balancing everything
I have a very small following on patreon (less than 10 members) and someone downgraded from paid to free today and it makes me feel like a *** artist. I have been spending a lot of time at my day job, and have been unable to focus that much on my art like i wanted to.
Every time i feel like i'm making progress in my art journey, i run out of time and have to go to work. And when I get back, i feel disconnected from what i had been working on before. I am making progress, but it's so disjointed and i can't really feel good about it.
If my brain was better, i'm sure i could bounce back and forth easier. But i find it hard to show up because I'm always tired, always stressed, always struggling to navigate the social aspects of work and online spaces. Learning how to maintain a schedule for my art when everything else in my life is hectic and varied.
I always have several interconnected problems that tug on my sense of self, my obligation to others, my projected worth, my career, and the balance of it all.
While i am at work, i am in Push Through mode, and i just take every moment as it is to try and survive till the next time i have free time and am able to rest. And when that rest comes, all the things i have been putting aside in order to work come back all at once, and it's just tiring and stressful.
Hello @affableStrings4654 😁
I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing. It sounds like you're juggling a lot between your day job and your passion for art. It's completely understandable to feel disheartened when there's a setback like someone downgrading their support on Patreon. Remember, this doesn't reflect on your worth as an artist or a person.
Art, especially when balanced with other life responsibilities, is often a journey with ups and downs. It's okay if your progress feels slow or disjointed. Every bit of effort and every stroke of creativity you manage to put in is valuable. The struggle with time and energy is something many artists experience, and it's tough, but it doesn't diminish your talent or the importance of your work.
Your dedication to pushing through at your day job and trying to find time for your art is admirable. It's also important to recognize the impact of this constant push on your mental and physical well-being. It might be helpful to consider small adjustments or routines that could make this balance more sustainable, even if it's just a few minutes of sketching or brainstorming ideas during breaks.
Your feelings are valid, and it's okay to take a step back sometimes to rest and recharge. Art will always be there when you're ready to return to it, and your value doesn't decrease because of the pace at which you create. Your journey is uniquely yours, and it's okay if it doesn't look like anyone else's. Keep faith in your creative journey, and remember to take care of yourself along the way 🥰
@Jem7Cups
Thank you for your words.
I'm hoping to get to a point where doing art is easy. Just something normal that i do out of habit. It used to be like that, for me. I doodled on scraps of paper and napkins, anything i could get my hands on, really. Just because i liked to. Now, it's a lot harder for some reason.