Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver

In the past two months I've made two out of town trips, back to back. They added up to being gone from the studio for more than two weeks, doing things not related to art, and I could feel the effect of it creeping in when I got back the second time. 

What effect you ask? The one that creeps in when I haven't painted for a while, usually because of life circumstances. Sometimes those things are related to art, but often they aren't. After a while I begin to feel like I don't remember how to paint. Or that I have no idea what to paint. Or, why did I ever think I could paint?

That's when having a simple small step process comes in handy. Rather than feeling like I have to immediately get going on a wonderful painting as soon as I get home, which is very intimidating. I've recently made a workflow "schedule" which has been very helpful.

It just sort of came to me one day when I was thinking about the work flow I had when I was doing eBay. I had quite a system of steps that insured I didn't get things all mixed up. I was painting and selling five paintings a week and needed a way to organize the whole process. There were many steps, but if I followed them everything went smoothly. It was great!

I'm not doing eBay anymore and haven't for a lot of years. I also hadn't really managed to create a good workflow in all that time. Things would go along well for a while and then something would throw it all out of whack. Then I'd spend weeks trying to get my groove back.

I've found myself to be easily overwhelmed by too many choices and decisions. This simple schedule is clean, clear and not overwhelming. If I do the things on it, I know I'm good to go. All the things that need to be done, will be done. There isn't too much for any one day. 

It's helpful when I do have an interruption to be able to walk into the studio on whatever day it is that I'm back and see what I'm supposed to be doing that day. Wow!! It's been life changing.  No overwhelm. No wandering around trying to remember what to do. No sense of guilt for not being on track. 

Do you have a schedule you follow? How do you handle time away and then the return? Is it hard for you or not a problem at all? I'd love to know!