How Do I Stay Motivated?
Technically a trick question because I personally don’t think it’s possible to stay motivated at all times for anything, much less practicing a new (or not-so-new) skill. Life gets busy, energy runs low, and the couch + your phone always seem to be calling your name.
But here’s a little something I’ve learned over the years: It’s not about motivation. It’s about discipline.
Motivation vs. Discipline
Motivation is fleeting—it shows up when it wants and disappears just as fast.
Discipline, on the other hand, is something you build over time. And when it comes to getting better at lettering, discipline is what makes the difference.
And with discipline comes consistency!
Here are some things I’ve done to develop my discipline when it comes to lettering practice.
Create a Practice Schedule That Works for You
You don’t have to spend hours every day practicing (unless you want to!). What matters is staying consistent.
Maybe that’s 10 minutes a day, or an hour every other day, or 15 minutes during lunch break
Whatever it is—schedule it and stick to it! Put it on your calendar like an appointment with yourself. Even on days when you don’t feel like it, just show up and do something for 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc. Something is better than nothing.
Fun Tip: Try Habit Stacking to Stay on Track
If you’ve read Atomic Habits by James Clear, you probably already know the habit stacking trick. (Disclaimer:I really only read the first few chapter, so I may have missed further details)
Tie your lettering time to something you already do every day.
For example, I drink coffee every morning. So I could say, “Every time I drink coffee, I’ll do a 5-minute lettering sketch.” Habit stacked. No forgetting. No overthinking.
Think of something in your own routine you can pair your practice with!
Have a Pre-Made Word (or Quote) List
One of the biggest momentum killers is sitting down to practice and thinking: “What should I letter today?”
To avoid that, make yourself a practice list of words, quotes, lyrics, whatever. That way, when it’s time to practice, you already know what to do.
When I first started practicing, I followed the sassy and classy lettering challenge on IG and followed the prompt list daily. It definitely lessened the decision paralysis!
And sometimes you won’t want to do that day’s word. But if you still do it? That’s discipline. That’s what builds skill over time.
And look, I’ve made a word prompt list for you. featuring some funny words to get you started. Now you have no excuse! Click here to download! Print it out, or save it to your phone so you have it handy for your practice.
Break It Down—You Don’t Have to Finish a Whole Quote
Your practice doesn’t need to be a complete masterpiece every time. Break it into smaller pieces:
Day 1: Sketch thumbnails
Day 2: Pick your favorite and refine
Day 3: Ink & add doodles
Day 4: Repeat
Or break it down even more! One thumbnail a day? One letter a day? Work with what you’ve got time and energy for. The important part is that you show up.
Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect
Repeat after me: It’s practice. It’s not supposed to be perfect.
You are learning. That means mistakes, messes, and weird layouts are part of the process.
After each practice session, take a second to review: What do I like? What could be better? What is something I can do on my next practice to improve?
Remember, being critical of your own art is good but don’t talk down to yourself. If it’s not how you would talk to others, then it really shouldn’t be how you talk to yourself!
Accountability Helps!
In the beginning, I used Instagram as my accountability buddy. I made myself post something every day, even if it wasn’t perfect.
That might not work for you (and that’s okay!). But having someone to check in with helps so much. Maybe it’s a friend who’s also working on a creative habit. Or maybe it’s a Discord group (plugging my server, The Letterverse). Or a private chat with a fellow lettering pal.
Whatever helps you stay on track—do it!
Final Thoughts
Motivation is great when it shows up, but don’t depend on it. Instead, create a system that makes practice part of your routine.
Show up even when you don’t feel like it
Make it easy to start (prepped word list, short sessions)
Track your progress, not perfection
Let accountability keep you honest
And most of all? Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time. You won’t see improvement overnight, and that’s perfectly okay. The more you stick with it, the more progress you’ll make, even if it’s slow and doesn’t look how you imagined right away.
Lettering, like any creative skill, is a long game. Trust the process and give yourself grace.
Do you have a tip for staying consistent with your practice? I’d love to hear it! Drop it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @nolalettering and share how you stay disciplined.