Change up Your Routine to Get Unstuck

The Brief Standing Desk Experiment

A couple of weeks ago, I assembled a DIY standing desk because I was feeling a little frustrated creatively. I was having a hard time concentrating and decided to rearrange my work on-the-fly. For the most part, it was a success. My elbows were at a comfortable 90 degree angle to the keyboard and tablet (thanks to my medicine box) and the mouse was elevated by a useful box of instant noodles filled with comic books. (See, Ma? They weren’t as bad as you said.)

The set-up didn’t last that long though. While I found my aimless surfing and scrolling about tumblr decreased, I found myself crashing on the couch in the living room more often from the sheer exhaustion of working. It was also around this time I was about to work on my second set of thumbnails. Since tolerating discomfort while drawing was not a good idea, I switched back to my old space. (with the exception of the elevated monitor. I’m not sure why I had it so low before but I’m much happier with the extra desk space!)

With the realization that work can actually be even more painful than it should be, I can actually focus a little better. (Nothing like a little perspective!) Anyway, sometimes it helps to change things up a bit especially when you’re feeling stuck. If you’re stuck art-wise, try experimenting with different media or work in a style that you’re not usually comfortable with. You could be surprised with the results!