Creator or Consumer?

How do you manage screen time for yourself?

Screen time is an interesting thing if you are an artist that has no time to create art. The very fact that you have screen time is proof that you do have time to create. You just have to decide if you are a creator or a consumer. You don’t have to always stick to one or the other, but every time I’m looking at a screen now, I ask myself could I be creating. 

Sometimes you need screen time for inspiration, sometimes you need it for time out. But I always come back to the fact that screen time is my free time to do what I want, and do I want to be spending my free time creating or consuming?

Creating always makes me feel great, helps me find clarity and gives me a sense of purpose. Whereas consuming at best entertains, sometimes educates, but it always burns up time. And as a parent artist that runs a cafe/gallery I’ve never been so conscious of the precious little time I have. 

I consume podcasts while driving the car. I watch YouTube videos while washing the dishes. I read blogs while on the toilet… sorry. All my other screen time is creation time. 

I make art, create podcasts, videos and write blogs all from my phone or iPad in little snippets of my workday. Recording my podcast while setting up the cafe. Illustrating my kids book between pouring morning coffees at the cafe. I write blog posts while taking a lunch break. This is generally how I spend my screen time and I endeavour to make it as productive as I can.