me moving.  This schedule would not only get me started by whatever time feels appropriate to begin my day, but it also tells me what time to put it away until tomorrow.  Clocking in AND OUT regularly can be just the thing to get a good sustainable pattern back in place.

If you have any tips to add, please share in the comments!