TIP: Be Good To Yourself

When nobody else will. (Journey circa 1986)

One of the perils of being an artist is aches and pains from standing at an easel all day, or leaning over your drawing board or computer keyboard. I have chronic back pain, and painting all day seriously exacerbates the problem.

Here’s some of the things I do to help combat fatigue:

1# - Take frequent breaks. Seriously.  Sounds simple enough but if you’re in the zone - you know how easy it is to look up and realize you have been painting for 4 hours straight. Eye fatigue and back pain start to sink in as soon as you stop  - and by then it’s too late. I set an alarm on my computer to go off every 30 minutes - I stop painting, walk around, stretch, walk the dog - whatever. Just put down the brushes and walk away.

Even a 2 minute break to stretch every 1/2 hour can prevent becoming overtired (which easily leads to mistakes on your canvas).

#2 - Listen to your body. Knowing when to stop is important - the last 1/2 hour of a painting session can undo an entire days’ worth of great work if you’re tired and hurting, but resolutely push on through it. Recognize and obey the signs your body are sending you - and quit before you wind up having to fix a mess you’ve made.

#3 - Have a drink. Water, that is. Save the cocktail for after you’ve washed your brushes, and use that time to evaluate the day’s efforts and contemplate your next steps. (Take good notes, too.)

#4 - Exercise regularly. The fitter you are, the longer you can work without overtaxing yourself.

#5 - Theraputic Massage. SO totally worth the money - especially when you buy a package of 6.

#6 - Hot Tub!  If you’re lucky enough to have access to a hot tub - it’s the next best thing to a massage.

I’d love to hear any of your methods - send ‘em in and I’ll add them to the list.