Just like Sleeping, Eating, Working, Exercising, etc. We all have our own Creating schedule that we operate best at, and that is specific to us.
Creativity ebbs and flows. When you’re “in the flow”, ride it out. Keep the momentum going for as long as you possibly can. But for every flow, the ebb is not only natural, it’s inevitable. When you’re not flowing, first off don’t beat yourself up over it (that only makes it worse). Secondly, be willing to experiment and be willing to change when and how you’re creating. Take the time and effort to find out what works best for you and don’t get down on yourself if it’s not working. It’s a process.
Some fun things to consider when trying to find your ideal schedule/routine:
-
Cortisol Levels (“the stress hormone”) are highest in the morning (or whenever you get up) and decrease throughout the day. (The same also goes for Blood Pressure, and a number of other bodily rhythms.)
- While there isn’t a crazy amount of definitive research on how Cortisol affects creativity, a lot of people believe that there is a negative correlation between the two. Regardless, I think it’s fascinating to consider physiological/biological factors and bodily functions when thinking about one’s creativity.
- Also, here’s a resource I love and use a ton to find new ideas and tips to try out and implement into my own schedule:
- Tim Ferriss’s Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires. Icons, and World-Class Performers (and/or check out his podcast “The Tim Ferriss Show”)
- For Example: With my current schedule (which is always in perpetual change) I don’t even try and be creative until 2-3pm (unless it’s completely natural). But I still write every morning when I get up just to get my brain and thoughts starting to move again and flowing. A lot of times I just do what I call “Dear Diary Entries” in which I’ll just simply write down what I did the day before and what I plan on doing that day. Or I’ll do that exact opposite and will make something completely ridiculous and crazy (and arguably bad, with no attachments to it) that no one will ever see (I’ll even sometimes burn it afterwards).
From “Creative Quick Takes” circa 2019