The ‘AIR Routine’: Nurturing Your Art & Well-being

An artist/activist residency routine to connect to yourself and your surroundings, and to create space for creativity and being healthy at Hektor

Preparing for your Artist/Activist residency at Hektor? We believe a well-structured routine can significantly enhance your experience. In collaboration with Iker Nafta, a holistic and art therapist, we've developed an Artist-in-Residency (AIR) routine. This routine offers a balanced approach, integrating dedicated time for deep work, connection, play, and physical activity. It's designed to help you prepare effectively, cultivate mental space, and practice self-care throughout your stay. From mindful meals and movement to dedicated creative time and island exploration, this framework provides adaptable time blocks for your convenience.

Want to start straight away?
Access and personalize your AIR routine here:
Acces the Routine Spreadsheet

“The intention of this routine is to:
Cultivate an environment for your creativity to flourish,
Promote gentleness and self-care,
Strengthen your connection with yourself, your surroundings, and the unique moments that will define your Hektor residency.”

”

— Team of Hektor

The proposed routine is entirely optional and designed to empower you. Its purpose is not to restrict your free time, but rather to provide tools that facilitate focused creative work, allow ample time for island exploration, and ensure a healthy and fulfilling two, three, or four-week stay at Hektor.

Below, we'll delve deeper into the components of the routine. For those eager to begin, a two-week example template is available here:

Acces the Routine Spreadsheet

Tip: copy the Routine Spreadsheet: We recommend making a copy of the routine spreadsheet to your personal drive or computer. This will enable you to fully customize the time blocks, add your own notes, and personalize it for your residency.

Two-week template

Welcome to Hektor! Your personalized residency routine has arrived. This guide, tool, and methodology has been carefully crafted by Iker Nafta, a holistic and art therapist to foster your creative space. Yves, from our team, has personally utilized this routine during his own art residency and can attest to its effectiveness. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Yves (or Iker).

The routine!

  • Time Blocks: The routine is structured into key time blocks: Morning, Noon, Afternoon, and Evening.

  • First Day Focus: our initial day is dedicated to orientation. Take time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings, organize your personal space, and explore the various areas at Hektor (e.g., atelier, vegetable garden, the guided path up the valley (follow the white stones), the animal pen, etc.). We encourage you to explore and wander freely.

  • Mornings: Dedicate this time to awakening and connecting with your surroundings. We highly recommend a digital detox during this block—put away your phone and other connected devices. Focus on self-connection through meditation and energizing your body through movement.

How to Use the Routine: Practical Guidance

Ready to get started? Access and personalize your AIR routine here: Acces the Routine Spreadsheet


Elements of the Routine (Overview)

Below, we provide an overview of the routine's key elements. Please remember that you are free to incorporate whichever elements you find most beneficial during your stay.

  • Journaling: More than just a diary, journaling is a powerful tool to empty your mind, calm racing thoughts, and gain clarity. Write freely and without judgment, focusing on the release of thoughts rather than future review.

  • Meditating: Find stillness and connect with your inner self.

    • You can use an app like Headspace

    • Or look online (YouTube, Spotify) for a guidance video/podcast

  • Movement: Energize your body and free your mind. Incorporate activities such as yoga, stretching, walking, or dancing into your day. Movement can help unlock creative blocks and improve focus.

  • Deep work: Dedicated, focused time for your creative practice. We suggest scheduling 2-3 sessions per week, though you are welcome to dedicate an entire day or weekend if inspired. This is your time to immerse yourself fully.

  • Self portrait: Engage in a daily self-portrait exercise, creating a quick (approximately 10-minute) representation of yourself through your chosen medium—be it photography, drawing, ceramics, or another art form. Consistency is key, ideally creating it at the same time each day. After completion, take a moment to reflect: What emotions does this portrait evoke? What message, advice, or even humorous observation does it offer you? This practice encourages self-awareness and visual journaling of your inner landscape.

  • Creative play: Dedicate time for creative play—a period of unstructured experimentation, trying out new ideas, and simply 'doing nothing' with a creative twist. This isn't about achieving a specific outcome, but about the process of discovery. Examples of creative playtime include exploring the studio and garden, engaging with potential creative spaces, taking notes or pictures of inspiring elements, and connecting with both external and internal creative spaces.

  • Evening: This block serves as a gentle guide to help you wind down your day, fostering rest and rejuvenation. While optional, incorporating these elements can significantly enhance your well-being. Consider practices such as quiet reflection or gratitude (perhaps lighting a candle), gentle yoga or stretching, reading, enjoying the tranquility of sitting outside, engaging in a calming skincare routine, or listening to a podcast. The aim is to transition peacefully into rest, preparing you for the next creative day.

  • Connecting moment: Dedicate 2-3 times a week to a 'conscious moment'—a dedicated pause where you bring full awareness to a simple activity. This practice cultivates mindfulness and can significantly open your creative flow. Examples include a conscious walk (perhaps barefoot to truly connect with the ground), focusing on scents or tactile sensations, observing specific objects, sketching your immediate surroundings, or writing down your emotions as you experience them. The goal is to be fully present, interacting deeply with your surroundings and inner self.

  • Food: Nourishing your body is a vital part of your residency routine, directly supporting your creative energy and overall well-being. We encourage you to embrace healthy, preferably plant-based meals, prepared with care and utilizing locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. At Hektor, your room's kitchenette is equipped with a one-pot stove, a small fridge, a coffee maker, a water boiler, a bread toaster, knives, and other essential kitchen utilities, all available for preparing, sharing, and enjoying your meals. Please feel free to connect with our Scruffy Chef, who is available to answer any questions you may have about food, cooking, or exploring plant-based options during your stay.

  • Improvisation day: Dedicate a full day to improvisation and spontaneous discovery. This is an opportunity to step away from your planned routine and embrace unexpected experiences. Consider exploring the island without a set itinerary, engaging in unplanned creative activities, or simply allowing your curiosity to guide you.

  • Art Therapy Exercises: These guided exercises are designed to support your creative process and well-being. We suggest engaging with one exercise per week for a month-long stay, or two per week for a two-week stay.

    Suggested Order (for a month):

    • Body: This exercise aims to foster connection and active listening with the body. It helps increase body awareness and spontaneously release emotional and physical tensions.

    • Clarity: This exercise is to give clarity to what you want and what you don't

    • Calm Memories: The objective of this exercise is to create emotional resources from memories of moments when you felt calm, connected, or secure. By detailing these memories with all your senses, you can access that state of well-being whenever you need it to self-regulate and return to a place of tranquility.

    • Rain: (Explain the purpose of this exercise)

Two-week template

Before Arrival: Preparing for Your Hektor Residency

Organizing yourself before you arrive can significantly enhance your residency experience.

The more prepared you are, the less time you'll need to invest in practical matters once you're here. Keep in mind that Lanzarote is a slow-paced island, which may influence your rhythm and approach.

Our goal is to help you make Hektor your own, create a safe and comfortable space, and minimize any potential stress or FOMO. A little preparation goes a long way in helping you settle in faster and with greater ease. We understand that preparing for a residency, especially with self-imposed expectations, can create some tension. Here are a few key areas to consider before your arrival:

  • We gathered all practical info about Hektor here: like where to shop for errands and art supplies, our laundry service, what you can harvest from the garden,…

  • Hektor's Location: We are situated in the northern part of the island, in Los Valles (= the valleys). This is our preferred area, known for its rugged beauty and peaceful atmosphere. Surrounded by hills and valleys, our garden offers direct access to hiking trails that lead to the island's highest point. While Los Valles is a village, it does not have a local shop (see shopping information below), but it does have a Teleclub (details also below).

  • Transport: Consider your preferred mode of transportation for exploring the island. Do you envision using an electric bike, exploring on foot, or having the flexibility of a car? Think about whether you want to feel more connected to the immediate location or have the freedom to explore with the convenience of a car.

    • Practical: [Link to recommended car rental service] / [Link to recommended bike rental service]

  • Food: Food is a vital part of your routine. Aim for three healthy meals a day, and embrace the process of preparing them with care, using locally sourced ingredients. At Hektor, we encourage you to explore plant-based eating during your stay. Our Scruffy Chef is always available to answer your questions and offer guidance.

  • Your suite: Your private suite serves as both your personal sanctuary and an ideal space for elements of your routine, such as deep work sessions. These focused periods require a peaceful environment, which your suite readily provides.

  • Atelier, Studio, Workshop: Hektor offers a taller (studio or workshop space). This area is available for your creative practice and provides the necessary environment for bringing your artistic visions to life.

  • Teleclub: The Teleclub is the village bar, a place to meet locals and enjoy a drink, a barraquito, or a coffee. It also offers a menu del día, a daily lunch menu. The food is simple, local, and excellent. It's a convenient 15-minute walk from Hektor.

  • Movement in and around Hektor is possible, including yoga, running, stretching, walking, and hikes. For those interested in surfing, we advise you to contact Vicky of POLOCA. For gym access, el gimnasio de Teguise (12,-/month) is an excellent option.

  • Discover the island with our tips: Explore the island with our curated tips, prepared specifically for our guests and friends. We only include recommendations that we genuinely enjoy ourselves.

A first look into the taller?