Patience is an important quality in the studio especially if the work is not going well. Often an artist gets less studio time than they would like and there is a temptation to resolve things before the next block of time as if this will somehow justify the time spent. It does in an obvious sort of way, but for the most part studio time if it is used productively is a much more subtle affair. It is important to see the bigger picture and respond to the work not the time. If something is not complete at the end of a session don’t force it even if it will be weeks or months before another session. When you return you will also see the work in its true state and this will more than likely provide a better platform for the new session.
Rather than think about your work whilst not painting, do other things that will help with the set up of the studio - banal things such as clean ups, stock check. I even bought a flask cup instead of making tea in an ordinary mug as I found I got annoyed when my tea went cold too soon - a daft thing but anything to maintain a general focus on the studio space and atmosphere without drifting into negative musings about unfinished work or crashing into a work that needed a more measured consideration.
I am learning to move from painting to painting in a more open-ended way, to be patient and throw up questions rather than seek answers - to concentrate on the colour more than seeking the immediate ‘hit’ of tried colour combinations right from the off. I am trying to pay more attention to nuance, force and unpredictability in surface and colour. Letting colours work into each other, mixing more at the surface and generally gaining better control over my materials.