There’s a long history of friendship and rivalry between creativity and routine.
On one hand, routine can limit creativity:
Doing the same time over and over, every day, will train your brain to make easy, automatic decisions instead of looking for new solutions
Keep you from looking at your environment with fresh eyes or a new perspective
Minimise exploring or daydreaming, happy accidents or messy misadventures which may produce surprising outcomes
On the other hand, routine helps creativity:
Gets rid of simple automatic tasks so your brain can focus on and apply more time on solving bigger situations or problems
Minimise distractions by setting boundaries around mindless tasks – such as scrolling on your phone, do a bit of housework – so you set a precise time to work. It could also be something as simple as eating at the same time every day, doing a specific chose in the same way every day, or getting ready for bed in the same way every night.
Re-trains the brain by starting creativity at the same time every day: sit down at your desk or the piano, open a blank notebook page or white canvas.
Benefits of Routine
Makes a person more efficient and proficient (you do something more regularly)
Reduces a need to plan, esp to get important tasks done
Allows you to prioritise what needs to get done
Provides structure to life
Carves out a precise section of a day to enable creativity, or at least help you pursue whatever your passion every single day
Less need for willpower and determination
Saves time, energy; you can think (about not urgent/not important tasks) less
Requires less stress and energy: your thinking and planning are already done; you work on auto-pilot
Less anxiety (ups and downs), which can lead to better sleep, better physical and mental health
Set a good example for others / role modelling. I’ve found this particularly important to set this example for children.
There’s also something about the consistency to help creativity flourish. Routine helps create “mesmerism” in that you mesmerise yourself so deeply that you can reach a deeper state of mind.
Dangers of Routine
All this said, there re also some key points to remember about the dangers of routine:
- Complacency
- Lack of focus
- Overconfidence
- Repetition can lead to increased accidents
- Decision fatigue
- Becoming too rigid
Three Easy Ways to Keep Routine in Check
Finally, thee of the simplest ways to keep routine from becoming a negative influence.
Take regular rest breaks
Schedule timely moments to reflect: if for no other reason, ask yourself can this task or job be improved in any way?
Never minimise safety, no matter how routine or regular.
To wrap-up, here’s an excellent article on Routine and Creativity from Linda Naimen: The Surprising Connection Finally, Between Routine and Creativity.
Any other thoughts on routine and creativity? Please add your thoughts and comments below.
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