Last week, in my blog post (Not) Coming in Dead Last, I talked about simple changes you can make to move your art or creativity higher up on your to-do list.

To get it ranked in its more appropriate spot.

You know, up there in essentials–things that nourish you and feed your soul.

You know, way higher up than its current position below “take out the garbage” or “do dishes.”

But even though you want this change, it’s not easy to make. Which feels, to say the least, ironical.

But before you beat yourself up about this apparent ironical-ness, remember that your current routine has its own structure and momentum that is constantly reinforcing itself.

Not only that, but it likes things the way they are and is invested in its own survival–expect some resistance.

But you can increase your chances of success against this resistance by gathering important information.

By learning how you spend your time, you can ease some changes into your current routine with less of a fight from the status quo.

Where Have all the Hours Gone?

Let’s face it, it’s really easy to have no idea where you day went. Or the day before that.

But if you don’t know what it is that’s gobbling up all your time, it’s hard to figure out what in your huge to-do list could be re-prioritized.

Try keeping a time diary for a week.

Nothing fancy required, a tiny notebook or scraps of paper will do.

Just track and note what you do when–and try not to give yourself a hard time about it.

The first time I started one, I was shocked by how I used my time the very morning I started tracking it.

I suddenly realized the intense degree to which I multi-tasked and just as suddenly realized all kinds of beliefs I had about how I spent my time–what I allowed, what I decided “didn’t count”, etc. It was eye-opening.

These kinds of realizations can help you understand why it may be hard to find the time to create, or to make your creativity a priority.

Secret Beliefs

You may learn that you have all kinds of secret beliefs you didn’t know you had.

Maybe creating feels so good you think it’s cheating or self-indulgent and therefore must only be done after everything else is finished. (And when does everything else ever really get finished?)

Or maybe you feel guilty when you create because you think it’s stealing time from the people who depend on you–so attending to their needs must come first, and when they are taken care of, you can find time for yourself.

Who knows?

That’s what’s interesting and useful about a time diary.

You not only become more aware of what you’re doing (or not doing), but why.

So even if you can’t quite figure out how to change the things you’ve just noticed or realized instantly, you’ll get there.

Because you can’t un-realize a realization.

That’s what’s good about them.

Sinking In

So. The first helpful part of keeping your time diary is keeping it.

The second helpful part is telling someone else about it so you can process it.

This is how new information sinks in.

So call your best friend or leave a comment here on the blog or show your spouse your notes over dinner. But discuss it.

And keep noticing, even if the changes seem slow.

I mean, you’re not trying to win a race, you’re trying to live your life differently.

Sometimes slow is good.