123ArtAppetit

I love sketchbooks. I love the idea of them. I love shopping for them. I love the way they look—empty, full of potential, like a tiny museum of all the things I could create.

But here’s the truth: I’ve abandoned so many of them.

Even as someone professionally trained in art, even as an art teacher who encourages students to create fearlessly, I’ve struggled to maintain a sketchbook for myself. Life takes over. I focus on what’s right in front of me—my job, my students, my friends and family—and somewhere along the way, I stopped making time for me as an artist.

Reflecting on my journey, I realized something that honestly stings a bit: since becoming a teacher, I haven’t been making art for myself. It’s like reality crept in and erased the part of me that used to draw just because. I miss that person.

So I’m picking up a sketchbook again—with no pressure to make it pretty or perfect—and I’m challenging myself to fill it, to rediscover what I love, and to reconnect with my creative identity.

If any of this sounds like you, I hope this post helps. I’m sharing why sketchbooks matter, what gets in the way, and real strategies (from personal experience and a little research) to help you finally stick with one.

Why Sketchbooks Matter (Even If You’re “Out of Practice”)

Sketchbooks are more than just places to draw. They’re containers for our inner world. For artists, creatives, and visual thinkers, they’re:

• A safe space to be messy, raw, and real
• A tool for self-discovery—where you can process thoughts visually
• A record of growth, showing where you started and how far you’ve come
• A habit that nourishes creativity, even if you only have 10 minutes a day
• A judgment-free zone, especially if you keep it private

It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. It can be a random sketch of your coffee mug, a scribbled idea for a future project, or a visual journal entry reflecting how you feel that day.

There’s no “wrong” way to use a sketchbook. The only mistake is believing you’re not “good enough” to keep one.

Roadblocks: Why Keeping a Sketchbook Feels So Hard Sometimes

Let’s be real. It’s hard to maintain a sketchbook, even when you love art.

Here are some honest roadblocks I—and many others—have faced:

1. Perfectionism

“I don’t want to ruin the first page.”
“I can’t start until I have a good idea.”
“I don’t want to mess it up.”

Sound familiar? This mindset is so common, especially for trained artists. We feel pressure to make every page worthy of sharing. But sketchbooks aren’t meant to be perfect portfolios. They’re meant to be imperfect reflections of the process.

2. Time + Priorities

Between work, responsibilities, and general life chaos, making time for personal art can feel impossible. I find myself pouring all my energy into others—students, family, friends—and leaving nothing for myself.

3. Burnout or Creative Exhaustion

This one hits especially hard when you’ve been in survival mode. Maybe you haven’t created in months or years, and now the idea of “getting back into it” feels overwhelming. Like your hand doesn’t move the way it used to. Like you’re winded before you even start.

4. Too Many Unfinished Sketchbooks

Raise your hand if you’ve got five half-used sketchbooks lying around. There’s guilt tied to that. It can feel like failing before you’ve even started the next one.

So… How Do We Get Past That?

Here’s what I’ve found helpful. These strategies are a mix of personal experience, advice from other creatives, and gentle reminders I’m writing for myself too.

Strategy 1: Draw for Your Eyes Only

Let go of the pressure to perform. Start drawing again—but don’t show anyone. Not yet.

Draw something small. If it sucks, rip the page out. Burn it, even. Or leave it, and on the next page, write what you didn’t like about it. If it’s good? Keep it. Maybe even share it on social media if you’re feeling brave.

Write about what you liked. What surprised you. What you want to explore more of. It’s okay if your first response is “I don’t know.” That’s part of the discovery.

This process builds awareness—and eventually, confidence.

Strategy 2: Make Art Visible + Accessible

Leave your sketchbook (and some basic materials) out where you can see them. The goal is to reduce friction. If it’s on your desk when you walk in the door, you’re more likely to pick it up.

Even 10–30 minutes a day can make a difference. Your hand will get steadier. Your brain will slowly shift from “Ugh, I’m so out of practice” to “Hey, this feels kinda good.”

Also? Keep a smaller notebook or scrap pad with you. Doodling is less intimidating than “sketching.” Doodles lead to drawings. Drawings lead to ideas.

Strategy 3: Use Down Time Differently

This one’s simple: bring a sketchbook with you everywhere.

Waiting at a coffee shop? Commuting on a train? Watching TV? Instead of scrolling through your phone (no shame—we all do it), sketch something. Anything.

What’s in front of you? What does your coffee cup look like at that weird angle? What shape are the shadows on the floor?

I’ve found that the less pressure I put on these little moments, the more they build creative momentum over time.

Strategy 4: Start With Words, Not Images

Not all sketchbook entries need to start with a drawing. Some days I don’t feel like drawing. So I just write.

• What’s on my mind today?
• What am I noticing around me?
• What’s something I want to try drawing soon?

Journaling in your sketchbook—yes, even in full sentences—is valid. Sometimes that reflective writing leads to doodles. Sometimes it doesn’t. Both are okay.

Strategy 5: Participate in Art Challenges (But Gently!)

Monthly challenges like Inktober, Sketchuary, or One Week 100 People can be great motivators, but here’s the trick: don’t aim for perfection or completion—aim for participation.

Use prompts loosely. Miss a day? That’s fine. Come back the next day. These challenges work best when they give you structure without guilt.

Strategy 6: Track Your Progress, Not Your Output

Set a mini goal like:

• “Draw something—anything—for 10 minutes, three times this week.”
• “Fill one page a day, even if it’s just lines.”
• “Use a different material every weekend.”

Keep it low-pressure and attainable. The goal is consistency, not quantity or quality.

Strategy 7: Celebrate the Small Wins

Finished one sketchbook page? That’s amazing.
Revisited your sketchbook after two weeks off? Still a win.
Wrote a list of things you want to draw someday? That counts too.

Celebrating these moments helps rebuild your creative identity—without waiting until you’ve finished an entire book.

Final Thoughts: It’s Okay to Start Again (and Again!)

I’m not going to pretend I’ve got it all figured out. I’m still figuring it out with you. But I do know this: your creativity is still there. Even if it’s been quiet. Even if you feel rusty. Even if it’s been years.

You haven’t lost your spark. You’ve just been busy surviving.

So let’s pick up a sketchbook—not to impress anyone, not to build a portfolio, but to reconnect with ourselves. Let’s document the small stuff. Let’s draw our way back to our creative identities.

Let’s make it a habit again.

Are you trying to get back into your sketchbook too?
Let’s keep each other accountable. Drop a comment, DM me your favorite sketchbook hack, or tag me if you post a page.

We don’t have to do this alone. ✍️💛