In my last post, I talked about balancing a writing career with a day job.

While the dream might be to live off your writing one day, that’s not always realistic—and for some, it’s not even the goal. Personally, I’ve always had this romantic notion of hopping from writing residency to residency, discovering new places and stories along the way.

But, as much as that dream lingers, I’ve also come to appreciate the stability of a day job. It keeps me grounded. When I worked minimum-wage jobs after leaving university to “make it” as a poet, I realized how much real-life interaction feeds creativity. You’d be surprised how many characters you meet when you’re just trying to pay the rent.

That said, working full-time leaves less space for writing.

Sometimes, it drains the creative well entirely. That’s why I’m such a fan of Julia Cameron’s idea of the “artist date,” from her book The Artist’s Way. It’s a practice I’ve folded into my own writing life—something that keeps me inspired, even when the words won’t come. And you don’t need to be a writer—or any kind of artist—to benefit. Think of it as self-care with a creative twist.

What is an Artist Date?

Julia describes it like this:

“An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you pre-plan and defend against interlopers. You do not take anyone on this artist date but you and your inner artist, your creative child.”

In other words, it’s about setting aside time—just for you—to explore something that sparks your curiosity. It might lead to a brilliant idea for your next project. Or it might not.

That’s not the point.

The point is to step outside your routine and refill the well that life (and work) inevitably drains.

An artist date could be as simple as wandering through a park, reading poetry in a café, or visiting a museum. Or you could try something completely new—ice skating, pottery, or learning how to make fresh pasta. The “what” matters far less than the “why”: to reconnect with joy, to see the world with fresh eyes, to remind yourself what it feels like to be curious for no reason other than curiosity itself.

Even if you don’t walk away with a new idea, you’ve still done something valuable: you’ve nurtured your inner artist. And that, in itself, is worth it.

Artist Date Ideas

Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas to get you started—but honestly, half the fun is dreaming up your own.

• Go for a walk without a destination.
• Visit the zoo and people-watch as much as animal-watch.
• Browse an art supply shop and buy something you’d never normally use.
• Wander through an exhibition, even if (especially if) you know nothing about the artist.
• Sit in a café and read a book of poetry.
• Explore your local bookshop and pick up whatever catches your eye.
• Take a pottery or life-drawing class.
• Watch a film in a language you don’t understand.
• Dig out old photo albums and sift through memories.
• Start a little garden—even if it’s just herbs on a windowsill.

I hope this post inspires you to treat yourself to an artist date.