When was the last time you went on a date? Not a date with your spouse or a date with your girlfriends, but a date with yourself? Probably can’t even remember the last time, right?
OK, maybe you’ve never gone on a date with yourself; but what if you could have a weekly “date” with yourself that was just for you to go explore and do something fun or silly? Would you do it?
What if I told you it could improve your creativity?
The Artist Date
One of my other favorite creativity tools from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is the Artist Date (AD). An Artist Date is a weekly date you make (and keep!) with yourself. The goal of the Artist Date is to explore something that interests you.
That means if you want to attend the orchestra concert posted on your local community college board, you do it. Or if there’s a brand new store you want to check out, you do it. Or if you just want to finally get around to making that necklace you saw in last month’s Vogue, but haven’t had time for yet, you do it.
Your Artist Date is all yours and it’s up to you to use it to its fullest.
When I first started doing my weekly Artist Dates I wasn’t sure where to begin, so I started by visiting a home décor store that had just popped up near my house. The week after that I spent my AD at the local Michael’s shopping for and purchasing acrylic paint for the canvas paintings I was making for my bedroom. The week after that I had an AD right in my living room, where I spent three hours writing a short story.
The point isn’t to do something that costs money (although it’s OK if that’s what you choose to do). The point is to get you to do something you normally wouldn’t do. And on a regular basis.
As Cameron points out on her website:
“Artist Dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play. Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration.”
What could be better than that?!
Getting Started
Here’s how you can get started making the weekly Artist Date part of your routine:
- Set a date and don’t go back on it—pick a day and time to do your AD this week. When that day/time comes, follow through and do whatever activity you have picked out (see tip below).
- Choose an activity—your AD can be something as simple as reading for an hour or visiting a museum in downtown. Or it can be as nonchalant as getting in the car and driving until you don’t feel like driving anymore and then seeing where you’re at. The interest you choose to explore is up to you.
- Do it solo—yes, I know, it’s hard to go places by yourself. I actually know several people who have never even eaten alone at a restaurant before. But the point of the AD is to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to try something new. Plus it will teach you how to be with yourself, which is really an important step to achieving strong mental health.
- After your date, set the date for next week—have an AD weekly and you’ll start to not only get involved in all the different things that interest you, but you’ll be purposely leaving your comfort zone every week, which will do wonders for your creativity.
The Artist Date is especially awesome for Multipotentialites who like trying new things but doesn’t want to make a serious commitment to any one activity.
Now before you start with the excuses—“I don’t have time for a weekly Artist Date”—let me stop you right now. You have time. You just have to make time.
If I can’t find the time to do my AD on the weekend, I will pick a week day and do my AD during my lunch break at my day job.
See, no excuses. Just make it happen!
Share With Us
What are your thoughts on the Artist Date? Is this something you would consider trying? Have you ever tried it before?
Image courtesy of zoetnet
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I really need to read “The Artists Way”. Your blog always intrigues with that book.
Thanks for sharing!
This past Saturday I took a 2 hour class on how to make sugar flowers for a cake. Although it was a class with about 20 people in it, I worked solo. Does that count?
I am a dabbler, so I love trying so many new things. Its interesting, because I have really cut back on my dabbling so I could focus on my writing more. But the idea of the AD allows me to continue to dabble.
Gotta get that book.
Yea that book is genius I highly recommend it! And yes I think the sugar flower class counts if you signed up on your own and went alone too. You should check out Puttylike.com. Emilie writes all about being a Multipotentialite, which it sounds like to me that’s what you are. She has some great advice.
This is a great idea! I don’t have trouble doing things alone, since I grew up as an only child and have no trouble entertaining myself or feeling confident in being alone. But I DO have trouble motivating myself to do stuff. It’s easier if I have plans with a friend in that respect. Maybe if I start looking on the Artist Dates as something I CANNOT back out of, I’ll be able to motivate myself to do something once a week like this.
I think if you find an activity that you’re really interested in checking out you will be more motivated to actually follow through. That always helps me!
I heard of this once. I haven’t read anything by julie cameron, but I’m involved with some online groups that are based off of her suggestions. And while I haven’t yet read The Artist’s Way, it’s definitely on my list. Ha, maybe going to the library to pick up this book can be my first artist date!
It’s a really great book. If you ever have 12 weeks to work through it, I highly recommend.
I never like going alone to places. Especially, for meals and hangouts. But being along at places like seaside is of prime importance
When I’m surrounded by nature’s grip, I want to delve deeper and get lost… That’s something serious and important to me.
However, for shopping one should not be alone AT ALL – it becomes dead boring.