So it took 460 days, but I finished my sketchbook! What worked for me was to set a consistent time and place, which was before bed at my desk. I also found working from books to be the most productive, because I can waste a lot of time and brainpower trying to decide what/how to draw. With a book, I just turn the page.

What was most important to me was to build a daily-ish habit. To do that, I set the intention of drawing every day for at least two minutes. It’s very doable for me even if I’ve had a taxing day and I want to go straight to bed. So many nights I only drew for two minutes, but the rest of the time I drew for much longer.

I feel like I’m recapturing the joy of drawing I had as a small child. I enter a completely different headspace—it’s like a mental escape. It’s not always effortless to get to. Sometimes I sit at my desk for 10s of minutes before I can even do two minutes of drawing, but I am feeling less awkward about drawing in general. It’s becoming much more natural to me than before.

I’m starting a new sketchbook today. This one is little more challenging. I bound up drawing paper, newsprint, black drawing paper, and watercolor paper together, whereas the last sketchbook I just bound up plain white drawing paper only. I’m looking forward to using some wet media this time: ink, watercolor, gouache, and liquid acrylic. I’m cleaning my desk off today to get ready!