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David Lynch on the Importance of Routine
David Lynch is the wispy-haired director responsible for some of the most popular works of surreal filmmaking in the last century. “Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Twin Peaks” all encourage people to question reality and investigate the depths of their own minds.
It takes an incredibly creative soul to be able to cause people to question after witnessing their art. As an aspiring creative, I fanboy over the specific processes these types of individuals subject themselves to in order to get a better understanding of how I can become a better artist.
Besides being vocal about practicing different creations and partaking in transcendental meditation, Lynch emphasizes the importance of routine in the life of an artist. This isn’t very comforting for people that view themselves as a free spirit that gets easily sickened by the thought of routine. The idea of routine reflects the 9-to-5 rat race that, from their perspective, boxes in creatives and doesn’t appear welcoming to their talents.
But hearing how Lynch describes routine should comfort any aspiring artist. Having a routine allows your mind to become uncluttered. It is a “springboard” that allows you to “mentally go anyplace.” Lynch claimed that he had gone to the same Bob’s Big Boy and ordered the same meal for seven years at the exact same time every single day. It might seem extreme, but these types of habits can be important for breeding creativity.
“The more pure the environment, the more fantastic the interior can be.”
— David Lynch
Using routine isn’t meant to hinder your adventurousness or need for change. But it’s repeating little things that allow your mind to not feel as overworked. There’s a reason you see billionaires wearing the same cheap outfit every day. It’s because they make too many important decisions in a day to waste brainpower deciding on a new outfit.
If you structure the start of your day around a routine, be able to notice that you will have a better grasp of your own creativity.
