As a creative, I used to believe I was terrible at organizing my time, only to realize that I just struggle with managing my emotions.
Creativity often accompanies heightened emotional sensitivity, bringing with it a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
In my quest for efficient time management, I have gone through countless planners, organizers, and time-blocking methods flooding the market, each promising success. I've explored numerous resources, watching countless videos and heeding advice from motivational gurus, trying various approaches. I’ve concluded that it all boils down to the same thing, personal preference and your ability to navigate your emotions while working.
Navigating Perfectionism
Recently, while editing footage for the third iteration of a video project, I found myself trapped in a perfectionist spiral. Despite relentless efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling of imperfection, leading me to reshoot the entire video in one sitting. Even then, I remained dissatisfied. Exhausted, I took a moment to collect myself, realizing that the previous day's footage was better. Refocusing, I continued editing, held together by upbeat music, my favorite quotes of the moment, and regular journaling breaks to maintain a positive mindset.
Discovering Emotional Management
Reflecting on this experience, I compared it to meditation. Just as in meditation, the goal is to stay present despite distractions. Thoughts may arise, but the challenge lies in returning to center. Sometimes, we get lost in our thoughts, but the key is to gently guide ourselves back without self-criticism. Throughout the editing process, I continually realigned my thoughts and focus. It's all too easy to become absorbed and ruminate when staring at a screen for hours. Despite the perfectionism spiral, I was able to reassure myself and resume work without harsh self-judgment. This marked the first time I successfully navigated a creative block, resulting in a productive day. It was a breakthrough moment in my creative journey.
Achieving Balance
In addition to managing emotions, finding what your balance looks like is crucial. I've noticed that I have a tendency to become fully absorbed in a project, neglecting all other areas of my life. When I am in this state and don’t share my work regularly, I tend to lose confidence and become anxious about posting. It’s like a muscle that needs constant flexing to stay strong. This singular focus, initially feels productive, but in reality, it limits my expression and leads to self-doubt in everything from everyday tasks like posting to my ability to be decisive. Sometimes, what I perceive as speeding up my progress may actually be slowing me down in the long run.
In truth, this dynamic works both ways. There have been times when I've ignored a to-do list or set aside a timer due to feelings of insecurity, convinced that I haven't made any progress on a project. Instead of stepping back and returning with a fresh perspective, I persist in struggling through it, as if investing more time could compensate for not completing tasks and the sense of inadequacy. On the flip side, there have also been times when I'm enjoying a project, fully immersed in a state of flow, and disregarding lists for the sheer joy of creating. Leading to neglecting other responsibilities, reinforcing unhealthy habits and throwing off my balance.
For creatives, the true hurdle isn’t mastering time management but rather navigating the complexities of emotional management. Yet, mastery of both realms bring about profound transformation, unleashing untapped potential and paving the road to success.