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On a practical level, a lifestyle is a way of life, a set of habits and actions that guide one’s routine. Obviously, there are many methodological and even moral consequences. For example, a vegetarian lifestyle influences one’s choices of, say, food shopping, as well as their way of thinking about animals. Similarly, a creative lifestyle affects a person’s way of dealing – as well as thinking about – creative expressions.

Ultimately, a creative lifestyle is about building good habits: supporting a way of life that makes it easier to experience, find connections, and express them artistically.

I got inspiration for this post after I realized I’ve drawn more than 500 (at the time I write this text) Punning Walrus episodes in less than a year – starting basically from zero drawing skills. That means, on average, more than one per day. Some days I drew five or six, some days I didn’t draw any. This, too, is important as we’ll see.

Indeed, a creative lifestyle isn’t about being creative “no matter what”. Rather, it’s about including creativity as an integral part of your identity, resulting in creativity becoming not something you do but something you are.

Defining “Creative Lifestyle”

I often hear about “the 7-day diet” (it could be of any duration), or even more idiotic things – usually by ridiculous writing gurus – such as “2 weeks to mastering fiction writing”.

The truth is, any kind of thing you “do for a while” is guaranteed to fail.

Only incorporating something into your way of life – turning it into a lifestyle – can make any change permanent (or at least long-term) and meaningful. If, for example, you want to look and feel better, forget about diets, and change your eating and exercising habits. There’s no point in starving for two weeks if you plan to go back to eating unhealthily.

It’s the same with a creative lifestyle. Forget about guides that ask you to put everything aside for an x amount of time – “writing boot camp”; is there anything more idiotic? – and figure out how creativity can become a part of who you are rather than something you do.

Building Good Creative Habits

I mentioned earlier how I’ve made more than 500 Punning Walrus cartoons in less than a year. I also mentioned how it varies – sometimes I draw multiple in a day, others not even one.

On any given day, I might draw a Punning Walrus, I might compose a song, I might write poetry, a novel, a blog post, or I might code something.

I have developed a creative lifestyle. Meaning, I’ve reached a point where I don’t have to impose on myself creative tasks (“just because” [a guru/course/online guide says so]); they come naturally as a part of who I am.

This is why it’s also important to focus on creative habits from a more holistic perspective. Some days I don’t feel like writing; then I draw. Some days I don’t feel like drawing; they I play music. Inevitably, there are days when I don’t feel like doing anything. Then I read and experience, which are also integral parts of a creative lifestyle.

Isn’t a “Habit” Something Incongruent with Art?

Some repetitions are bad; others are good – and a few are essential. I mean, going to the kitchen to fill a glass of water and drink it is certainly “a habit”, but it’s critical to our wellbeing. Indeed, elderly people need this habit more than younger ones.

A habit in a creative lifestyle doesn’t mean to “write 500 words every day no matter what”. In a creative context, a habit refers to building an association between feeling something and expressing it.

When I’m angry with public idiocy, I usually draw a Punning Walrus. Here’s one I did after getting pissed (yet again) with conspiracy theorists:

But sometimes I don’t feel like it (more rarely: nobody has pissed me of that day; yet). I then do something else. But whenever I feel something, it has become a habit to express it in some way. Even if it’s just for me, just for the sake of making it.

Creative Lifestyle and Self-Compassion

I’m a vegetarian (indeed mostly vegan) for well over ten years. I don’t feel I’m missing anything; most of the Greek cuisine stuff I like are vegetarian anyway. Similarly, I’m a middle-to-long distance runner. I began running on a whim at some point a couple of years back, and it has become a habit to run something like 10-15km per week. Again, this isn’t something I need to persuade myself to do; I look forward to it every time.

Both of these habits are aspects of my lifestyle – one focusing on staying fit and healthy. They aren’t what I do; they’re part of who I am.

At the same time, I’m also kind to myself. Though I eat healthily, I will absolutely say yes to ice-cream, a piece of Greek custard pie, or pizza. If it’s raining, I might say “screw it” and stay home to drink tea rather than run.

A creative lifestyle and its habits are no different.

80% is “Good Enough”

Remember the “good enough” post? It applies here as well. The truth is, human lives are complex. We’re limited by our health, our mood, our available time, and all sorts of daily issues each of us has to grapple with. No need to fret over missing a workout or feeling lazy for a day.

This is also the reason why diets, methods, or bootcamps (including in a writing/creative context) usually end in failure. They rapidly become incompatible with daily reality, and then the person feels guilty, useless, falling victim to the dangerous “don’t be a quitter” mentality. Quitting is like trying, only easier…

Instead, a creative lifestyle precisely incorporates creativity, art, and expression in the context of daily life and routines. Most of the time you do it not because you must but because you want to. And if not, no harm done!