Every Monday is Tip Day! Grab a cup of coffee and get over the Monday morning bump with tips, tools, and inspiration from Perch.
I am on the road today, so I am very thankful to our guest writer Rachelle Mee-Chapman, a Seattle native who is currently living the high-life across the Pond in Copenhagen, Denmark. I love reading her blog, and I am so excited that she is able to share with us today. Check out more about Rachelle at the end of the post!
This Week: Get to Know Your Creative Rhythm
One of the more challenging parts of living a creative life is discovering your best working rhythm. We all have a work pattern that suits our energy levels and nurtures us with alternating periods of work and rest, gathering and creating. Some writers and artists swear by sitting down at the same time everyday and working a set amount of hours. Others must travel with a notepad or sketchbook in hand and wander until inspiration strikes. The key is discovering what’s true for you.
I have spent plenty of time trying to force myself into a “productive” work routine that ended up being anything but productive, simply because it didn’t match my natural creative ebb and flow. Then I used a trick I call *8Things to uncover the truth about my creative work habits. Here’s how it works: simply write down the first *8Things that come to mind about how you like to work: when you like to start, how long it takes for you to get into the flow, whether you like to work in silence or with music, etc. Your intuitive voice will help access the information you need to uncover a work rhythm that supports your creative pursuits. Why not give it a shot now? Put a few of the things on your *8Things list in the comments, or grab a button and play along by posting the permalink to your *8Things post in the list below. Sharing your process will help others find their way as well. It’s like I always say: “There ain’t no place to go but together!”
Rachelle Mee-Chapman is a soulcare specialist, writer, and mother(ish) to several. With roots in Seattle, she currently lives the expat life in Copenhagen, Denmark. You can find her at Magpie Girl, follow her at Twitter, and friend her at Facebook. For more ideas about creative rhythms, you might also like this post by Sarah at Creative Lessons, or this excellent metaphor by storyteller Jen Lee.
Related posts:
8 Things
I like to work intuitively.
I like special early morning sessions, but not every early morning.
My best work happens when I am bored and playing with no set expectation.
I like to work with music.
A chaotic workspace feeds my intuition and spontaneity.
A clean workspace feeds the clearing of my mind.
Making gifts for others is a great way for me to get out of my routine.
Getting out of the house for a writing/creative date always refreshes my creative energy and brings me focus.
Thank You! I feel like I’ve just landed back on the beat of my Creative Rhythm.
Great exercise.
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Dee Wilcox Reply:
November 17th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Thanks for being brave and sharing your *8 Things, Danette! I’ve posted mine below.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by dee_wilcox, Danette Relic. Danette Relic said: Find your creative rhythm with @magpiegirl at The Creative Perch: http://bit.ly/4wmEMd [...]
My *8 Things…
1. I work best when my mind is clear of “to-do list” distractions.
2. Sometimes it’s best for me to do my creative work first, before any of those distractions creep in.
3. But sometimes I have to knock out the to-do list, and then I can have a power creative session.
4. I am not a late-night creative person.
5. The *right* music is key.
6. Creative obsessions (aka “resources”) make all the difference.
7. I feel more creative when I feel connected in a creative community. I learn from others and am inspired by them.
8. Sometimes I have to completely step away in order to come back refreshed. An “ever in the trenches” method doesn’t work for me.
Dee Wilcox´s last blog … Every Monday is Tip Day! This Week: Get to Know Your Creative Rhythm
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1. I work best late in the day and into the night.
2. I need to talk to other creative souls to keep my motor running.
3. I need silence to write, but music breaks are also good.
4. I need good lighting. Candles and twinkle lights help, too.
5. I need a space that doesn’t feel too cluttered. If my space is cluttered, so is my mind. (But I also know that my acceptable level of clutter is much higher than some people’s!)
6. I need deadlines. I hate deadlines. I need deadlines. Classic love-hate relationship.
7. If I remind myself to work out of a place of love and privilege (not drudgery and obligation), things will go much more smoothly.
8. When stuck, I move to another room, change computers, go for a walk, or go work at a coffee shop. In short, I need to mix it up, no matter how much my inclination is to hunker down.
Jenna/The Word Cellar´s last blog … In My Skin
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1. There is no point even trying to write before noon.
2. A walk, swim or yoga in the morning is helpful.
3. A deadline or the temptation of a paycheck really helps get things going..
4. I have to see a human in real life at least once a week.
5. When stuck with a boring part of the project, music helps. Otherwise I work best in silence.
6. I’m good at Idea Generating and Beginning things. The Middle and The Finishing– meh, not so much. Scheduling my day hour by hour in the middle and the end of a project helps me power thru it.
7. After finishing a project I like to get distracted by sparkly things for awhile before I do the next thing.
8. I get big downloads of ideas — that doesn’t mean they all have to be done at once. They’ll keep.
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[...] Soup” metaphor about the ebb and flow of the creating process; and to Dee Wilcox at the Creative Perch for sharing this *8Things list with a wider audience. Thanks for being [...]