Use This Mindset Shift to Consume Less and Create More

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Complaining about not getting enough done was a constant issue for me. The funny thing was, I was complaining while watching TV shows or scrolling through my phone.

With so much content to read and watch, it was difficult to say no. I made it a habit to complain about distractions in the world getting in the way of my productivity until I realized it’s my choice to turn off screens and decide how much time I spend on them.

Most importantly, I have the power to change my mindset. I am in control.

It’s perfectly acceptable not to keep up with all the new shows and latest controversial articles or news on social media. I made a conscious effort to limit how much I consume to have more time to create, and it was life-changing.

Maybe you think this is too hard for you. I think, once you realize how gratifying it is to get more of your creative work done, you will forget about most of those binge-worthy shows.

Let’s be clear, though, I was not addicted to TV or social media, but when I noticed I was spending two to three hours a day watching something, anything, just to have it on, I had to make a change.

Drastically limiting screen time

During weekdays, I cut out TV shows and pair down cell phone checking to spend more time reading. Books on writing, philosophy, business, comic books, and graphic novels are my favorites — a mix of entertainment and education.

My goal is to keep phone checking time to under an hour. I need to go in and promote my work on social media, but I only scroll for a few minutes and behave like the longer I stay there, the hotter it gets. I gotta get off before I get burned!

If I watch anything during the week, it’s a YouTube video or interview with someone giving advice on how they succeeded. Something I can listen to while drawing my comic strips or writing articles.

I take in content that will educate and inspire me to make more and stay motivated. The course I’m taking by Ayodeji Awosika on writing for Medium is perfect for listening to while creating.

There are lessons I view multiple times, so the information sticks. I believe taking in content that feeds your heart and mind is the best use of weekday time.

On the weekends, I’ll watch TV shows, but I limit them to series that are my favorites. Ones I can’t wait to see.

I no longer turn the TV on and leave it on to have something in the background to half-watch. Everything I consume is intentional. Two hours at the most. When the shows I wanted to see are done, I turn the boob tube off, back to the quiet.

I have more time to think, and calm helps improve my mood and outlook on life.

I feel happier

Making the decision to consume less TV and social media has brought more joy into my life. Without constantly “watching,” I’m spending more time “being” and paying attention to what I truly value in life: my family, writing, drawing, and good food.

The extra hours are now for writing articles or drawing new comic pages to learn and grow as an artist. I replaced screens with creative time.

I know that TV programs are fun to watch and can bring joy, but too much ends up making me feel jealous or depressed about not having enough money or material possessions in my own life. Cutting back on watching content needlessly gives me more peace. I don’t miss it.

All it took was making a decision to take in less and create more

The fact that you’re reading this is a testament to that choice. No more talking about getting creative work done. Now, I’m doing it consistently and reaping the benefits.

Spending more time creating work I love brings joy and a sense of fulfillment no screen can provide.

(True Story) Why I Quit FC&S Comics, Then Came Back

It’s been one year since Little Fried Chicken and Sushi returned to regular updates after a year hiatus.  Here are some of my thoughts on why I stopped and started again, and ideas for how you can move forward with new creative projects when you lose passion for your work.

Letting go can lead you to what you need

I’ll never forget, feeling so burned out two years ago from work and life that even drawing comics didn’t make me smile.  In my mind at the time, ending Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comics was the only way to rest and heal.

And why keep it going? No new readers were discovering the strip.  I had a decent amount of support on Patreon -even though it didn’t feel like enough to me.  So, I ended Fried Chicken and Sushi completely. Finally! I would have time to rest and take things slower.

Not true. I started drawing for fun in my sketchbook more, and sharing those sketches on Instagram regularly, eventually feeling the drive to grow as an illustrator.  

But that didn’t make me happy.  Single images are fun, but I always yearn for more of a story -a sequence of events and the visual pacing only possible within panels.  

Even though making comic strips two to three times a week is difficult, I had to face the truth.  Making comics, made me happy. I needed it in my life.

So, I started brainstorming possible concepts and characters to develop a new comic.

I got close with a strip idea entitled “The Honeybuns.”  The strip was named after a rabbit family of four, and the humor primarily revolved around their life living in Silicon Valley.  My goal was to parody the stressful and ridiculously hectic lifestyle of bay area families, but instead of humans, using busy bunnies. Here are some of the sample strips from my submission packet.

What do you think?  Should I have stuck with this concept? Are you happy I moved on? This is a small sample of my submission.  If you would like to see more let me know in the comments.

Work on a project only you can create

No syndicates were interested.  Not even GoComics, the one that syndicates FC&S online.  I received some helpful feedback but ultimately had a choice to make.  Either keep working on improving “The Honeybuns,” a more mainstream strip idea or start Little Fried Chicken and Sushi up again.

Sometimes, you just have to face the hard truth.  Working on developing a new project would take a tremendous amount of time and energy I didn’t have

I knew the world and characters of Little FC&S best, so it would be easier to just start again.  That way, I could get better with something familiar and have an easier time creating new strip ideas.

The big question for me was -why restart a comic strip that wasn’t that popular in the first place?

One answer was pretty obvious. The election of Donald Trump as president. What felt like a rise in Americans sharing their outright racist opinions in public, online, and through committing hate crimes, helped to light my motivational fire to continue drawing a positive black family in comic strip form.

I noticed there were few humor strips with people of color, let alone with both African-Americans and Japanese main characters combined. Fried Chicken and Sushi could be the voice of a new comics generation.

Or, at least, one voice from the minority perspective. A voice with the opportunity to speak to a broader audience about living overseas and being open to other cultures through the GoComics platform, where only a handful of comics with people of color are syndicated.

The other factor is authenticity.  Only I could write and draw FC&S. Gag ideas come from my experiences as a black man who lived in and visits Japan. My unique worldview in writing would set it apart combined with my individual art style.

If it comes down to it, pick a project with a subject matter you know well or have a passion for and present it in a way that brings joy.     

Work on a new project while producing your current one

Perhaps, creating new project ideas feels easier while you are writing and drawing an already established project because you’re working out your “idea muscle” every day.  Taking a long break might just slow the process down and weaken your creativity.

There are benefits to keeping that creative fire burning!

Does this mean I have a new and better comic strip idea brewing in my head?  Honestly, no, not yet. It’s fun to work on improving my gag writing and character development skills through producing Fried Chicken and Sushi comics consistently every week.

I hope you’re enjoying reading them and I look forward to your feedback.  

Arigato Gozaimasu,

Khalid

Get Fried Chicken and Sushi comics emailed to you HERE

Become a patron of the arts!  Support FC&S comics on Patreon.com/birdsong

Read, comment, and share FC&S comics on GoComics.com