Ever put pressure on yourself to perform?
To get the million things on your list done, RIGHT NOW?
Or, have you experienced that need to be creative, to come up with an amazing idea for a proposal, design, book, blog post, TODAY?
Sometimes it can feel like being productive, and / or creative, are just downright incompatible with being kind to yourself.
And I’m not going to lie to you, it takes a little effort, especially when it comes to not buying into the traps and myths of being busy versus doing good, creative work.
But when you invest in self-care, your creativity will actually be nurtured, and your productivity is likely to increase.
Lessons From the Experts (otherwise known as, Learn from Our Mistakes!)
Bryan Collins, of BecomeAWriterToday.com, knows a thing or two about productivity and creativity. He and I got together for an international Skype call to discuss how, exactly, he and I manage (most of the time – okay, well, some of the time, anyway!) to optimise our creativity and productivity through self-care.
Topics we discuss include:
- What is Self-Care and some of the self-care strategies we use
- The Myths of Creativity and Productivity
- How we focus on what matters
- How not to be seduced by apps and tools
- The different ways in which we both use journalling for self-care
- States of self-care that will help you when you want to be productive versus being creative
- The thing that none of us realise affects our performance more than anything else
- And much more…
Click on the video below to watch.
Are You Ready?
Now you know it can be done.
Or maybe you already have your own secrets on how you optimise your productivity and creativity through self-care?
Oooo, you do?
Go on, spill. We’re not too proud to learn!
Links Mentioned:
BecomeAWriterToday.com
The benefits of Journalling
Research on Sleep and the cost of Sleep Deprivation
Quiet by Susan Cain
Deep Work by Cal Newport
The Blitzkrieg Method
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Right off the bat, I love the idea of focusing on just one major project at a time. I also love how you broke down self-care into emotional, physical, and mental components. I would have never thought of this. Thanks so much for these ideas and this encouragement.
Thanks so much Sandra. I’ve been reading The Twelve Week year recently and it’s really helped with prioritisation and focus. I realise how thinly I am spread when I try and juggle so many things at once – whereas doing one thing well, then moving onto the next, seems to be a great strategy.
I have seen people trying to write more than one book at a time and they end up getting a writer’s block. It is always a best bet to dedicate our focus on a single thing.
Love these helpful tips, Ellen. It is all too easy to get distracted, confused, and side tracked. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to focus on. Prioritising self-care is a must, as you point out, because everything flows from there.
Thanks Debbie, I totally agree.
Love this Ellen. Interesting that you should mention being mindful since mindfulness is part of my daily routine…at the moment…and it’s beginning to change the way I do things. For me it’s becoming a huge part of my self care. Checking it with me to see what’s happening for instance so I’m not confusing the important with the urgent!
Great advice here.
That’s wonderful Elle. It’s something that I try to keep an awareness of, but it’s definitely a work in progress. I’m trying to get back to a mediation routine at the moment too – small steps!
I know I need to focus on one project at a time for biz. I am very goos with my self-care- I learned the hard way :)
Sounds like you are already on top of this Suzie. I’m still working on not juggling a million projects at a time, but all my work on self-care has certainly helped me get more done, and in an easier way.