For freelance artists there is no such thing as a sick day, a public holiday, never mind a blue day. The impact depression has made on my art and work life has been felt - It's no easy task to wrestle dragons, create cute artwork and meet deadlines. Keep creating through all your ups and downs. We are perceived to be in full control of our schedules, free to meet for coffee, free to do what we like and simply be able to whip out some creative stuff when needed. Not so. Behind most of the fantastic, creative work is strict discipline, routines, plenty of hard labor and an incredible dedication to our art. It’s the daily showing up at our desk and putting in the hours. Without the hours, no book gets illustrated or written, no brilliant project gets completed. What depression does - it takes away the hours. It makes you sleep in, it makes you drag your feet, it makes you hover above the blank page like a heron waiting for a catch. Hours can go by where nothing happens. You spend your day in a daze, forcing your hand to draw something of value, for your brain to engage and squeeze out a drop of art. Because of depression, I’ve made some real blunders in the past. Projects didn’t go smoothly. I’ve let some really great opportunities go by. I even went through a phase of no drawing (that was weird). I’ve missed out on income. I chose to think small. People have even called me lazy. I let my client relationships slip and just didn’t act like a professional. However what I’ve also done is learnt from those ‘mistakes’, those dark moments. I’ve learnt to equip myself with tools and healthy habits. They help keep the depression away (most of the time) and enable me to keep creating, do my best art and be the professional I want to be. Here is my anti-depression pill, broken down into 2 parts. Healthy habits: * Talk through emotional knots with select friends, family or a counselor. It took me a long time to understand that bottling up emotions is bad. However, not everyone wants to listen or cares. Not everyone is emotionally available. Find the right people and don't give up till you do. * Daily exercise - find something you enjoy. Walking is one of my miracle cures. * Light diet and regular sleep are vital. If I’m eating badly or sleeping too much, I know something bad is brewing. * Be inspired. Use free time to go to a gallery or look for inspiration. Remove all pressure or expectation of being 'productive'. Do it just for fun. * Hang out with fellow artist friends. See if you can sit in their studio, create something different, unusual for you. Professional tips: * Set small achievable daily goals. Big dreams and ideas can be crushing if they feel far away. * Do NOT stop creating. It’s very difficult to get back into it if you stop. * If you're busy with a big project and suddenly get the blues, break it down into tiny digestible tasks. As small as you can go. Focus on one task at a time. * Listen to audio books when you work. It keeps your head distracted and your hands free to create beautiful art. * Build it into your schedule. Make time for it, add an extra week to your project schedule. You’ll likely not need it, but it will help you manage the emotional pressure and client expectations. It took me a long time to learn what was works best for me, but I now know how to equip myself and weather the storm, should it come. I wish I had a helping hand much earlier in my career. So if you're struggling, here is my hand. If this post has helped you in any way, please let me know. Also please SHARE with anyone who you feel might need it. Keep creating! Maja
