Slow Down

This past week, I was looking at thirteenth suggestion from Bruce Mau's "Incomplete Manifesto for Growth" which is "Slow down.
Desynchronize from standard time frames and surprising opportunities may present themselves."

I found desynchronizing from standard time frames difficult, another example of my corporate brainwashing influencing my thinking. But, what I was able to do and witness was very interesting. I have continued to wake up without an alarm. For the first month, I woke up at the same time give or take 10 minutes. But on those occasions when I woke up on the later side, I would panic a bit, tell myself I'm late and fly out of bed. The remainder of the morning I felt rushed and behind schedule. Why? I didn't miss an appointment and at the end of the day everything I wanted to accomplish (truly wanted to accomplish) was completed. So the sense of rushing just added to aggravation of the day, no to its level of productivity. This past week, I have been waking up nearly an hour later than last month. The more I contain my knee jerk reaction to rush around to "make up time", the more easy my day goes, the things I do, and the more I enjoy doing them, instead of resenting the chores on my to do list.

Another way I have been attempting to disconnect from standard time frames is noticing that I don't have to paint daily. Some days I push paintings forward, some days I don't. If I attempt to push them on days when I'm not "feeling it", those are the days where the paintings are lifeless and boring. When I feel it, the paintings are more bold, I take chances, I experiment and I allow the paintings to evolve naturally.

This takes me to my final observation on the subject (for now). Standard time frames, as they are called, are not of my creation. I did not decide what these standard time frames are nor did I have any input. Any yet, I felt that I was expected to comply, uphold, and work within the standard time frames. No. I think these are guides. I cannot say that standard time frames work for me or not. I haven't experimented enough with the concept but these are ideas thrust upon me. The expectations of others. The only expectation that I agree to adhere to is if I have arranged a meeting with others at a certain time. That is a time frame that all parties involved negotiated. Outside of that, time is mine when it comes to my stuff. Others may see me moving slowly, others quickly. Ultimately however, it is up to me to decide whether I am moving slowly or quickly and if that is okay for the moment.

Overall I have noticed that in the six months that I have been a full time artist, my daily schedule has slowly drifted later in the day. My day now starts a full 2-2.5 hours later than it use to. I'm also more productive, more creative and happier. As long a possible, I will allow schedules and time frames to continue to be fluid and morph as necessary. Especially now knowing that I accomplish more in a less structured environment.

This week I will look at "Don’t be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort."