#3 Make Space for Your Creative Goals: How to Stay Focused and Override Distractions

Intro: Episode 3 of The Jeweler’s View podcast is all about making space—for your creativity, your momentum, and the focused energy that brings your best ideas to life. If you’re constantly pulled in a dozen directions (laundry, kids, pinging phones), you’re not alone. This article dives into real strategies to protect your focus and prioritize your goals—plus the mindset shifts that make it easier to keep showing up.

Distractions Are Real—And You’re Not Alone

When I moved my studio into my home during COVID, I suddenly found myself sharing a wall with laundry baskets, hungry teenagers, and an endless list of to-dos. The challenges were real—and constant. I was trying to build something meaningful while staring down a pile of dishes and dodging a laser pointer from my 14-year-old.

This wasn’t just about physical space. It was about mental space. How do we make room for our creative work in the middle of a life that won’t slow down?

The Flow State is Sacred (and Fragile)

There’s a zone we all know—the flow state. That sweet spot where you lose track of time and get lost in the act of creating. But studies show it can take up to 20 minutes to fully enter that state—and a single ping or knock can snap you out in seconds.

And here’s the kicker: about 50% of distractions are internal. That means it’s not always your phone or your kids—it’s your own brain pulling you out. “Let me just check this email…” “I should research that one thing…” Sound familiar?

Real Tools to Stay Focused

Here are a few strategies that work (and I still use them myself):

• Designate a Happy Place. Whether it’s a spare room or a kitchen table, make it feel like yours. That mental cue matters.

• Reset Your Space Daily. Five minutes at the end of the day to sweep, tidy, or organize can make the next work session smoother.

• Create a Transition Ritual. Light a candle, ring a chime, put on a specific playlist—signal to your brain: “We’re entering creative mode now.”

• Use the Pomodoro Technique. Work for 25–50 minutes, take a short break. Rinse and repeat. This structure can dramatically increase focus.

• Break Big Tasks into Small Steps. One task at a time. That’s how you build momentum.

Megan’s Pomodoro Lesson

At my former school, one of our team members, Megan, taught me a powerful lesson. I noticed she kept checking her phone during work hours—but when we talked, she explained she was following the Pomodoro technique. She worked intensely for 45 minutes, then took a short break. And the results? She was getting more done than ever.

Her reminder: it's not just about working more, it's about working smarter.

You Deserve Protected Time

Your creative work deserves your attention—not your leftover energy. Try tracking your natural productivity rhythms. When do you feel most alert? That’s when you should be making, sketching, or doing your most important creative work.

Don’t wait for life to clear out. It won’t. You have to make space.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

Consistency doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It means showing up in small, repeatable ways. One hour a day. Two hours on the weekend. Whatever you can do—do that, and keep doing it.

Your creative voice is waiting on the other side of all those distractions.

Listen to the full episode: 🎧 Episode 3 – "Make Space for Your Creative Goals: How to Stay Focused and Override Distractions" Listen on Buzzsprout

Want more episodes + resources?Visit: www.CourtneyGrayArts.com

Tags: creative focus, distractions, jewelry business mindset, pomodoro technique, creative time management, artist productivity, studio routine, consistent practice, time blocking, makers mindset

put