5 Ways to Add More Structure to Your Creative Workdays
Your ability to focus is your biggest advantage. This is how you can turn it into a lasting habit.
Wise people say “You can have anything but you can’t have everything”. I would like to add “at the same time”. This is why your ability to focus is your biggest advantage. When you are able to concentrate on one thing instead of spreading yourself thin, you’ll be able to achieve the results faster and maintain higher quality.
Focus is a virtue. In the modern age of information there it became more difficult to maintain your attention.
But what about multi-passionate people and creatives? It applies to them too, though another aspect comes to light. They use their numerous interests to fuel one another, get inspired, and not to overload themselves with one type of information. In their case switching between different options is like having a break. When managed well, it can help them feel more refreshed and energized.
But this doesn’t mean that they are writing a book at the same time as they are doing their work or another thing. The most prolific multi-passionate creatives know how important it is to find focus and follow structure.
Work on one thing at a time
If you are going to do your writing, block the time to dive deep into it. Don’t check emails, navigate the web, or procrastinate in any other way. This is time to dedicate to one activity only. And as much your mind would want to wonder — resist it.
Have a schedule
Assign days and time slots to specific tasks. Make calendar your best friend. When you have this kind of visual structure and commitment in place, it is more difficult to switch between the tasks and lose your focus.
Have limits
I love ideas, I love people with ideas and everything that surrounds them. But there has to be a healthy limit. In my personal experience, 3 projects are where you should stop. Adding more to your plate might lead to burnout and low-quality work.
Store your ideas
The previous point doesn’t mean that you should give up on all your ideas. Store them, take a note of them, let them sit for a while, and then revisit it. Once you’ve finished one project (or a milestone) you can swap it for the next one. Make it a rule that you don’t start a new project until you’ve finished an old one. This will help you to maintain a healthier approach to creation.
Be accountable
What really helps is to have a support group (or just one person) that can remind you of your commitments, help to evaluate ideas, and support you on your creative journey. Sometimes it’s better to have a second pair of eyes to look at the situation and someone else tells you “No” when you are being excited.
Having a structure doesn’t mean doing more. Quite the opposite, it means getting rid of the extras that overcrowd your process and slow you down. If you are only getting started, don’t pressure yourself too much and give yourself time to experiment and find the right way that supports your own creativity.
