How do you keep from getting tired?!

kyupol 2017-02-17 15:33:00 UTC #24

discipline yourself. even if it means an half an hour spent doing comics everyday you'd be surprised how much you accomplish. Im married... no kids yet but my wife needs a lot of attention cuz she has a physical disability.

Yet I manage to update twice a week. if work really gets busy and my buffer zone is almost gone, I go on a month hiatus if ever.

conbon100101 2017-02-17 16:23:08 UTC #25

I think I would cry if I only worked for 30 minutes haha. I typically work for hours at a time when I have the time. (which is basically every night and/or lunch break) However, there are times when I am just stupid tired and can't find the will (or non-blurred vision) enough to work well.) I just feel like I need to figure out something to energize me. Like, I've tried the whole "eat healthy, drink coffee, workout" and that helps but I just need to figure out some trick to snapping out of the "zoned out" moments haha.

@Onestroke It seriously is.

idontevenkn01 2017-02-17 17:32:43 UTC #26

I'm usually horrible at this lmao but most people would advise:

-Drinking a cup of water
-Splashing cold water on your face
-Taking a cold shower
-Lots of Caffeine (which never works for me, it actually makes me sleepier)

Other than that, I'm not sure what else besides planning for a better sleep schedule. I understand how impossible that is a lot of times with work, however

dojo 2017-02-17 20:54:37 UTC #27

You have a family, and a job, so expecting yourself to be able to juggle that on top of ALSO producing pages every night is expecting more out of yourself than you probably should be.

I don't recommend pushing yourself to work even harder because even if it works for a little while, it can be very taxing on your physical and mental health further down the road. What @AnnaLandin said about it being very unhealthy and actively bad for you I can't agree with enough. Not having a proper sleep schedule is a lot more serious than people really talk about and is not something anyone should intentionally try and do. This is not one of those "Oh you'll just feel really tired during the day" type things, this is one of those "it can completely change who you are and how you perceive life" type things. I have watched people go from very positive people who loved going places and experiencing life to completely depressed and afraid of leaving the house, because they quit sleeping properly. Sure, there were other things going on, but it becomes a LOT harder to deal with those things if you're not sleeping properly.

So yeah my advice is, if you're tired, sleep. Don't worry about trying to finish a piece a day cuz that's a lot to ask of yourself.

kyupol 2017-02-18 15:25:45 UTC #28

It's all in the mind, friend...

You gotta find the spiritual motivation to work... Otherwise it all falls apart.

As to what spirit to tap into... It's all up to you...

Tentakustar 2017-02-19 04:47:56 UTC #29

I get tired. And I don't think there's a way around that. what keeps me up is anxiety. The Anxiety of not being on time for an update. I have this fear of if I can't keep up with my comic then I might have to cancel them. which is not an option for me since I care for them so much! it's because of that anxiety that keeps me going even when im tired. it's not very healthy. but I am happy at the end.

tiredfishcomi 2017-03-12 07:52:49 UTC #30

The number one thing I do to keep from being tired is avoid having kids.

Wait... I have now two young kids... D'oh! I had one rule and I screwed up.

Shanny8 2017-03-12 13:58:39 UTC #31

SLEEP. LOTS of it, when I can.

conbon100101 2017-03-13 15:33:01 UTC #32

baaahahahahaha. omg this comment. it's so true.
wait. I shouldn't find this that funny. I have one too...

isabelleArne 2017-03-13 16:00:52 UTC #33

I work full time from home, I spend around 12hours a day at my desk sometimes more and staying in good health, motivated and brain clear is an everyday must ! it took time but here is my routine
- 8h15 am : wake up stretches/light gym moves that are made to enforce my back/arms/wrists ( because I get carpial canal problems and shoulder problems so I need to have muscles there in order to not hurt )
- 8h45: big Breakfast, and I take my time, eat all I want(cofee+sandwich+cheese), read science magazines ( cuz I love science ) and just relax
- 9h15: I finally open my phone and my computer and start reading mails and messages ( I noticed that my day is better if I don't check my phone before being fully awake and happy )
- 9h45 : I go wash up and dress up ( yeah late I know but my body really takes a long time to fully wake up )
- 10 am : I start working, I am an independant illustrator so I draw all day. I always have a bottle of water next to me ( Hydration with simple plain water is the best possible way, I don't like sugared drinks, but teas are awesome too in winter )
- 12 am : I go to lunch, no snacks, cooked food, I like to cook, the body needs everything to be healthy, I don't eat anything special, but food is also part of how your body will be so don't skip meals ! It's also good for your brain, I mean how nice is it to eat a good warm meal right ?
- 1 pm : if it's a beautiful day I'll go biking for a while and if it's bad, I'll either nap or lately I've been into jumping rope ( also good for shoulders )
- 2pm : Back in office and working, I take some breaks, like once or twice but when I'm into my work I just work all day without a stop.
-7.30pm : Diner ( I don't eat much for diner cuz I tend to be fat and as I don't move a lot all day I need to be careful here )
- 8pm I usually work a bit more here sometimes not but I often do these days because after 8 is my " personal projects time " meaning = my comic even if sometimes I start working on it around 6pm if I'm bored of my client work.
- at 10pm max I stop working, then shower, bed and either games or k dramas or us series or a movie, just relax time.
- I try to be asleep before midnight or around midnight if I sleep after I'm very tired for the next the day ( but drama tends to ruin this fine rule for me )

This is for the weekdays, on weekends I just enjoy myself like taking a morning in bed, going out a bit , enjoying people's company ( cuz working from home is lonely ) and visiting places too if the weither is nice. Not staying home at least, the brain needs air ! Even if sometimes I do work a bit on saturdays and sunday's afternoons...

It took me around 3 years to understand what my body needed to work as much as I wanted and not feel like dying of tiredness ! This works for me and may seem very strict but it's perfect for me. Also I have no kids/boyfriend so I'm kinda free on this ...

Herofeeder 2017-03-13 17:20:23 UTC #34

sleep..that does it for me

conbon100101 2017-03-13 18:26:51 UTC #35

But I don't know how to draw while sleeping I should figure that out haha.

Herofeeder 2017-03-13 20:14:16 UTC #36

that feeling you get where your head feels light and tired is the lack of sleep..going to bed at 12 o clock or even later..your biological clock is messed up . start corecting your sleeping routine and you will never feel tired again

conbon100101 2017-03-13 22:54:49 UTC #37

I've found that I am most awake at night, but I have a "typical" 9-5 type job. So I feel like I struggle against my natural clock. When I was working midnights, I had no issues sleeping or waking up.

MST3KFan 2017-03-14 08:16:55 UTC #38

I juggle work, college classes, and trying to keep a comic going...yeah, I have no idea how I keep from getting tired... Motivation to see my characters develop and stuff over time maybe? I dunno.

vitamindy 2017-03-14 08:47:53 UTC #39

I don't think anything can really prevent you from getting tired. I juggle work, my comic, keeping fit, and taking care of five cats (one of which is still a kitten that needs to be bottle fed). I am tired all the time. What I do find helpful though, is building routines and being realistic about your goals, and also forgiving yourself in case you slip up. I try to work on my comic in the mornings before my regular job, and after work if I still have energy. Realistically though, I end up really tired after work and sleep instead. I then try to do bulk of the work on weekends.

I think the most important thing is to try to keep healthy with exercise, healthy food and regular sleep. At the end of the day, staying sane is more important than keeping a regular update schedule.

Herofeeder 2017-03-14 10:25:26 UTC #40

get almonds nuts prunes and all of these small snacks..mix them up and they a full fist of them each time before you start drawing. its like a steroid for energy .i do it all the time before working out

isabelleArne 2017-03-14 10:53:52 UTC #41

yes almond and nuts are real good energy ! I used to take some during hard winters and periods of really tough schedule also dried fruits ( but that may be because it's just delicious )

conbon100101 2017-03-14 14:29:14 UTC #42

I use to have that aaaaallll the time. I love those...but then I developed a severe nut allergy. I swear its a big reason my energy took a dump. All my "healthy energy snacks" were suddenly death.

Herofeeder 2017-03-14 15:26:29 UTC #43

could be lack of iron in your blood..i eat meat once every 3 weeks ..give or take..i dilsike meat but i feel the lack of energy without the iron ..so you could lack iron in your diet too