Scheduling Time for Inspiration
In the past, I put off working on a new app or project because I was “still working things out in my head.” I’d delay the process of sitting down and actually trying to hash things out. It was an excuse. Eventually, I’d lose interest or just give up - thinking that since a eureka moment never arrived means I should move on to other things.
Months - or even years - would pass and something would jostle the idea to life again. I’d think, “whoah, what a missed opportunity! Why didn’t I keep working at that idea I had?!”
It was because I bailed before truly trying. I bailed because I though excitement and enthusiasm was a necessary ingredient, like it was something out in the universe that came to you. But it’s something you create.
So, how do we create inspiration and excitement?
The English playwright and novelist Somerset Maugham was asked, "do you write only when inspiration strikes?"
He remarked:
I write only when inspiration strikes me. Fortunately is strikes me every morning at 9:30 AM sharp.
– Somerset Maugham
Somerset presents a simple strategy for guaranteeing you’ll find enthusiasm and excitement every single day.
By scheduling time for it. Mood be damned.
Inspiration is the reward - not something that is require beforehand.
Yes, there will be things that stand in your way - demanding your attention. But when you simply schedule time for inspiration - write it down, put it on the calendar, etc. - you’ll have no choice. The decision has been made for you. Friction has been eliminated.
It took me some time, but eventually I went from, “ugh, I really don’t feel like working on this thing right now” and “hm, I’m not quite ready to take that one on” to, “well, it’s on the schedule. I guess I don’t have a choice.”
What are your thoughts? Have you found scheduling time for inspiration useful?
I don't schedule it persay, I'm a "rebel" personality type (Four Tendencies Framework) and so if I schedule something I'm actually less likely to do it, hah!
What I do instead is try to get in the habit of journaling before I open my computer. Once I open my computer, articles, tweets, and emails sort of determine the direction of my day. But whenever I open my journal, the ideas that I've been "working out in my head' just come out and I start to think through them with diagrams, notes, and I usually end up with some sort of list of things I'd like to get done for the day.
Interesting. I am not familiar with the Four Tendencies Framework.
I agree that there needs to be some pre-loading of the work that needs to occur. This is common with software development. You have a tough problem and you work on it over and over again but you just can’t seem to solve it. It’s not until you get up and let your mind rest and then come back at a much later time later that you find your mind has sorted things out. This may be similar to your journaling system.
Yeah exactly!