How To Have More Time: 5 Journaling Prompts for Filmmakers

Can you EVER have enough time? Sort of like saying, “Have you ever put out enough fires?”

Whether you’re on set or navigating pre-production, development, or post it seems that your destiny in life is to be busy. As a filmmaker, there is always something to DO.

So how can you improve the effectiveness of the same 24 hours you’ve always had in a day?

Maybe you’ve already heard about the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, journaling, morning pages, or some combination of all the above. You might know that these practices enhance focus, reduce stress, and help you feel good. You probably have even experienced those benefits!

But when life gets busy and stressful, it’s harder to hang onto a “slow burn” habit. Meditation and mindfulness are like that – important over time, but hard to justify in the urgency of FIX THIS NOW.

As a fellow creative entrepreneur who is the official buck-stop for every project big or small, I find it helpful to have a backup plan. Much of the time, I have no trouble connecting with my inner voice and remembering my why. But SOME DAYS…

Some days are foggy and tricky and disorienting. On those days it’s good to have a starting point.

So here are five starting points that will help you maximize your time, as you remember who you are, why you’re doing this, and what makes you believe it’s possible.

1. I LOVE MOVIES BECAUSE _____

This can be a list of your favorite movies. A specific memory that prompted you to follow the filmmaker clarion call. A shared experience with your favorite person. The time you discovered your favorite film. A unique festival or cinema experience.

How much do you love movies? Start counting the ways. There are always even more than you realize, and what pops up second or third may surprise you.

2. HOW IT FEELS TO BE _____

Use all the words you can imagine to describe how you feel – right now, when you’re in the flow, how you don’t want to feel anymore, or how you imagine it would feel to complete this creative project.

Use feeling words, use colors, use weather patterns. Challenge your imagination to gather all the possible word pictures you can paint and let it be nonsense. You’re here to connect with your inner depths, and inner depths can be Sharknado sometimes.

3. MY LIFE AS A _____

Tell a story about one of your roles in life. Sibling, parent, mentor, boss, consumer, creator, helper. Could be the untold story of your peculiar growing up years or your favorite dinner party anecdote. Whatever springs to mind, tell the story for your eyes only.

Even though your story about parenting has no direct relation to your film project, you don’t stop being a parent as you go about film work. Recognizing that in your meditation can help you approach your project tasks in a more integrated fashion that honors your whole life – not just your creative work.

4. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT _____

One of the most universal feelings in life is being misunderstood. Lean into it, lean into it hard. There’s something special about your own specific take on a universal feeling, and if there’s any place to explore that, this journaling session is it. Let it be self-indulgent.

Having a place to fully vent is like a release valve for your productivity. Now you can get into it without the need to prove a single thing – your grievance has been aired. What a distraction from which to be freed!

5. WHAT WOULD MAKE TODAY FEEL SUCCESSFUL IS _____

This one is sneaky, because as you begin jotting down all the tasks cluttering up your brain, you may find that what you actually want is just beneath the surface. All it needs is a little window to poke its head out and make itself known, and once you see that… well, you’re free to go ahead and get it.

BONUS MATERIAL: IF JOURNALING IS HARD, TRY THIS

Throwback to the early days of DVDs, when you could buy one movie and wind up with hours of extra footage and commentary (and previews for other movies).

If journaling is not a habit for you, and your day just feels too full to cram one more thing in there, bear with me. Give one of these hacks a try before you give up entirely.

1. Set a timer. Whatever time you have (3 minutes, 8 minutes, 15 minutes), it’s enough.
2. Set an alarm! Remembering to meditate is half the battle.
3. Use a pre-recorded guide. Something as simple as a voice memo you made yourself, or as inspiring and deeply moving as this musical guided meditation I made for you.
4. Try listening to music. Some background noise might help create a safe bubble for your journaling.
5. Try scribbling. Just keep the pen going, fill up the space, don’t stop. Remember, nonsense is allowed.
6. If writing or typing is an obstacle, who says you can’t talk it out? Open up your voice memos and hit record.

I hope you’ll give these journaling prompts a try! Stick it out for a week and see what difference it makes for your productivity, confidence, and overall sense of satisfaction in your work.

Bon voyage.

CORTNEY MATZ is a singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, and creative coach in Los Angeles. After a 10-year career in video production, screenwriting, and post-production editing, Cortney relocated to LA to pursue music while building community, encouraging her fellow artists and filmmakers along the way.

She made you a free 15-minute musical journaling meditation, which you can hear at cortneymatz.com/meditation