Every morning, I try to get up early to carve out a bit of quiet time for myself before heading to work. This is my chance to sneak in some painting – even if it’s just for a few minutes. I started doing this to get a little closer to saying, “Yes, I painted today.” But over time, it’s become something more. It’s a form of meditation, a way to center myself before diving into the day. And as a nice bonus, it helps me tackle the ever-growing “shelf of shame” and reduce the gray plastic horde.

I’ll often throw on a podcast, play some music, or just enjoy the silence. But what I value most is that this time is mine. No work emails, no family obligations, no pressing social commitments. It’s uninterrupted hobby time – a luxury that can be hard to come by during the rest of the day.

Right now, I’m working on some halberdiers for Time of Legends: Joan of Arc. Taking just a few minutes with these miniatures each morning gives me a small but satisfying sense of progress, which is a pretty great way to kick off the day.