Routine, Routine, Routine
Routine + Organization = Comfort
“It’s a Catch-33, or 22, or whatever it’s called,” I overheard this morning. The context doesn’t matter for this post.
The statement sums up my thoughts about this blog and other projects: I have to make art to do the projects, but the projects aren’t ready for the art to “fit” into them. That would fit loosely with Catch-22, no?
Is this not a common problem?
But I prefer Catch-33 to describe my progress on various projects.
This neologism connotes something out of whack. Why? It doesn’t matter. It’s simply for illustrative purposes. So, I’m just giving it this definition.
Lest I give the impression I am being negative, read on.
Whenever I create a new piece of art, it goes through several stages. It starts okay, quickly gets better, and then hits a point where it looks like I just ruined it, or like something is out of whack.
I then unnecessarily beat myself up — I’m exaggerating — for f*cking up a perfectly decent drawing. Thankfully, this phase is temporary. But I frequently let a drawing sit overnight at this stage so that I can return to it with fresh eyes.
Hence, I switch modes. I shift into trying to rescue or resolve the “failed” drawing.
At the moment, I am juggling several projects, all of which require a lot of my time and attention. I am not a multi-tasker. It simply doesn’t work for me.
Today, my plan was to plan. Yes, plan to plan my projects.
I’m working on that now.
Here are some of the projects:
“My Illustrated Life,” a memoir of sorts that highlights my experiences of being an artist with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Developing an online course tentatively called “Art-Making as Spiritual Practice.”
Creating an abbreviated, in-person workshop version of the online course.
Writing a short book, Zen and the Artful Buddhist: Asperger’s, Art, and Academia.
Writing several blog posts about how to navigate the neurotypical world as an Aspie.
These are overwhelming, at least to me. I tend to go into so much detail with each project that they go unfinished. So, the challenge now is to trim the excess and finish the projects.
Last week, I reported on my life in Southern California. Since then, I have done a couple of small drawings, which is a good step toward reestablishing a regular art-making practice.
The opposite creates stress. When the stress becomes overwhelming, I get nothing done. And so the cycle continues.
I’m beginning to establish and reestablish some routines, but I’m far from feeling settled. When I decide on a more permanent housing situation, I can make more progress on developing routines. At least, that’s the plan.
Finally, I’m establishing routines, and I am sufficiently organized to make progress on my projects.
What projects are you juggling?
Are you facing a Catch-22, or is it more of a Catch-33?
Let me know in the comments.
Next week, more about Aspie traits. Yes, another list that resonates with my experience.