How to find time to practice calligraphy or lettering? This is the million-dollar question, right? I’m here to help you with the answer and don’t worry; it won’t cost you anything. 

HOW TO FIND TIME TO PRACTICE CALLIGRAPHY?

The simple answer: You already have the time. You don’t find more time; you make the time.

If you really want to do something you’ll find a way. If you don’t you’ll find an excuse.

Think about it for a second.

You ALWAYS have time for the things that are IMPORTANT to you. 

Here is the thing: you are in control of your schedule!

Yes, no matter how busy you are or your occupation, there isn’t one thing in your life that you didn’t allow it to be there!

5 BULLETPROOF STEPS TO MAKE TIME FOR PRACTICING

1. HAVE A PURPOSE

Before you start thinking Whoa! You don’t need to get inspirational on me; I just want to find time to practice. Hear me out.

You need to know your WHY for practicing calligraphy. Having a purpose is knowing YOUR WHY.

Your purpose will change over time too. As you learn and experience new things, you’ll find out what you like and don’t like about your lettering journey. So don’t think too hard about your purpose.

My purpose has definitely changed over the years in my calligraphy journey. When I started, my purpose was to study this beautiful art so I could address my wedding envelopes. A couple of years ago, my purpose changed. I wanted to find more about lettering so I can create inspirational prints and signs to sell. Now, my mission is to show you simple and practical ways you can learn calligraphy, so you start awakening your creative side. Hence, that’s why I’m sharing everything I know through my blog.

Your first step to finding time to practice: know your purpose. Write down why you’re deciding to learn calligraphy.

2. SET A GOAL

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. – Alan Lakein.

The way you give your calligraphy practice priority is by setting a goal. Something you want to achieve with your lettering practice. Your purpose needs to be connected with your priority. Even if it’s a hobby, there has to be some level of priority. Remember, if you really want to do something, you’ll find a way.

Your goal can be as big as you want, but it has to be specific.

For example, think of something you’ll eventually like to do with your calligraphy. Then think of something you’d like to accomplish within the next 6-12 months. Doing this will help you start working on your goal RIGHT NOW.

Going back to my original purpose for learning calligraphy. I intended to learn calligraphy so that I could address my wedding envelopes. My goal was to learn calligraphy so that I could address my wedding envelopes within 8 months. That was my only focus at the moment.

Remember:

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. ~ Zig Ziglar

For this step answer these questions:

1. What’s the ONE thing I want to do with my calligraphy journey someday?

2. What is something you’d like to accomplish within the next 6-12 months (or the time frame of your choosing) so that you can get closer to your “Someday” goal?

3. USE TIME BLOCKING

Time blocking can be as simple as going to your calendar and blocking time to practice.

All you need is at least 30 minutes a day to practice. If you can exercise more, then, by all means, do it, but I recommend at least 30 minutes of your day. I know we have many hats we have to wear on a given day. There are just too many important things you NEED to do. But do you really need to do all those things? Or are you choosing to do them?

Check your daily actions. What is your daily schedule? And what can you substitute or replace with calligraphy practice?

Write a list of things from your daily schedule that you are able (and willing) to sacrifice to make space for your calligraphy practice. Once you have identified that time on your schedule, make sure you plan accordingly and block it on your calendar.

Once you have blocked your time, you have to make sure you protect it. The best way to protect your time blog is to think of it as if it can’t move, cancel, or replace it. It’s a VERY IMPORTANT appointment you have with yourself. Most times we don’t give ourselves the importance we deserve.

4. PLAN YOUR CALLIGRAPHY PRACTICE AHEAD OF TIME

If your goal is to start learning calligraphy, then start with the basics. I recommend starting with Faux Calligraphy. Get your practice worksheets and materials ready for the week. That way, when you’re on your practice time, you dive right in. Even if you don’t have the materials, you can start learning right away. I have FREE practice worksheets on my resource library to help you.

Get access to my FREE resource library by filling this form:

Whatever your goal is, make sure you plan ahead for the week. 

I like to plan my weeks on Sunday night. I write down my ONE thing to focus on for the following week, then I make sure I block my time for the next week.

5. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS UNTIL IT BECOMES A HABIT

The best way to make this happen is to hang an annual calendar not the wall then put a big red X across every day you work on your craft.

After a few days, you’ll have a chain. Keep at it, and your chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing the chain, especially when you have been at it for a few weeks. Then your job is not to break the chain.

After your 30 minutes of daily practice, you create the chain for a week. Once you have a chain going, it gets easier and easier to find time to practice. Momentum and motivation begin to take over. All you have to do is avoid breaking the chain, one day at a time until you generate a powerful new habit. I’m telling you, there is something about NOT wanting to break the chain. You will want to make everything possible, so you don’t break that string of practice!

Now that I’m into bullet journaling, I like to keep track of my daily habits on my Habit tracker. 

Make sure you don’t break that chain for the FIRST thirty days. Then keep it going as long as you can. 

On average, it takes 66 days to be exact of doing something until the habit becomes automatic. If you keep it going for long enough, then practicing calligraphy for 30 minutes will become part of your daily routine. Something that has to be done or else you’ll fill out of place. 

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another

This is how you develop a habit of practicing calligraphy or any other hobby you’d like to start.

Final Thoughts,

Take some time to work through these steps, and I can guarantee you will find time to practice. I know you don’t have much time, but there is a reason why you are here today reading this blog post. You want to know how to find time to practice something new. Make that time count and take action. Write down the answers to the questions on these steps. Here is a quick summary of them:

1. Find your purpose.
2. Set a goal and keep it where you can refer back to it often.
3. Use time blocking to schedule your practice time on your calendar. 
4. Plan your practice ahead of time.
5. Keep track of your progress

This method only works if you do the work. I shared this with you today because it has worked for me. I know it can work for you too if you take some time to go through these steps and keep making time for yourself. You can make the necessary adjustments based on your current situation. 

I plan to go into much more detail on how to find time to practice calligraphy. This is an exciting topic for me, and I want to make sure I give you as much information as possible. Please comment below with any questions you have. I’ll be happy to help you! You can also fill out this survey to let me know.

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS FOR LATER? SAVE IT TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!