The thing about productivity for creative people is that the focus is not traditional efficiency. Of course, ideas like avoiding social media first thing in the morning and not falling for the myth of multitasking still apply. But the goal of productivity is to make the most of your creative time, and one way to do that is through the of use rituals.
Using rituals can help you over the hurdle of getting started, which is often the hardest part. James Clear says that "the key to any good ritual is that it removes the need to make a decision: What should I do first? When should I do this? How should I do this? Most people never get moving because they can’t decide how to get started. Having a ritual takes that burden off your shoulders."
Your starting-to-write ritual might be as simple as drinking from a distinct mug and using a special notebook. Maybe the ritual is based on location--you could move your laptop to a different place from where you pay your bills or do other non-creative work. It might also include listening to a playlist or lighting a special candle. Try combining several of these to create a unique signal to your brain that it’s time to create.
In Productivity for Creative People, Mark McGuinness says to use any new rituals (or “anchors”) for at least ten days, “so that the associations become automatic . . . an easy and familiar way to slip into the creative zone and get to work.”
My current ritual involves my desk, my favorite candle, and coffee, but I might change it up this month and swap typing on my laptop with writing by hand. Do you have a writing ritual? Share in the comments. :)
Using rituals can help you over the hurdle of getting started, which is often the hardest part. James Clear says that "the key to any good ritual is that it removes the need to make a decision: What should I do first? When should I do this? How should I do this? Most people never get moving because they can’t decide how to get started. Having a ritual takes that burden off your shoulders."
Your starting-to-write ritual might be as simple as drinking from a distinct mug and using a special notebook. Maybe the ritual is based on location--you could move your laptop to a different place from where you pay your bills or do other non-creative work. It might also include listening to a playlist or lighting a special candle. Try combining several of these to create a unique signal to your brain that it’s time to create.
In Productivity for Creative People, Mark McGuinness says to use any new rituals (or “anchors”) for at least ten days, “so that the associations become automatic . . . an easy and familiar way to slip into the creative zone and get to work.”
My current ritual involves my desk, my favorite candle, and coffee, but I might change it up this month and swap typing on my laptop with writing by hand. Do you have a writing ritual? Share in the comments. :)
Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question. Special thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating IWSG and to this month’s co-hosts: Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue.
This month's question:
What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?
Erotica would not be a good genre choice for me as a writer. My stories tend to be more PG-13.
What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?
Erotica would not be a good genre choice for me as a writer. My stories tend to be more PG-13.
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