The Art of Getting Things Done (and Still Having Time for Play
- JP de la Rama
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Balancing Creative Chaos, Fatherhood, and the War Against Burnout
“Productivity pays the bills—but joy keeps the art alive.”
Setting the Stage
Another week, another avalanche of tasks.
Not long ago, I was ranting about not getting enough work.
Now? The projects keep coming in like an overbooked train.
It’s ironic how fast things shift: one moment you’re desperate for gigs, the next you’re drowning in deadlines.
I should be grateful—and I am.
Especially in an era when artists are being replaced by Artificial Intelligence models and laid off by corporate greed, having steady work is a privilege.
But that privilege comes with a cost: creative burnout if you don’t learn how to breathe.
Thankfully, my five-year-old daughter has become my built-in reminder to stop and play.
She has this way of pulling me back into the present, away from emails and deadlines, and back into building toy castles or inventing dance routines.
It’s funny how kids can save your mental health without even knowing it.
The Problem Behind the Chaos
The problem isn’t just having too much work.
It’s how we respond when work begins to eat our lives.
As artists, we’re wired to push through exhaustion.
There’s a cultural pressure to always be “on”—to crank out more panels, more frames, more deliverables.
If you slow down, you fear becoming irrelevant, especially when AI can spit out hundreds of “artworks” in seconds.
But here’s the truth:
Productivity without boundaries is a trap.
I’ve seen brilliant creatives crash because they never paused.
Their passion became a machine—and the joy disappeared.
And once joy disappears, art becomes just another cold transaction.
I realized I was heading there too… until I started to break my days into structured, intentional chunks.
Finding Balance Through the ‘Get Shit Done’ Ethic
Here’s the system that saved my sanity—and my creativity:
Morning Admin Sprint: I tackle all the non-creative stuff first. Emails, inquiries, follow-ups, and client calls. The stuff that clutters my brain. Once it’s out of the way, I can focus on actual art.
Movement + Play Break: I do a bit of exercise—and then hang out with my daughter. This reset fuels my next work block with fresh energy and clear focus.
Peak Creative Zone: At my most productive time of day, I go all in. This is when I do the hand-drawn animation, intricate comic panels, or frame-by-frame edits.
Evening Cooldown: I wrap the day by reviewing what’s done, what’s next, and most importantly—logging off to recharge.
It’s not some rocket science productivity system. It’s simply discipline + joy.
And that combo has helped me protect both my livelihood and my love for the craft.
Because at the end of the day, if I don’t get things done, I don’t get paid.
But if I don’t make space for joy, getting paid won’t mean anything.
Artist Tip
Structure your chaos.
Carve out time blocks for admin, play, and peak creativity.
Protect your energy like it’s part of your creative toolkit—because it is.
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