2185: 8 Things Successful Creative Professionals Do by Hilary Barnett with No Sidebar on Productivity Habits

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[00:00:55] This is Optimal Work Daily. 8 Things Successful Creative Professionals Do by Hilary Barnett with nosidebar.com. Let's be honest. Creative work is hard. Not the typical kind of hard. Creative professionals certainly aren't out there sweating under the hot sun, risking our lives, or, gasp, enduring a dreaded retail position.

[00:01:21] But we are creating, and that's no joke. It's a different kind of hard, the kind we can't always wrap our heads around. The inspiration comes, and the inspiration goes. We pound out line after line of work to come to the end and feel the sudden urge to trash every word of it. We invoke the muse, sit down, and hope against hope, this time we offer up something that will be well received.

[00:01:45] In an interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner was asked what he plans to do after the show, which, after seven seasons, is coming to an end. He said he's going to prime the pump, spend time in the real world connecting with friends, observing, eavesdropping, and taking notes. This reveals something about the creative process that's important. Creativity is not limited, but our ability to tap it is. We have to do the work behind the work.

[00:02:15] But before we cultivate a plan, let's take a look at those who are in our space and who are getting it right. Here are eight things successful creatives do, paired with suggestions on what that can look like for you. One, they know their own creative rhythm. When you're beginning something, how do you feel? What about when you are in the midst of your creative flow, and when it is coming to an end?

[00:02:40] Pay attention to your mind and your body when you are creating, and act on those signals. Don't ignore them. Two, they are aware of where they are in the process. Half the battle is simply staying present. Sometimes the process is as basic as recognizing a deadline and sticking to it, or you may set up small victory moments along the way to complete a larger project. Wherever you are, respect that every phase is different.

[00:03:08] Three, they step away from the computer. When they complete something, they allow themselves to be truly finished. As creators, they want to constantly edit and improve. But when they deliver a finished product, they let it go and stand on its own two feet. Four, they engage in mindless activities. When we create, we are tapping our minds in an intense way and utilizing parts of our brain that need rest, just like our bodies.

[00:03:36] So when you're in between projects, give your mind a break. Let it wander. Turn off the running to-do list in your head, if you can, and just see where your thoughts go. Five, they spend time with people in real life. Our altered sense of digital connection cannot replace real FaceTime with the people in our lives. Sit down for a couple of hours and just talk with someone. Listen, engage, and see what you can learn from them.

[00:04:03] Conversations are powerful and fill us up in ways that no tweet, reply, or comment ever could. Six, they seek out a new environment or experience. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes to get things moving. Your physical space can have a huge impact on your ability to create. So if you find yourself in a rut, go somewhere new. It doesn't have to be an uber-creative office space. Under a tree or a new coffee shop might be just the thing. Seven, they do something else.

[00:04:34] Are you a writer? Then do a little design. Are you a painter? Grab a journal and write something down. When we're expected to be creative in one capacity over and over again, we can begin to view it as a chore. But when we tap into other creative activities, it can give us perspective and feed our energy and love for what we do. And eight, they exert physical energy. Whenever you feel stuck, there is nothing more effective than moving your body.

[00:05:01] Research proves getting a little exercise is one of the best things we can do to stimulate our minds. Who doesn't need more endorphins in their bloodstream? Even a quick, brisk walk can do the trick. Eliminate the noise. There is so much noise out there. From visual noise to information noise. Take a few minutes to just be quiet. Turn off the music. Close your eyes. And breathe. You'd be surprised what may come up when you purposefully take time to just be.

[00:05:30] If there's one thing creative people are good at, it is noticing. But when we are doing the work, we are hyper-focused. When you find yourself tapping out, stop and notice. As Matthew Weiner said in his interview, do some eavesdropping. Listen to what is going on around you. Watch people as they walk by and imagine their backstory. Spend some time observing something small and typically obscured from view. There is creative power in noticing the little things.

[00:05:58] Here's to doing your best work. You just listened to the post titled, 8 Things Successful Creative Professionals Do, by Hilary Barnett with nosidebar.com. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block,

[00:06:26] or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required. Compatibility and availability varies 18+. This episode is brought to you by PayPal. You know how a mom's bag has everything? Sunscreen? Snacks? A stapler? The new PayPal app is like that, but for your money.

[00:06:53] Shop, pay, manage your account, and earn rewards all in one place. And with purchase protection on eligible items, biometric security, and pass keys, you're protected at every step. Download the new PayPal app to get started. See paypal.com slash protection terms. And thanks so much to Hillary and the team at No Sidebar for letting us share their articles here. No Sidebar is all about getting rid of the excess and focusing on the essentials. That's one of the main topics over on one of our other shows

[00:07:21] in our network as well, Optimal Living Daily. So if you like this kind of content, you can check out that show for much more of it. No Sidebar features a wide variety of authors, and most of the posts there are from guest writers covering minimalism both at home and work, so that we can have lives full of purpose and simplicity. So come visit nosidebar.com for much more. And again, to hear a bunch of articles from No Sidebar being narrated for you, you can check out the podcast, Optimal Living Daily. But that should do it for today.

[00:07:50] I thank you so much for being a subscriber to the show and being here with me each and every day. And I'll see you right back here tomorrow, where your optimal life awaits. I'll see you next time.