overcome starting inertia with timeblocking
instead of letting your creative ideas die, overcoming inertia by just doing it for 10 minutes.
I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with time, in context of my intention to allow full flow in my art; to create as much as I can.
but the list of things I want to create is long, and the day feels so short. I would go to bed each night with quarter of my mind thinking of what I didn’t have a chance to do — all the things I didn’t write, draw, say, read, learn, create, share — weighing me down, like a drowning man.
then I found a semi-solution. I will boldly file it under the name — the physics of creative energy.
here is my theory:
all creative impulses live there within us, as potential energy. but eventually, it might wither out and die. why?
creative energy stagnates when it cannot overcome inertia of the body — and the environment.
by body I mean — our inner psyche, fears, self-doubt, laziness, excuses
by environment I mean — our space, commitments, social media, schedules, other people
I identified that my own inertia comes from perfectionism, and my tendency to get completely absorbed, and lost in one thing. I solved it with a timer process, which I’m sharing below.
I’m calling this section [tell me what to do] — for my future self to look at, and for you.
[TELL ME WHAT TO DO]
[questioning inertia]
what do you want to do?
why don’t you do it?
what is the root source of your inertia?
[the ten minute timer process for overcoming inertia]
you can use this pomotimer.
write down the impulses you feel on a given day
set a timer for 10 minutes. do one thing.
stop after 10 minutes.
move onto the next thing.
repeat the cycle for 4-6 rounds.
take an 8 minute break.
this process is a new invention for me. my standard way of working is to do one thing obsessively for 2-3 hours without stopping. but this works because it forces me to focus on big picture — and removes the mental inertia that comes with my perfectionism. perhaps, you’ll find it useful too.