How do I pick up where I left off in Drawabox after an extremely long hiatus/burnout?

12:32 AM, Wednesday January 24th 2024

I had managed to complete Lesson 1 roughly a year ago and then proceeded to start the 250 box challenge. However, I made the big mistake of not doing my 50% rule and I ended up facing the consequences of that after drawing my 129th box on the 29th of March in 2023. I suffered a major frustrating burnout from everything related to art until November when I tried to return where I left off. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to since I worried that I may have forgotten important key details learned in Lesson 1. This year, I think I've finally regained my inspiration. I'm finding myself drawing/doodling for fun again and feel I can do the 50% rule properly now, so I would like to know: What is the best way to return to Drawabox? I'm unsure if I should start Drawabox completely over or continue where I left off in the 250 box challenge and just thinking about it makes me feel overwhelmed. What should I do?

4 users agree
9:21 AM, Wednesday January 24th 2024

Do you still have the work from when you did it last time? All the boxes?

I think it would be a good oppertunity for you to compare where you are now to where you were a few months ago by redoing a little now and seeing if they look similar or better. Maybe even asking others to evaluate. If last time was retained at all, then chances are you'll perform somewhat better this time. If not, then- well, yeah, start over.

If I were you, I'd reread the lessons in Lesson 0, and then redo Lesson 1, becuase if you didn't do the 50% rule last time, I feel that you didn't really understand why it was so important AND necessary. Its really the one huge part of this entire program that makes people grow, its not optional for a reason. Its not just about your mental health, its about "playing with your skills". People who are most skilled at something, can play with those skills. Mathmaticians can make games out of equations, coders can do personal coding challenges, arcobats can parkour. Its the idea that- your skills are most mature, and most adept, when you know how to play with them. You'll not only be capble of applying skills in ways you didn't know where possible, but playfullness produces mastery far beyond what a class can teach. Playing with your skills makes you a master at them- that 50% rule isn't as simple as "keeping you mentally well" its doing half the job of teaching you.

Its incredibly important, I think, that you reread things and listen to the videos and absorb them. Don't speed through with the mindset of "I need this done"- do the tasks with a mindset that disregards time all together. If you are putting deadlines on when these skills need to be mastered, chances are, you aren't going to master them well. Mastery can't be made in haste, it has to be made slowly. I used to think drawing was something your hands would just do and that I didn't have to think through it, it would just happen. But, later I realized- the mind is doing almost all the work. Being delibrate, focused, concentrated, slow, and patient every time you sit down to draw- helps you master the skills better than anything else. If you are worried about "getting it done" - you'll be missing out on half of the training these exercises provide.

Adjust your mindset, and if you chose to do them all again, I think you'll gain from it, if nothing else, you may gain the patience to exist in the moment with what work you have in front of you, without feeling the "urgency" to escape it. Its a mindfullness technique, and it will serve you the rest of your life, even outside of drawing. Getting to that point- will help you never burn out again.

That's just my thoughts. Please feel free to do what works for you, and if another's advice is better, take it instead.

Good luck, you got this.

2 users agree
2:27 PM, Wednesday January 24th 2024

Review the lesson material in full starting from Lesson 0 to the point where you left off. Then do a week of only focusing on warmups, no new homework, then resume where you left off (assuming you still have your old boxes - if not, you'll still need to turn in 250 so you'll have to start that over).

1:42 AM, Thursday January 25th 2024

Thank you both very much for your replies! Yes, I realize now how important the 50% rule is. I knew that leaving it off again and again would eventually come back to haunt me. I won't make that same mistake again and I am learning to be more patient with myself. Also, I did keep my old boxes so I will resume where I left off when I return to the challenge if that's the best course of action.

Thanks again for your help!

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