IF You Can, Just Do One Thing

[@OriginalVoiceBox]

Hey Adam, I just wanted to speak for all the young guys such as myself who are lazy AF and dont ever do anything to better themselves unless forced to, and say thanks for videos like this. Guys like me are really impressionable and having a soft-spoken father/uncle figure such as yourself making motivational bits like this really really helps get us off our ass. Not only that but you and others like you just keep us happy and not too miserable.

[@IronPsyde]

ADBacon Well said!

[@stephennorquist9442]

He's the smart, quirky uncle (extended family in general), I never had.

[@danielbyrne4531]

Getting into the hobby and had a 5 day streak going. Was having a hard time getting motivated to do anything today and then Uncle Adam counted organizing your space as hobby work and I realized that, although I have a small desk setup in the common area (I live with roommates) I'd often just clear space off of my normal computer desk to do hobby stuff in my room where I can have youtube, netflix, discord with friends, etc. so because of this video I just took the time to clear out space in my room to keep my drawers of tools and a place to set my tray of current minis. Thanks so much for the vid TM from 15 months ago!

[@danielbyrne4531]

tomorrow, cobblestone bases for day 7 hopefully

[@stevensurvant5200]

This video could not have come at a better time. I had KZbin going in the background while I was rearranging and reorganizing my painting area. Just want to give a quick shout out. All of your vids are awesome. Keep up the great work.

[@SoberZealot]

During the pandemic, I finally took the effort to get sober. Rediscovered 40k. Reaching 6 months. My crusader squad is almost done!

[@JackKowalsky]

Getting sober is a really good decision. Spending all your money on 40k so you don't have money to buy booze is also really smart.

[@mikedoggie]

Praying for you man!

[@maxbeane4944]

You got this keep going!

[@Nosmo90]

Good for you, man! =D

[@pedrovasconcelos3968]

Stay strong Bro!

[@bocatt9202]

I'm one of those people that's still busy during "the situation". But with everything going on, I think this hobby is keeping me holding on. Video games and TV aren't really fulfilling me anymore, but creating.. building... painting.. writing. These things make the apocalypse outside seem less dire. More manageable. I don't work on it every day. And my hobby space is as much a disaster zone as anywhere else. But I know I can pick up a brush, shake up some paint, wet my palette, and do something productive, something I love and enjoy. And that makes all the difference.

[@D6save]

I’m a mental health nurse, and this is exactly the sort of advice we give. Small steps, grab the low hanging fruit. Accumulating wins as you go A path to recovery

[@mrbushi1062]

I love your mannerisms and the random side tangents. Then you realize you are getting lost in the weeds and reel it back it. I love how it feels just real and honest and not entirely scripted. I love your videos. They are on their own tier.

[@DaddyGarand]

I get to be that odd "4th" type of person who works in Health Care and saw my workload increase dramatically during this pandemic, and due to the stress and lack of other outlets I got into this awesome hobby and fit it in where I can. Love your videos! Keep us sane in these crazy times!

[@TheCimbrianBull]

You are doing an important job and you deserve to kick back and relax. 👍😊

[@asafoetidajones8181]

Lol yeah. coronavirus in the nursing home

[@DiggitySlice]

I'm sorry your place is mismanaged

[@briarstingwrf7284]

I work in health care too, and like you, my workload tripled. I'm really thankful to have this hobby, and people like Uncle Atom to help me destress.

[@gimli3370]

I really like how you've found your niche in hobby motivation. I originally got into your content as I was just starting to paint to find tutorials, and now I've started showing your videos to friends who are completely uninterested in the hobby just because things like this are just good advice no matter what you may be interested in. Thank you!

[@johncleary6599]

Thanks Adam. Life has been rough lately and I've been so overwhelmed that even the thought of doing my hobby has felt exhaustive. I really needed this video. I'm going to try your advice.

[@b1ak_heart]

I just wanted to say thank you. Your videos are awesome, always get a smile, and I think many of us needed exactly this message. So thank you.

[@brianprovick2016]

I don't know how to say it except: I love you. I see it in your videos each time that you care so much for us hobbyists on the other side of the camera. I don't know if you are directly affected by anxiety or depression, or someone around you does, but you understand it so well. Your videos are wonderful, and you are such a beacon of support and encouragement for everybody in the hobby. Don't ever change, good sir. Don't ever change.

[@borjamartinchacon9453]

As someone who retook the hobby about a year ago, I'm telling you that sharing your minis online (Instagram on my case) is a great way to share your content, get motivated, find new people and minis, learn... there's a great community out there. And the goal is not to be a content creator of anything big, just to share what you love. So if you are hesitating, just give it a try!

[@Auridus]

Exactly the same for me. I wasn't getting better and I wasn't really painting my minis, but then I started posting on Instagram and following hashtags and all of a sudden, I've fallen into something of a groove. I'd highly recommend it as well.

[@elskanko1]

Couldnt agree more. returning after my last painted mini back in '96. Embracing and engaging in all the new content is great! bad for sleep though....

[@jjmeyer74]

Totally! I shared my painted minis and found out an estranged cousin runs a D&D game. We now play weekly and have established a relationship we never would have had if it wasn't for this hobby.

[@MrBizteck]

Im the opisite Ive basically working 10% of usual and finding it REALLY hard to hobby.

[@josephtyus6406]

Been painting miniatures for about two weeks now, and just finished my 4th mini. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. It has been invaluable during this journey. Looking forward to watching many more!

[@MyklCarlton]

Excellent advice Adam! As a long-term depressive I can attest to the effectiveness of distraction, baby steps, task minimising (not the army, just the boots on the next model!) and so forth. Thanks for sharing.

[@stuartmees7822]

Havnt touched a brush in over 6 months Today did all the base coats,metallics and quite a bit more on some fyreslayers I had boxed away Really enjoyed it Great advice as always 👍👍

[@DeathrowGeoffro]

10 mins a day adds up to over an hour a week. That's more than 60hours of hobby in a year. In 10 minute sections you can get an army done.

[@taylormyers91589]

Hey Uncle Atom, I just wanted to say thank you for this video, it's really helped me keep my hobby moving forward. Sometimes it's really hard for me to do anything when it comes to painting or building models, I just don't have the motivation to do anything that I should be doing. I finally found out a few months ago why that is when I got diagnosed with depression, one of the symptoms is that it eats away at your motivation to do the things you normally enjoy. Thanks to encouraging videos like this one, even on my bad days I can keep my progress going by just doing one thing. It's really made a difference for me, because even doing one thing on those bad days makes them easier to deal with. Thank you again, really.

[@endlesswaffles6504]

I've had depression and anxiety for a while, and this is one of my coping mechanisms. If I had to write an essay for school, I would think "It's ok, I just have to write my name, I just have to fill out the header, the first sentence isn't too hard, just get a few more written down, at least finish this paragraph, do the first sentence of the next one..." After a few hours of me trying to trick my brain I had an 800 word essay done.

[@nrais76]

Thank you, I needed this. Weeks kids are over it's never-ending problem-solving with miscommunication, internet disconnecting, can't get into meetings, website not recording homework times properly, Google scrambling their assignments, kid not doing their work, etc., etc. Weeks they're at their Mom's are catching up with everything I didn't have a chance to do while they were over and desperately combing through job searches for something safe because I have two seniors and two kids with pre-existing conditions here. All the time it's stress, worry, loneliness, anxiety, and occasional slides toward depression, there's never enough money, I'm worried about bills and Christmas...and there's still time to do hobbying but no way to make myself do it. A darn shame as we used to play 40k every weekend and of course we have a backlog. Seems the kids have way more homework than they ever did, too, so we've all been too tired (or still catching up with homework) by the weekends to play most of the time. I'm going to go check out that other video you linked to as well, as I've been thinking of setting up something, since I have a LOT of board games and a phone tripod. The kids wanted to put our batreps up on KZbin anyway, but there's not enough painted and I've been concerned about privacy laws, FCC regulations, the kids being on camera, etc. Now might be a good time to sift through all that.

[@ew1258]

Thankfully I'm one of the types that has loved having to stay home. I was lucky enough to be able to switch to working from home which saved me over 2 hours/day drive time alone! I LOVE being at home. I'm starting to have anxiety because I have to go back soon. Good video topic by the way

[@hivemarketminis]

Like a number of people commenting on here, I too have worked MORE than usual in a retail grocery setting throughout the whole situation. There are days when hobby time is the escape from the craziness, there are days when it's the thing I can do in lieu of socializing, and there are days where I'm just too stressed/depressed from work even if I want to make progress on whatever my current project is. I think the "scrape the mold line off of that singular bit" has been the one effective trick for getting going when feeling not so great. If I'm tired but I can juuust get sand on this one base, then I end up getting all the bases ready for the unit, and then I want to prime them so I can see how they look, at which point I should paint them etc etc etc, and BOOM enjoying the thing again. Pandemic life has, for many of us in many ways, totally sucked, but your perspective and the hobby youtube community at large have consistently helped me connect or reconnect with the joy of making cool things look cool to maybe play with someday. Thank you for that.

[@tabletopminions]

I’m glad I can try and help. Thanks for watching!

[@Kokorisu]

I just started my first ever Warhammer army a week ago. I work in Care with teenagers with severe disabilities, working 12 hour shifts in odd rotas. I'm anticipating another lockdown through which I will have to still go to work as normal, which is why I bought a basic set of paints and a box of Grots to help with isolation. Videogames were usually my escape route, but from some time now these haven't really helped me disconnect. On the other hand, I have found that concentrating on a relatively simple but engaging task like building and painting minis will return me to that feeling I had a decade ago when playing games: that feeling of "How has it been three hours already?" Hobby time is something I really look forward to now, and I do hope it persists. It's relaxing, inspiring and it gives me a proper sense of tangible achievement. I'm loving it. Even after the most challenging of shifts, when I only get two hours of free time before bed I find myself picking up my wet pallet and trying out some color on a squig.

[@teospower]

There are two types of people in the world: Sluggas and Choppas :D

[@Therockypony]

Lootas & Burnas :p

[@mrslyfox2405]

Shootas, and Choppas

[@briochepanda]

Flashgitz an' dems who iznt flashgitz.

[@lwriker1304]

Ohhh! I am so happy for time to engage in my hobby! (And home repair.)

[@Brickerbrack]

Gorkaz and Morkaz. 'Ard but kunnin', or kunnin' but 'ard.

[@scotty4899]

You're basically the motivational speaker of the miniatures and hobby community. Thank you! 👍🙂

[@Petrosthewalrus]

I have been in a very "stagnant" hobby period lately, with minimum motivation to just do it.. and then like a "miracle" an ad came up on my social media feed by a very famous sculptor who also does mini painting classes/sessions... and voila, I am about to start my weekly sessions doing what I like and also learning (which is very important for my motivation)... so, maybe not a daily thing but still something that excites me and makes me look forward to doing it...

[@thinksShallow]

I used to keep a week-to-view diary and just scribble a few words in any time I worked on minis. Opening a spread that has something on all/most days feels really good. I need to start that again. Made me better at noting down paint recipes too!

[@adamfox1669]

I enjoy the way that you impart your wisdom to us. Thank you

[@timothywelch7130]

Great Video. I’ve been tricking myself with this lately... thought I was an innovator... but it turns out - it works! And lots of folks do it. A genuine “life hack”. And a brilliant “hobby hack” too. I can personally vouch for it. Thanks Adam!

[@ster6222]

AWESOME ADVICE! Works with so many issues with life. Start small, keep it moving nice and easy, and that little snowball may turn into a HUGE ball of motivation of getting things done. 🤙🏻

[@Baatosanabe]

Thank you for the motivational speeches, Uncle Atom. They have been very helpful ever since I started watching your channel.

[@HeadHunterSix]

Since this whole thing started, my painting desk has become my work-from-home desk. For several months it kept me from getting any painting done. Then one day I decided "I'm going to put the laptop and everything away after work and put my painting station down". During the work day it sits atop a box in the corner of the den. I can't say I'm painting every day, but in one way it motivates me more because it's a conscious decision to prepare to hobby, as opposed to when it was always there and easy to overlook. Since I started doing that, I've gotten a lot of painting done (at least compared to my previous output). I finally figured out a good way to paint yellow that looks good to me and I've started an Imperial Fists army. All a series of small steps that add up.

[@colonel149th-dkok4]

Thank you Adam for the wise words! A great friend told me the other day that in order to take myself out of my painting funk to just say "I will paint for 5 minutes and then I am done". So I put a timer and began painting. Once the timer was done, I said to myself "five more minutes" and put another timer. Before I knew it, I had set 3 more timers and then stop setting them. Two hours later, I had to quit because I needed to go to bed since I worked the next day. Not only did I get over my funk of painting but I had almost completed another 10 man squad of my DKoK. Forcing and tricking myself into painting motivated me to continue going. Today I finished that squad by completing the details. I still have a few squads to go but hope to finish them by the end of October.

[@abrannan]

As my therapist says, "Slow progress is still progress, it's not 'No Progress'"

[@dgp4201]

I've been watching you for months now. I don't even hobby, I just enjoy how you present your ideas. Thank you for this Uncle Atom!

[@johnashley-smith4987]

Thanks for the video. During this " situation " I have managed to get a few projects finished and start new ones. I can't say I have felt pressure to produce more than I would normally so I am pleased with my tally of 40 models this year, thus far. The most difficult thing for me has been acquiring paints and supplies. The shops were shut and would only do online orders with curbside pickup, not a mode a I am able to operate in. Thankfully, I can physically visit some shops, and even browse now, not that I have much to spend! I plan to get as close to 100 minis done by the end of the year ,just because it's a nice round number and everybody needs a goal to shoot for! Thanks again for your positive, constructive advice.

[@smoss9813]

Doing one thing is GREAT advice for anyone, anytime things are difficult. Depression and anxiety can hit anyone, any age, anywhere - this is sound advice. Thank you

[@GingerNinjaNicko]

Thank you for this video, I really needed it. Perfect timing. Hope everyone is keeping well at the moment 😊

[@majmarkbrown7816]

Thanks man! I have found myself watching rather then doing the past 2 months and I think I need to get back to "doing" again. I think this is just the inspiration I needed.

[@larswalter3167]

Cheers, Atom. Very uplifting. Thanks a bunch.

[@clydefroglol]

From now on referring to covid as "The Big Global Hootenanny"

[@mattcappelli5822]

Really useful advice. I was sick 7 months ago and when I started feeling better, I couldn’t stand doing anything. So I took a few weeks off, and started a completely different project. Just small amounts each day. And as I got more and more excited with the progress, I regained the juice to hobby. And if there’s ever a night I just don’t want to do anything, I take the night off and go back the next day. It’s really helped me get back into the flow and enjoy the hobby again instead of feeling like it’s a chore

[@BlizzAz]

I've been doing this for years and it absolutely works. Great advice.

[@ArdWulf]

You said "Hootenanny". I just cried with laughter. But that aside...great advice All around.

[@joebaker5581]

I'm from a VERY rural area, and there used to be a bar in he middle of the woods called The Hootenanny. Boy oh boy, that was a WILD place.

[@ArdWulf]

@@joebaker5581 Lemme guess...it was across from the Shindig (The Ho'Down would of course be well outside of town)😁

[@IronPsyde]

I finally subscribed... just felt your passion and loved your message. Keep up the great, insightful topics like this that need to be said. You came across really down to earth and not at all preachy so I finally subscribed lol

[@nicholasharmer7415]

This is a brilliant and wise message for these difficult times. Thank you for sharing this so eloquently.

[@kazegakun]

That's basically what I did with my Primaris Bike Chaplain yesterday, totally unintentionally. I primed him, then I was like "Oh, I should at least get the first coat of black blocked out." That turned into the first coats of pretty much all the base colors laid out!

[@wargamerwilly8756]

This was such a wonderful video! The message was awesome, so wholesome, thank you for constantly putting out all the content, much appreciated! I just shared this with all my warhammer friends, everyone needs to see this. 😍

[@autid]

I decided to start getting into the hobby for the first time with all the stuff happening. Taking it nice and easy so far. Going start to finish on one squad before I commit to buying more models. It's been really good so far, finding it very relaxing.

[@mrmaster9801]

This pandemic, wargaming speaking, has been a bless for me. I've started painting, after 20 years of grey miniatures, something I though was unattainable. Of course my level could be defined as "game level", but it's a start. Also, I am finishing to assemble my "old SM" army (Stormraven is the last model I have to assemble). Finally, I realized I'm fine with just one army at 40k, so I'm selling my Tyranids, freeing some space on my shelves for the Primaris models and for my Infinity armies. All in all, I've tried to apply the old saying "If life throws you lemons, make a lemonade".

[@Green_87]

I found that sorta having 2 spots to do things helps. I have my building priming area with all my kits and such but then I take 5-10 models that are ready to be painted in detail and move them to another area out of sight of all my other models so I don't think about what else I have to paint yet and what else I still need to build. I've gotten 90% of my eldar army fully painted because of this. The "Out of sight out of mind" thing really helped me chew through a bunch of eldar and I have around 2000 points painted now.

[@danacoleman4007]

That's a really really great idea! I never heard of that before.

[@Auridus]

Accountability helped me so much. Staring at the unpainted plastic with no reason to change it was weighing on me. I don't have friends who paint and I don't really play any games with these models other than the occasional D&D mini. It helped a lot, in the end, when I started posting my work on Instagram. Admittedly, I'm only followed by friends and family, with a couple very nice people who found me from a hashtag I use, but knowing that these people are all gonna see my work, even if they just scroll by, helped motivate me. I'm finally working through my minis. I'm developing my skills (slightly). I'm happier.

[@vadecoriffs2327]

Besides the hobby, this is just priceless advice in general! Your channel is an endless source of motivation and inspiration! Thank you so much and stay safe! Greetings from Germany

[@Draconicbliss]

Thanks so much for this video Adam, really helped me, it helped me discover something about myself and the hobby, 1 just sitting down and thinking I dont have to complete this model but just get something done is a real motivator and 2, I dont need to buy everything at once, got a start collecting box from GW and found it so daunting, instead just getting one simple box or just 1 commander unit I can spend my time on doing 1 thing at a time really helps, again thank you so much for the advice

[@MentoliptusBanko]

Wise words as ever, Uncle Atom. I hope the people who need to hear them will hear them. I myself never needed motivation to hobby, but I know too much people who need it.

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

Assembly line painting - Discovering the cathartic nature of painting 27 left hands. 10/10 would recommend.

[@Kraytdragn]

Great advise. Some days it's just primer coat or just one step or one stage or one color. I've done this myself lately.

[@bingo5387]

Just recently finished painting my ultramarines that I got in the 8th edition starter set... over 2 years ago lol. They're not even super painted either, no shading or layering, just base paint to give them color.

[@Gool349]

couldnt agree more, best wishes to all of you out there and keep on doing what you love, one step at a time :)

[@andrewmiller3379]

Totally agree with “just do one thing.” It’s the way you start anything, from hobbying to being a professional. We all have to start somewhere. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation Uncle Atom. Once again you prove why you are such a strong leader in our hobby community. See you on Twitch!

[@briochepanda]

I've been working through the entirety of pandemic. Working in an art supplies shop the outbreak killed off our walk-in shop but the online business went ABSOLUTELY BALLISTIC. Lots of people trapped inside board turning to artistic hobbies to stave off the cabin fever. I went into my attic and dredged up my old paints and Warhammer that I still had kicking about. Started watching your stuff, Miniac and Goobertown and all those guys and now i have a renewed pile of shame and working in that means I'm sitting on top of a wealth of materials i can and have rolled into my old modelling and painting habits. Finding the time and energy is the real struggle with how busy things at work can be. But o can always count on having weeks to chip away at things. Last thing, I use your baking soda & superglue techniques on nearly all my bases now, that really was game changer.

[@IronPsyde]

Right on, great comment. I need to look into that baking soda trick. It is for a textured terrain effect, correct? Or snow

[@Finkeldinken]

Thanks for packing and sending me way too many new watercolours and cotton papers during these trying times. :D

[@briochepanda]

@@IronPsyde with some white undercoat and light blue washes you could probably achieve a neat packed snow look. And layer it up and probably get the impression of snow drifts. I'd say give it a shot.

[@briochepanda]

@@Finkeldinken so many canvases, easels, paints, half pans, pens, papers, pads, palettes and everything else under the sun. Its nice to see how many people have given a creative outlet a go i these times and how many more people have used the existing hobbies and interests to keep themselves going. It doesn't matter if I'm your art supplies shop or not I'll thank you and everyone like you just the same. Do stay safe and keep on keeping on.

[@kaoticmachine]

See I've been off work since September last year, lost my job end of march at beginning of the lockdown here in UK because my operation was postponed due to the lockdown. I was painting loads, painted well over 4k of Seraphon at the start of the lockdown and lots of space marines. My lack of umph to paint comes from having no money and wanting to paint other things I cant buy. I really want to build and paint the victory at sea royal navy stuff but simply cant afford it. Couple that with the issue of needing to help pay rent with the misses, not being successful in finding more work (or the one I did find I lost 3 weeks later as they wanted an all girl staffing team) and I've had to sell so much of my hobby that I loved and that has depressed me to no end, but everyday I sit at my desk, pick up the brush and try to paint. I've tried to do videos to boost enthusiasm but my internet is so poor where I live the upload speed kills streaming! I do agree however, do a little bit each day and it helps a little. For me, this is day 15 trying to paint 3 blade guard vets. I don't use Twitter but I think I will start trying to use the hashtag on my Instagram and see how it goes from there. Your channel, along with many others on here, also helps to sit me at my desk and be in the area to paint. Thanks Uncle Atom!

[@kennylbudd]

Thanks uncle atom that helped.

[@milnerization]

I’ve definitely been doing the whole ‘one thing’ step most days for the past couple of months and it’s a slow process, but after after a couple weeks you do start seeing some good progress!!

[@kevinuller]

Encouraging and great advice. Thank you, so very much!

[@OnlyRoke]

I actually did this a few days ago. Currently I'm painting a Ork Kill Team and I am just kind of stressed out and demotivated from work. I got the few Goblins done that I want for the team, but all the Orks are unpainted yet. Didn't feel like painting them, but I did convince myself to do the bases already. I had already built them and primed them, and on Day 1 I JUST did the grey basecoat and a lighter grey drybrush on ten bases. On Day 2 I painted some details and gave it a second, light drybrush. And on Day 3 I painted the rims black and finished them. Three days of painting for maybe 20 minutes, but I finished a thing. Now I can take my time painting an Ork and when he's done I can immediately glue him onto the base and he's done!

[@chentz2d552]

I have so many hobbies, and sometimes I realize it can be a chore just to get motivated to work on my hobbies, but your advice actually help right now.

[@blunderbus71]

I went straight into the deep end getting back into the hobby, at the beginning of this situation. I started a Gloomspites Gitz army buying a start collecting, a few wizards and 6 boxes of grots. To get all this painted I’ve been telling myself to do one color at a time across all the models. It’s worked out so far keeping me motivated in the hobby and I luckily haven’t burnt out yet. It’s even gotten my wife interested in war gaming.

[@randywilliams250]

Thanks for this message, I needed this perspective for that massive pile of minis and low motivation. This is my new mantra, 'Do just one thing'

[@darnokx9277]

Great advice, thank you! Funny thing about this "accountability thing": started a thread on a hobby forum about a month ago, where I just post my hobby progress each day. Sometimes it is a lot, sometimes a little, on some days it is "damn, got nothing down". You know, life just happening and stuff. It helped me immensely in terms of overall motivation and emotional wellbeing. Little things, done regularly, they really help get shit done!

[@cammerclimbs]

This was a great video! Seems like you have been re motivated! It’s been a tough 6 months for you, glad to see you getting back in the saddle!!

[@Notsram77]

Before Covid, I was working on game design full time. It was a magical time, and I didn't know how good I had it till the rug was pulled out

[@leighhadley8040]

Sound advice mate, been doing this since this pandemic started,n well it works, now fully in the flow sometimes i just come up sit at my hobby desk and just shake all my paints then read some rules then watch some tutorials and next day start to build the army i want... and have been doing this since the beginning, i am lucky i am still working through this even but my hobby ..well it keeps me happy.

[@logancracknell7166]

I always wanted to get into mini painting and started the pandemic with no minis...From May till now I've probably bought like a hundred or so minis. This was a dangerously addicting hobby and I love it

[@capa1784]

Yes, thank you. Recently I've been burned out from still having to work food service and driving my siblings around so they dont need to take public transportation, but at the very least I try and paint 30 min a day. I've churned out about 30 odd sci fi bases from just taking a break from my more ambitious projects. Just something I can turn my brain off for, enjoy, and have something to show for it.

[@timdixon-coombs7423]

Finished painting my Space Wolves! Hobby painting is keeping me sane.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I totally agree with this philosophy. I've always said "if a model takes 10 hours to complete, even if you can only spend 1/2 hour on it before work, now it's only 9 1/2 hours before it's done". Slap a wash on the thing before you leave the house or before bed. Prime a few models before you go away for the weekend so the primer has time to cure. Put a model together and the glue will be dry before you come back to work on it the next time.

[@bradp6452]

Great video. Just the kind of thing I need to hear. Early in the issue I had some projects that had timelines that got me going but now just sort of floating along.

[@AnjinDiceCo]

Caught this one early! Thanks for the inspiration as usual Uncle Atom! Also, new sound effect: Twi-chow!

[@justintuesday8483]

Good advice, and easy to forget. Thanks.

[@mattmmb]

This video is great and has helped me instantly. Thank you

[@joshyaks]

To Uncle Atom's great points I'll add that this is one advantage that I've found with painting in sub-assemblies. It can be overwhelming to look at a complex model and not know where to begin, but if I'm looking at several pieces of the mini I can say, "I'll just work a bit on that right arm holding the weapon this evening."

[@LivinH3ll]

Great advice. Thank you for posting this.

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

So, I'm a car modeler who started watching your channel to learn how to paint figures (because car modelers typically suck at it). A point Id like to make is set realistic expectations and don't overcomplicate a project (a classic car modeler problem). When things shut down I started a new project with the goal of finishing it before the end of the lockdown, and have given myself limited goals Im adhering to, and things have gone quicker than my usual decades long projects. It also has helped me to keep my mind off everything going on that I can't control...nuff said.

[@samuelbroad11]

Here in Aotearoa we did the lockdown seriously back in May, only a few cases now after a moderate level. I painted like mad during lockdown. Then went tramping (hiking in nature for you yanks) and fell and got sprained wrists and fingers and a serious concussion...so kinda had my lockdown twice, but unable to use head and hands the second time! So if you're able bodied crack on, about 6 models at least, with some scatter models to test paint on as you go, your family and mates will be drawn to the rainbow test models everytime! Finally able to hold a brush after 3 months so starting again on Otherworlds Kobolds, smallest little metal pricks with glue on hands and weapons, too small to pin...I chose wrong.

[@philurbaniak1811]

👍👍I love the idea of hobby streak, I think I'm going to try it out!

[@Glasmn45]

I feel better just from watching this video!

[@gregpotter6957]

Helpful advice, I’m at the point when I have time, but overwhelmed at times with worry and tiredness. But I realise I have done the one thing sometimes, last night I decided to do one figure, prep and undercoat, ended up doing 8, oh and the helmets, and the wash on the helmets, oh and then painted the weapons.... gee your right, it works👍😁

[@indigosunszenith7485]

This is one of the things I've found cathartic about the miniatures hobby, even now that stuff is opening up. I have ADHD, autism and bipolar, among other things, and some days I feel like I don't get anything done and I beat myself up over it. Putting together little plastic miniatures makes me feel like I've finished something. It might not be my dishes or my commissions, but as long as I can take it one day at a time those things can be done. Thanks for your wisdom, bootleg Grunkle Stan :) I'm jk but really the resemblance with the fez is uncanny

[@deebernaers137]

The other day I decided to finish a dwarven print I made with some licks of paint - to get out of a rut. Ended up doing the dwarf + the skin of three ork barbarians. Just here to say that the 'just do one thing' approach really works.

[@andreweckford6319]

"Hobbies in general may be difficult, they may be challenging - but they shouldn't be work". Funny - on the weekend I was walking off to the other room to paint some bases and said 'I'm going to go work on these for a while'. To which I got the response 'do you actually enjoy doing that? you often use the term "work"'. Got me thinking a little bit about whether that is just a turn of phrase or if I actually see it as a chore. While there are probably a few necessary but less fun steps (mould line removal... recess washing power armour), even the more repetitive stuff can make it's own satisfaction and improve skills. Working through 40 guardians last month and I was making a game out of painting the 6-7 gemstones on each (or about 300 total) - can I do the red on this next one with 1 less brushstroke? or a bit faster? or a bit more accurately? While they won't line up with Darren Latham's standard... at the end of an hour the whole horde has jumped forward a stage, and I've now got some kind of muscle memory to do gemstones quickly and effectively. As long as there is something to learn, something to achieve or something to improve during a session - there is plenty of motivation to be had.

[@amandag5683]

I’d love to paint models...but I’m not into the war game thing...I paint ceramic figures..but your videos help so much..

[@bob_dobbs]

Thnx for the vid! Doing one thing has been my request of myself for a long time (even prepandemic). The challenge now... work from home has invaded the physical hobby space. Same attitude applies, but getting to the one thing takes longer.

[@caniscuriosum3386]

Thanks for keeping it real Uncle A. Stay safe.

[@impulserhaltung]

There are two types of people in the world: those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig!

[@Dirk_Daring]

I see you are a man of culture

[@Spongemonkey26]

"Two can dig faster than one"

[@jonathanstevens2601]

Wholesome video, Uncle Atom, keep up the great content!

[@jimmygallagher9843]

I have a full-time job and two toddlers. It's so hard to get the drive to do any modelling in the evenings so I roll 6D6 every day and if I get two or more sixes then I have to do some modelling that day. To quote Nas: Almost gave my life to what those dice do!

[@chadnine3432]

"Just one thing." Is really useful during the work week. You still have something accomplished even if you just want to veg after work. Put in 5-15 mins and call it good.

[@joehough838]

I try to do at least an hour a day, every day, to 'hobby'. It's vids like this that helps keep me motivated.

[@Thedagda801]

On the money, as always! ❤️ I recently started a Custodes army, put some photos up on the Custodes reddit thing, and it’s helped keeping the motivation going, same with the what’s app killteam group I’m in, everyone shares their progress and has a laugh, it’s important in these times.