How to Consistently Create (without burning out)
Minimum Viable Creative Day
I used to wait for “perfect conditions” to do my creative work
I would give all my energy to design the perfect circumstances for creating that I would be out of energy before I even got to the making.
Or, when things would go sideways and my time would be cut short, or any number of unplanned things would come in, I would just push it off another day. “Tomorrow will be better, I’m a little tired today anyway.”
Creating nourishes me on a soul level, and producing makes me feel alive. After skipping too many days I get grumpy! In Maggie Rogers recent post she shares a text to friends to remind her to sing anytime she gets “energetically weird.” I think all artists can relate to this sentiment. When we aren’t creating, things get a little funky.
Creating is an act of generosity. Especially when we share what we make with others. It’s offering our gifts to others, and inviting them to partake in their beauty. Whatever that may be. I think this is the real reason why we get so icky when we aren’t creating. Because we aren’t sharing! In some ways, I think the grumpiest people are the most selfish people. And the happiest are the most generous.
But, it’s not always that simple.
Creating doesn’t always feel accessible. Sharing doesn’t always feel generous.
Kids get sick, energy dips, life is full, and even when it’s all good things it can feel chaotic. Creating, similar to working out, is the first thing to go.
I don’t think we skip creating because we don’t care. I think it’s because we don’t really count its true value. We’re brainwashed to think creating is just for fun, or a cute hobby, that it’s really just meant to be done in the margins of life, and not vital to life.
I see artists downplay how important creating is all the time. How high the bar for entry is. An expectation that circumstances are perfect: then the art will be too. It’s a safety mechanism. A blanket that feels comfortable but is detrimental in reality.
When the conditions for creativity are so narrow it’s 1) impossible to be successful, and 2) there isn’t even room for creativity!!! Who is going to be stronger at the end of the year? The woman who works out 3x/week for 20 minutes, or the woman who works out 1x a month for 4 hours? We all know it’s the woman who is consistently in the gym.
Creating is the same way. Consistency always wins.
Especially in seasons where time is squeezed.
