Why you need to take yourself on a date

I first came across the idea of taking my artist on a date while reading Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way.

Perhaps you’ve read it too, but forgotten about this idea.

I remember it clearly. I was sitting in the Green Point Gardens in Cape Town, looking out towards Signal Hill. The idea felt wonderfully refreshing: doing something for myself, not out of obligation, but because it would nourish my creative being.

I began doing things with this intention. Sometimes I didn’t even realise it until afterwards — oh, that was an artist date. It didn’t need to be grand or elaborate. It was about being present, playful, curious.

What does it mean to take your artist on a date?

It means giving yourself time and space to do something that fills your soul and feeds your creative spirit.

I started doing this while I was still running my occupational therapy practice full-time. On certain days, I’d block out time — protected time — for something that I loved. My admin assistant knew I wasn’t available. That time wasn’t for catching up on emails or meeting deadlines. It was for me. For fun. For joy.

And here’s how I knew it was working its magic:

• I felt refreshed, like I could breathe again.

• I stopped feeling like I was missing something or falling behind. In that moment, being here felt like the most important thing.

• My body relaxed.

• New, inspiring ideas started to bubble up.

• I felt reconnected with myself and what really matters.

Can you recall a moment when you felt like that?

Why does this matter?

As creatives, we need to nourish the well from which our ideas and energy flow.

This isn’t a luxury. It’s not something you squeeze in once a year, if you’ve earned it. It’s an essential part of sustaining your creative life, as important as brushing your teeth or going for a walk.

And when you don’t make space for this?

• You start questioning whether any of it is worth it.

• You feel like you’ve lost your mojo.

• You feel tired. Sluggish. Flat.

• You envy people who seem more inspired or energised than you.

• You start building quiet resentment towards your work, others, even yourself.

Your version of an artist date will depend on your needs, your resources, and your reality. It doesn’t have to cost anything or take more than an hour or two.

Here are a few ideas that are low-cost or free and doable within a short timeframe:

• Sit under a tree in your local park and just be.

• Go to your favourite coffee shop, sketchbook in hand, and draw the people around you.

• Visit a nearby art gallery with a friend, then go for a coffee and chat about what stood out to you.

• Take a walk in nature while listening to a podcast you love.

• Browse the art books in your local bookshop for 30 minutes, just for the joy of it.

The key is to be intentional.

• Let someone know you won’t be available.

• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb.

• Honour the time you blocked out. Part of the magic is in showing yourself that you can trust yourself to follow through.

• And most importantly: do it again. And again. And again.

This isn’t a reward. It’s a form of nourishment. A way of staying connected to what lights you up.

So if you’ve been wondering why life feels like a rat race, even though you chose a creative path, maybe it’s time to take your artist on a date?

Trust me, you won’t regret it.