As someone who has run their own creative business for over a decade, I have discovered that not only am I happier in my business, but that it rewards me with more of my favourite clients when I focus on dedicating some time each week purely to creative outlets. Whether it is directly related to my business or not (eg painting or drawing as well as photographing non-client things).

Like many artists or designers, I read ‘The Artists’s Way’ by Julia Cameron many years ago, and her wonderful advice for making time for ‘artist’s dates’ as she calls them has really stuck with me. When I first read the book it was quite revelatory for me to think that not only could I do these types of things in my free time, but that also it really benefited me to set aside work time for it too.

"Julia Cameron invented the way people renovate the creative soul." -The New York Times

Taking time to visit somewhere with my camera that I’ve always wanted to capture (such as these shots at Arlington Row in Bibury for instance), or to sit and draw a flower, have become a sort of mindfulness technique. Not only does it relax and destress me, but it also often results in creative ways of thinking about lots of aspects of my business, not just the obviously artistic ones. I’ve found that allowing my mind to wander, or even at times to be bored has led to some of my best and brilliant ideas. The way we live our lives in the modern world feels often like every moment should be filled with something (and at time multiple things, hello those of you watching YouTube whilst playing on your phone!). It’s rare that my mind feels calm and still or without ‘to do’ lists floating around my mind like an ever-revolving door. By carving out moments of calm and introspection we become so much better at everything else we do. It promotes focus, attention and thoughtful decision making.

Creative thinking is something that may employers look for in a potential worker, and it should be as valued in ourselves too – not just something that we do that pays the bills, but something that we nurture and give time to on a weekly basis. The more your practice it, the easier the ideas flow too and the more likely we are to change our mindset about or work, to diminish the fears that often go hand in hand with sharing our art with the wider world. We did it almost daily as children and it was encouraged – go on that walk, splash in muddy puddles, collect leaves and stones that please you, paint with wild abandon regardless of whether it’s good or not, get messy, go wild. As adults we should embrace that inner child artist more don’t you think?

Approaching it in this way helps me enjoy my creative talents in my work more, it enthuses me, inspires me and helps me to think of innovative ways to approach things outside of the norm. It has helped me find my true identity, my style and aesthetic, and given me the space to really rediscover the talents that I had hidden in the corporate world for so long.

So my message to you is, carve out that time, put it in your diary and stick to it, don’t let the real world intrude on your sacred artist’s time for that hour or afternoon. Protect it at all costs. Because it’s your own individual artistic soul that sets you apart from the crowd.