This is not my first blog.
But this is the longest I’ve ever stuck with it. The shortest was 1 post, after which I forgot about them.
I always held back from blogging. Partly because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be saying anything unique and profound. Partly because I felt like a blog was too revealing.
Something snapped in my brain last year and I decided to try it again. I thought if I had a direction, I would keep up with it. I really didn’t.
Have you ever had that thing where you go to do something in another room, and then pass through the door and forget what it was? I had kind of the opposite of that. I’ve been thinking about systems and creativity and ways to motivate myself for months, but haven’t really “gotten off the couch” so to speak. But after passing through the (entirely fanciful) door of a new year, I decided to act. We shall see how it goes.
Several weeks ago, I made a list of things that I can do in my very limited free time that isn’t just mindless scrolling. I came up with seven things. I decided that I would generate a random number between 1 and 7. Whatever number comes up is what I do for that day. It’s just enough structure without being too constrictive. Although, I’ve also been advised by various creators that the more you constrict your output, the more creative you are. One of the drawbacks of trying to be creative is that there is no single solution. You have to work out your own system and process on your own.
My list (in case you care) is as follows:
- Writing (creative)
- Reading (books or ebooks)
- Craft/making? (the question mark is because it must be quiet; my free time is very early in the morning. Perhaps digital artwork.)
- Learning (online courses)
- Quiet/meditation (no electronics, analog notes if needed)
- Reviewing output/editing
- Reviewing or consuming online saved materials, bookmarks, tabs
Today’s random number was 4: Learning. So I learned (on a very shallow level) about best solutions for backing up data. I also watched a Robert Greene video about being lazy. That you need to use a sense of impending doom (even if it’s artificial) in order to motivate your brain to get out of a lazy rut. Not that I felt “doomed” but being told “you must do this today” somehow got my brain to engage.
I guess I will see how that system works.
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