Time to stop procrastinating. Here’s how. 

I will watch this video tomorrow

I discovered a long time ago...shopping for art supplies, surfing art videos & actually doing art are all just very different hobbies.

"I have spent many days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung." - Rabindranath Tagore

It's uncanny how accurately you've described my current art non-practice. You're the calm, encouraging voice we need right now.

My problem is not only procrastination but also guilt and resistance. Guilt for the things I should be doing; like cleaning house, cooking dinner, spending time with the hubs. All this after working at a job all day. Resistance because, well, the guilt.

About a week ago I understood the reason why I was procrastinating: I had a very good streak of working on my watercolors every day for a while and then I suddenly stopped, because my mindset changed. I went from enjoying the process because it was my time to play and experiment with colors, to taking it seriously. I bought a few books and wanted to go through every lesson to learn all the techniques and make perfect paintings and beautiful art journals. I was also looking at the journey to become a better artist and it looked so daunting and long. I was comparing myself with professional artists and I was feeling down. I was also creating a schedule in my mind to work on it every day, like an obligation. Suddenly it was a chore, not play, so it was not fun anymore. But then I read a comment on Reddit about how this is all a mindset. So I have decided to change my mindset. I just love to play with colors, this is my time to play. I don't want to reach for success in art, I just want to enjoy the process. So I'm back to play, and while my first layer of a cactus that I am painting dries, here I am listening to your video on procrastination. Perfect timing! Thank you!!

My best ideas come from my procrastination. I am not be physically doing something, but I am always thinking about my projects. I am a productive procrastinator.

Oh man, the endless watching videos and the art supply shopping it triggers is a DISEASE!! And i have to fight so hard to use stuff and not hoard it, too.

Good advice - thank you! Have you heard this…. What do we want ? Procrastination! When do we want it? Next week !

Actually started my first ever sketchbook this morning at age 34. Just a crude pen drawing of a box with a hinged lid, but it pretty much looks like the actual object (to my surprise).

I was told years ago to "break" the page. Facing that blank pristine surface can be hard, so "spoil " it first. Smudge it, fold it, scribble and erase. Go through that brand new sketch book and "ruin" it with some random squiggles, or preserve that first pristine page for your "perfect" piece so you can "mess up" the rest.

Wow, this guy is voicing my inner thoughts out loud! Time to get out the sketchbook and actually do something, instead of just counting my pencils. Thank you for this.

"I GET TO paint/draw" is such a good mindset change, thank you!❤

"The monkey is going to get quieter the more you create. Each piece of art, no matter how small, is a victory over that voice. Embrace your imperfections. Embrace the learning process." - Danny Gregory (2024). This quote is in my commonplace book now. It resonates with me. I like meditating, so "quieting the mind" is something I know of. You showed me a course of action I never thought of and I am so grateful for your video 💜

I finally started a doodle journal in March. The idea was to just doodle one page a day. I gave myself permission for it to not be perfect. Some days it’s just a random doodle that takes 5 minutes. Some days it’s a full on sketch that I get lost in for 3 hours. It’s been fun.

0:57 - reason why you procrastinate 1:50 - Recognize procrastination for what it is 2:09 - Set up a small specific kind of goal 3:14 - Acknowledge the struggle 3:52 - the illusion of productivity 4:53 - Set small, achievable goals 5:54 - Limit distractions 6:43 - Give yourself a break and embrace imperfection 7:58 - Be accountable 9:36 - Make it a routine and habit 10:44 - Shift your mindset from “I should create” to “I get to create”; turn “being creative” from a chore to a reward 11:27 - how joyful creating can be; remember the joy of creating 12:12 - Be good to you; be kind to yourself; celebrate your streak

“Cause I never get it quite right.” 😂😂😂

I buy cheap supplies and trash surf for paper: ie paper bags, cardboard, etc. In this way i avoid worrying about ruining expensive supplies

I came across this videos thumbnail image, became interested, and promptly added it to my Watch Later. 10 min later I laughed at what I just did. I need help, lol. No: I need to draw.

I learned a lot from my friend whose wife and he are art teachers during the day. Two days and two nights a week, they have an art gallery auction for artists by artists. Over twelve years, this guy has painted over three thousand paintings. All have been auctioned for amazing deals. I admire that they do this when they could easily sell their art for at least $200 a painting. That’s $600,000 (underestimated) giving back to the Calgary art community. This talented guy can paint a 3’ X 2’ painting in an hour. I’ve learned a quick sketch, and then paint hits the canvas. Often, a loose painting is better than overthinking a painting.

My quote to fight perfectionism is from Edward Scissors Hands..."I'm not finished". Because I'm never finished, learning, creating, and trying. I can leave a page unfinished and move on...come back to it later...cover it over or add to it.

I'd like to share my own perspective on Danny's message here. I am a skilled in a crafts (think cabinet maker) where anything less than perfection is considered a shoddy job. I've had clients take out a spirit level and criticise me even though they can't visually notice any defect. However while sketching I enjoy imperfection and _fuzziness_ and fill whole sketchbooks with mindless scribbling. I've found it relieves my anxiety and calms my aggression. My problem while drawing isn't about daring to be loose, it's about having some sort of boundary or objective. This is also a real problem for some of us who enjoy sketching.

This reminds me of the book titled Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. The title says it all-acknowledge that fear, and then make an actual step TOWARDS the feared thing (obviously not if it’s an actual threat!). Thanks for a much needed reminder!

Have you been spying on me, Danny? Because while watching this video I was convinced that you were aware of my personal failings, and were talking directly to me. I have resigned myself to the fact that my attempt to be an artist will get no further than buying equipment and watching RU-vid videos of other people being artists. These feel like safer pastimes than picking up a pen or brush and actually creating something. I do want to be creative… and I have enough supplies to stock an art store… but there’s an invisible, impenetrable barrier that consistently prevents me from making a start. So I buy yet another how-to book, or a better brush, thinking… this will be the key to my getting started making art. But it never is. So, thank you for taking the time to create this video uniquely for me. 🙏🏻 Thanks to your pep talk I will force myself to create a piece of art today. Consider me converted! 😅

Ha! Ha! 😂I’m watching this ( wonderful),video about Not procrastinating, While I’m PROCRASTINATING! 🎉 thanks so much, Danny! Very helpful advice-

I'm actually watching this while working on a long-overdue project.

I make sure that I create some kind of art everyday. Sketch, or loose drawing, or watercolour marker designs, or quotes which I decorate with flowers and vines. It relaxes me and helps with stress relief. 'Just get something on the paper or canvas!' 😊

Thank you, Danny. It's easy to forget what a privilege it can be to create. It's a choice I can make and it's the right choice to make. 🙂

Ich bin gerade alleine in Italien im Urlaub und durch Danny habe ich so viel Spaß am Zeichnen gefunden. Verbringe hier die meiste Zeit damit Leute und alles was ich sehe zu zeichnen. Es ist wunderbar. Danke!❤

I'm definitely guilty of a lot of the things you mentioned. I have those phases where I actually (finally) get over myself and start making art and practice, but then, often sooner than later, something comes up and I just fall off of my budding routine like a bug from a branch... It's the momentum that I keep losing, followed by distractions that pop up like mushrooms and an empty space that provides a perfect stage for the monkey to act out on. Every time the ice that I've broken before becomes solid again and I have to start over. And you know what? Today I'll draw. Thank you, Danny! Your videos never fail to give me a push in the right direction. I really appreciate your input!

Great insights on tackling procrastination and enhancing creativity! Reframing our approach from 'I should create' to 'I get to create' can significantly shift our motivation and unlock our creative potential. 🎨

I have noticed that now I have gotten ALL the art supplies that my interest is gone in making art…sure had fun gathering… Why????!!!!!

Very good advice.... Thank you!! I usually give myself 20 or 30 minutes to make something, I will also pick just one tutorial from Pinterest or RU-vid to do. Even though it's not original, I've accomplished something... and I often put my own spin on it. Have a great day 😊

Love love love these points….I’m ADHD and if you know anything about this, I get so distracted by EVERYTHING AROUND ME, ALL THE TIME… tomorrow morning, I will set up/write a timetable and try extra hard to concentrate on each task like never before, THANK YOU!

Thank you so much! I have exactly this problem in my life, i have nice things to do my art in different ways, but now i don't know how start again, i feel so afraid to ruin my materials because i was very poor in the past and in that moment only had paper and a pencil, but i did a lot of good stuff, now, i have materials but i remember that every time when i take my paints or a single sheet from my sketch book and i feel very bad, its a kind of fault feeling. Now i understand all my problems, i need to take away all the bad feelings of me of my past to live my dream future. Thank you so much! From the bottom of my heart 😊

Thank you so much for this talk. You hit the nail on the head for me and shined the light on what I have been doing for years. Even to the point of teaching some casual art classes to senior citizens (of which I am one) without doing much myself. I have purchases hundreds of art supplies and watched hours and hours of RU-vid videos. Now, with this new insight, I plan to get busy and paint that portrait of my three little grandchildren sitting in a rocking chair together reading a book. I have been putting this off for a long time. Back in the 90s I was very prolific with my art and I loved it. It is like meditation and prayer for me. Thank you for helping me get back to it!

You know what, you're right on the monkey? I feel Procrastinating whenever i took out my painting stuff. I did some paintings over the years, but very lazy and it took many years to complete an art. To fix this, i bought some "Paint with number" arts from online shops and get into action. Now, I really fell in Love with with it and I'm completing it and have paste it on my walls. As I can see my work on the wall, that makes me to keep going and i kept doing it. This way, I allow the Love for Painting more and drawing, sketching more 😍🥰🥰 I can't stop and I'm going to continue it...😜🥰 It's like have my own Art Gallery at home.😇

This is me… I’m not a professional artist. But this applies to me with everything. Especially anything I ‘want’ to do for myself ….like art. I truthfully thought that I was alone. So it was more wonderful than you know to find this video.

I stopped watching after 3 minutes, because Danny said so. I’m drawing 😊

I cut cotton paper into cue cards and challenged myself to use them up 3 times on each side practicing brush strokes and anything I want everywhere as if I am living ten years into the future. I love myself and prepare for myself and turn on a specific music list and put a picture of my friend smiling at me on my desk and do a bunch of puttering as if I were a school teacher setting up my class room and think of myself as a secretary adding details...first wash, so what...and then I want to add to it!

Aka saddling up but never riding.

Boy! You pegged me right where I live!!! And I needed it! You Tube eats your life, if you let it.

This was real talk and I definitely got called out here. 💯

Hello, I am from Europe and know nothing about USA accents...but everytime I close my eyes, I swear I can hear Danny DeVito in your voice 😊

I feel that sometimes it’s a fear of being interrupted.

This is so helpful. I so needed this as so many of your points describe me (buying new tools, paralyzed by perfectionism, YT tutorials instead of art). One thing I've been trying lately is to take an old unfinished piee of art and just add to it in some way. It's less pressure because I've already felt like I've given up on it, so it's not the dreaded "blank page/canvas" and it's lower stakes. A few times, I've actually ended up with something interesting. Have been reading a book called "Tiny Habits," which has been pretty helpful as well.

Sound psychological advice, very inspiring and kind!

My solution lately is to pack an Art Bag, get the things together, decide where I'm going or what I'm making, a day or more before i plan to go do the thing. Then the overwhelm of all the prep doesn't throw the creativity off

Dear Judy, I submitted my PNA (procrastinating nuanced artist) sample, and you and I are sisters!! Yes, two peas in a pod!

Thank you for this. I am not an artist but am just starting up educational field trips to the bush & beach for kids. It was a reminder that while research is good ..limit it! Compartmentalize and remember your goal. Yes. We now judge ourselves against the entire world..that is crazy. In days gone by our pool of reference would have been the village not the entire world. Thank you for your clarity

Thank you so so much for such a helpful video. I was surprised that I am not the only one doing the things you mentioned. I wish I could like your video 1000 times. 🥰

Thank-you! Watched all the way through. I'm drawing 100 trees using pencil, pen and china marker- whatever I've got around. Trying a palm tree now! People always need these types of encouragement- Keep it up.

I have a couple observations in regard to procrastination, as a result of conditioning, even if it was unintentional. Our upbringing, may possibly result in procrastination. In two ways, I think these two polar opposite methods of parenting can contribute to this habit. If you had parents who would give you tasks, but did not hold you to those tasks by a certain time, or date, that means eventually you felt no need to complete the job. Making your bed, doing your homework, cleaning your room, general chores. That style of parenting is merely giving a suggestion to complete chores and not holding you to it. No incentives, no repercussions, just loose and free spirited direction. The parents fear rejection and loss of love from their child, which is a sad way to bring up kids (I see that a lot in recent generations to now). On the other side, you have the drill sargeant style of unrealistic demands, yelling, punishments that don’t fit the crime, chores or demands that don’t fit the mental age of the kids they are rearing. Child grows to resent it and as a result, learn to rebel or procrastinate. They are overwhelmed. As parents we need to set examples of balanced goal setting and not provoke, or allow that “monkey” to take over. Just a thought.

I’ve went through my entire studio and have donated art supplies that having them sitting around made me feel overwhelmed and a failure. It took me years and trying a lot of “techniques” and “products” before I found what type of natural rhythm of what resonated with me and spoke to my heart and being in the moment! I’ve saved a few supplies that now that I know my preferences and have grown in interest and know what types of multi media can be mixed and how to use them. Now the excitement is back and I’m not trying to “copy” others in style or technique.

I love you, thank you so much for this . I really needed to hear your thoughts and words today . You hit me right where I live , I love " the set up " that is safe the doing doing is hard . I will soon be 80 , I started doing art for the first time at 68 and loved going to my class and my friends there . Then we were handed covid and the class shut down and here I am still not doing art every day. Thank you again for this reminder.

Practice makes better, not perfect. Perfect is an illusion. I heard that somewhere recently - maybe one of your posts?

Thank you. I stumbled across this video (while procrastinating) and it was something I really needed to see. The universe is telling me something. Lol.

The story of my life: It's more fun to think about drawing and painting than it is to actually draw and paint. The sleep world has taken me to task for this attitude by giving me dreams in which I draw or paint for hours, filling rooms. When I wake up, argh, no art! Art is work, as well as play -- the play part you can do in your head, but you have to work too in order to have something physical to show for your play. Writers tell me "A writer writes -- write 5 pages a day, every day". I think that the equivalent for the visual artist might be good, too -- 5 sketchbook pages, good or bad, every day. Another thing that used to help me was taking Adult Ed classes at the community college -- the assignments and external deadlines were always a helpful shove in the right direction. I tried therapy, but that was just more talk and procrastination. If you're going to spend money, spend it on an art or craft class. Hey, drawing naked strangers or making your own t-shirt is play too.

I use the time listening to you, sir, to sketch, doodle, and think deeply. It is rarely "productive" in the finished work sense, but I leave the experience better in every way.

Gosh I'm so glad I found this video! This hits spot on for me. I get confused as to why I've been craving to do art for several years now, but didn't have the space to do it. Now have more space but not much time or energy in my chaos of disorganization. There's always excuses and reasons why I can't do my art!😣 Thank you for sharing how taking those small baby steps each day doing some form of art is so important! My problem is... besides being a procrastinator I'm also a perfectionist. So I feel if I get some form of art project started that I have to be so fully focused that it has to be perfect! The points you made here in taking those baby steps each day are really helpful, thank you🙏🖌🎨

Just what I needed to hear, constantly buying new art supplies and not really starting much! Suffering from imposter syndrome but now going to take your advice.

Cogitation is probably my most destructive habit in so many ways, especially being solo which makes the monkey's voice even louder. Lots of great ideas here and I was watching another video about it this topic the other day where I heard Sheryl Sandberg's (ex CEO of Facebook) excellent quote "Done is better then perfect". I found it so good that I sent straight to my art journal to incorporate it into a page.

Thank you for making this video. If felt like you were speaking directly to me. Yes I do all those things. I hear what you are saying and your advice is sinking in. I’m am going to write some of these phrases in my sketchbook now and draw something. Thank you as always x

I get nervous for some reason and yes I'm guilty of every box on that list lol creepy...

I recently started a sketchbook devoted solely to blind contour drawing and 15 second to 40 second gesture drawing. Absolutely no pressure for prefect drawings with that criteria. I find myself sketching almost every day now, all the while developing my ability to actually see what I'm drawing. FYI - Recently bought A Life In Hand after watching one of your videos about it. I'm on my second read.

Another great topic to touch on and help us work through Danny. Thank you for always encouraging others.❤ I’m totally GUILTY of procrastination !! 🙈🙉🙊🐵🐒🙈🙉🙊🐵🐒

I was working at both Procreate and watercolor art for a great while a couple of months ago and stopped because life got in the way with work and family. However, creating art is always important to me even if I had to take a small hiatus from it. Therefore, this great video jolted me back into reality like a loving "cattle prod"--Lol. Thank you so much for your RU-vid channel and this great video--very true about procrastination and very inspirational about the need to be proactive in creating art daily.♥

You have described my procrastination on Thursday! The monkey worked overtime. While you were drawing Van Gogh's postman, I was chasing gremlins of my own making that had added up to a totally wasted day. I was sketching early when the lead ran out on my favorite mechanical pencil. I couldn't get any lead to feed, so I tore apart the pencil, and still couldn't get lead to feed. In the interum I picked up my fude pen which promptly released it's converter internally, and spilled it's contents. I was able to contain the content's to the bathroom sink. Turning back to the pencil, I found a roll of wire to snake through the pencil, and the wire roll unraveled into a snarl. After chopping the wire into managable sections and re-bundling it I couldn't get any wire to feed through, so I started shopping for another mechanical pencil. Eventually I pulled out a box of Papermate disposable pencils and drew a page of loose human forms for 5 minutes. Today I started with a video on procrastination...

The thing is, creating is work, good work, mentally exhilerating, but then draining. I have only so much mental energy a day. Sometimes it's got be used for organising my life (doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, laundry, meal prep, replying to a friend's phone call, language learning, on and on. If I didn't care about anything else, and could let things slide, I'd spend all my time being creative because I very much like it. But sometimes, my brain needs to just relax, to pet my cat, to stare at the neighbour's huge tree, to look at RU-vid images, to learn things, and fill back up with energy, so I can do the creative things. I don't see it as procrastination. I see it as an ebb and flow of energy. That's it.

This is the premise of The War of Art. A great book by Steven Pressfield. Give it a shot.

Everything you said was so true and fantastically helpful. I have listened to quite a few videos on creative procrastination but none kept me hanging on every word like yours. Thank you. Now subscribed.

I just finished drawing 3 dragonflies to keep the monkey down. Thanks, Danny. Great challenge!

I love this advice video. I typically dont watch videos like this because advice on procrastination typically does not help people who suffer with executive dysfunction, but a lot of your advice includes tips on how I try to overcome mine. I feel this is great advice for anyone regardless of how their brain is wired. I'd also just like to point out that "draw with me" streams are a great way to be held accountable to draw! You dont even have to know how to do Twitch or RU-vid streams or have a large social media following to do it. I was once in a call with friends on Discord while working away on a big project with a rapidly approaching deadline when one friend expressed he wished he could see me draw. So, on a whim, I disconnected from the call on my computer, reconnected on my phone, and propped up my phone so that I could use my camera to record myself drawing. And lemme tell you: my friends LOVED it. They were still talking about it the next day. They constantly wanted to know when the next one would be! I ended up having to buy an overhead camera mount for my phone so they could get a better view. Even when I had no idea what to draw and was just scribbling random things into my sketchbook, they always enjoyed it. I unfortunately had to stop when I moved out of that apartment, but I'm excited to get my camera mount out of storage as soon as possible so I can start again. A lot of our friends and family love our art more than they express, so setting up a time to chat with them while allowing them to watch us work is not only a great way to hold ourselves accountable, but also bring joy to our friends and family.

Thank you! I love the idea of little steps every day!

This is great to listen to as I fix breakfast and get ready to work on that art project! Thank you!

Habit stacking gone bad... Al Switzler on writing - Half a peanut butter sandwich per page... Truth or Lies - Tequila shot every wrong answer...

Thank you for being the welcoming and wise voice that we all need sometimes🦋

I needed this...Been procrastinating for years..waiting for my art area to be completed and perfect! You are right! Its not done and its not going to be and yes I have everything I need..and then some. Just gotta do it! Ive also bought every book on creativity there is..in the end they all say the same thing...just do it. Thank you!

I like what you said, each piece of creative work is a victory. Of course I paraphrased, but I think I’ve got it. 😊👍🏻

Thank you. I am battling procastination from years. You make this sound possible to get out of that phase...

But...but...but...I wouldn't have found your video if I weren't procrastinating. 😂 Okay, I actually did sketch and paint for several hours this morning, and it's actually my yard work I'm putting off. But fair point for delaying creativity most days. In fact, while the yard work does need to be done, it's probably a way of procrastinating working on a short story. Sigh...I just need to be retired. Then I wouldn't be trying to cram all kinds of things into a few days off a month.

❤❤❤❤❤ As I’ve been an artist for almost 32 years and I’ve learned to be myself as a unique artist amongst myself❤❤❤❤❤ Happy Arting❤❤❤❤

All so true!

What a great video. So helpful as it’s full of very practical tips. You speak so well and so encouragingly. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing such valuable information. I came across your video today while on my 1st day this week on medical rest from work. I feel it wasn't an accident for me to see your under these circumstances.

Thank you….you are a gift to people like me

Procrastinaton is a real killer for us would be writers too. The points raised and the advice given will apply to other art forms as others have indicated. Had a good day yesterday, nailed another chapter. However, that monkey is always looking for attention. No interloper here, I like to sketch too. 😉☺

Danny you are right on top of this "P" thing!!! keep on going you kick ass man!!!!

Love it. Great video ⭐️

I ended my dry spell yesterday with Draw with Me. It was a long hiatus. Both my jewelry production and drawing/painting pretty much ended. Perhaps I did need some hibernation who knows. I enjoyed the abandon that the varied supplies gave me while exploring the strengths and limitations of each. So I found the joy and k ow I need more of that. Thanks as always for the advice encouraging words.

Thank you for these thoughts. In addition to buying supplies I don't use, I follow several art groups on Facebook. Between that and RU-vid tutorials, I become overwhelmed with all the options and end up doing nothing at all. Not sure yet if I will leave the Facebook groups, but I may stop following them so I don't see all the posts they generate.

I let the video play, picked up my sketch book and played. All while your words encouraged me. Thank you.

I can even decide if I should procrastinate!, I must draw a line somewhere!

Thank you for this so very much. It took me longer than a year to develop the habit of drawing daily. Your videos have helped me accomplish this. You rock.!

My problem is on that feel like I'm good enough. I'll get something what's good and I think I can make it better and then it's crap. cheers Graham

It's great to get your support and help around art practice. Thank you. I often listen to positive voices on the internet -- yours and others -- while in my studio because I have a very mean monkey. But I also use a timer with the internet in case of falling down rabbit holes. It can help.

Excellent video w/ lots of good info and ideas to keep on track--I'm SO bad with procrastination! I'm a new sub after watching your video on starting a sketchbook...managed to start one already for pencil work but will get another soon for multi-media. I just started experimenting with watercolors a year ago for the first time since high school...I've been airbrushing for 44+ years using water-based acrylic airbrush paint, on many types of surfaces--leather jackets being a favorite to paint on...so I already have art for life. I like your style of presentation, w/ positive thinking and encouragement...I'll have to binge watch all your past videos!

Good advice for any kind of procrastination especially with adhd

😊 thank you Danny, as always very insightful. I'll rewatch it because there is so much valuable information in it. But I'll create something first 😅😅 yes, no procrastination this time.

I need to watch this video everyday. It highlights so many of my self defeating thoughts. Thanks