From the Inspirational Thought Unit
I've been trying hard this year to double down on the processes and systems I've established in past years to improve my productivity and creativity. What I've found over the years is that the more structured my life is, the more I create. The more I create, the better I feel.
I think about this quote from David Brooks often:
"Great creative minds think like artists but work like accountants."
The more I read and learn about successful creative types the more I see a consistency in their daily approach to the work. They show up every morning and do a little bit, take a break, then do a little bit more, then cut out for the day. And in between starting and finishing their work for the day, they do just the work. Nothing else. Focused.
This last week those systems and processes started to break down a little bit. I found myself not creating as much, and wasting time on shallow activities. As a result I felt just...bleh. I need to tighten the screws in a few places, get back on track, and remind myself what is at stake here.
I'm not saying you should avoid the curveballs life throws at you. I get plenty of those. When those come at you, you just have to dodge, weave, pivot and deal with them. What I am talking about is the dumb, distracting, stuff I do that sabotages my day.
As Cal Newport says, to be productive you gotta drain the shallows, and focus on the deep. This is my goal for next week.
-Jake