Episode 428 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — overthinking and how to choose what to drawIn this episode of the CMP, the choosing of what to draw shouldn’t be something that takes all of your time. But for some of us, choosing can be a time sink. It’s easy to overthink. It’s easy to keep scrolling and looking and searching for the perfect muse, the perfect photo to draw. Would it be better for you and your creative life if you could simplify the choosing?In this episode, some talk about the overthinking process and some suggestions for systems you can use to help you simplify and streamline your choosing even without planning every drawing upfront. It works for some people to have the “what to draw” provided or selected by someone else. But that doesn’t work for everyone. If you like to do your own choosing but end up bogged down by the process, there are steps you can take to create smaller pools from which to choose. These smaller pools can really help with your selection process. Having taken the time to set up these pools, you already know that everything in the pool is something you’d “like” to draw. I’ve got a few other ways to gamify the process in the podcast, too. It’s ultimately all about making the choosing part easier so that you can get on with the drawing.It was a bit ironic that I checked out and started listening to Anne Bogel’s Don’t Overthink It right before I recorded. This show wasn’t informed by that book. I had already seen the conversation about choosing a daily muse, but I will be interested to see if I hear/read anything in Bogel’s book that might influence my overthinking (for the better) when it comes to selecting what I draw each night. I typically know that I will only draw one thing in my day, and I want it to count. I want it to have personal meaning. I want to reach the end and be satisfied and fulfilled by having spent time drawing (rather than doing something else). What I don’t want to do is finish and feel like I have wasted the time.If you haven’t read Anne’s book, you might want to check it out if you, too, are prone to overthinking. I only heard a bit of the beginning, but I definitely heard my own tendency to overthink and get locked in a cycle of overthinking about even small decisions reflected in her words. #IllustrateYourWeek in November and DecemberI will be doing #illustrateyour week in November and December and posting prompts and nudges at Instagram. Find all of the details in the Creativity Matters Podcast post linked below. You can tune in to podcast episodes from September 2020 for lots of illustrated journaling talk (and lots of other links).  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Creativity Matters Podcast (@creativitymatterspodcast) on Oct 26, 2020 at Mentioned in this Episode (or Related)Episode 367: Illustrated Journal#illustrateyourweekEpisode 352: Draw Your DayEpisode 325: Beautiful, Ordinary LifeAnne Bogel’s Don’t Overthink ItDraw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal (by Samantha Dion Baker)50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life: Practical Lessons in Pencil and Paper (FLOW)Sketch Your Stuff: 200 Things to Draw and How to Draw Them (by Jon Stich)Everyday Matters (by Danny Gregory)Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are (by Danny Gregory)The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are (by Danny Gregory)Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor (by Lynda Barry)Making Comics (by Lynda Barry)Sketchnote Handbook: the illustrated guide to visual note taking (by Mike Rohde)How to Sketchnote: A Step-by-Step Manual for Teachers and Students (by Sylvia Duckworth) ToolsNotes on large format sketchbooksUni-Gel Alpha Shaker pencil (mine is listed as “slightly firm” – but it’s super cushy; they do come in other softness/hardness ratings. I really do love this shaker!)Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Large, White (these things disappear like socks; you can never have too many white erasers lying around)Moleskine Art Sketchbook (what I’m using for regular drawing)Moleskine Art Sketchbook — the REALLY big one —  A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″)Sktchy app for inspiration photosZebra Fudes (good for filling in)Pentel FudesMicron 08 (larger nib good for thicker lines or filling in small-medium spaces)Micron 01 (favorite for drawing)Micron Sampler (6 count)Show Information:Patreon page – support the CMP and get access to some special thingsBuy me a Coffee with Ko-FiStart your shopping at Amazon hereAmazon wishlistCreativity Matters at YouTube (please follow!)Creativity Matters Group at Facebookoamyoamy at InstagramTry Creative Bug with the Living a More Creative Life: 30 Ways in 30 Days classTry TrelloGuitar music: Nicholai Heidlas on SoundCloudListen in your podcast app or via the YouTube video: