Feel like your wires get crossed because you have so much going on?
There’s an old adage about always finishing what you start. For the most part, I agree. However, there comes a point when it’s time to move on from a project. The question is: What determines that point where you know it’s time to switch gears.
Most creative people I know have a tendency to take on multiple projects at the same time. While working on something, we have questions and develop a curiosity about related topics. That leads to bigger ideas for new projects. But with that creative drive comes the possibility of getting overwhelmed.
WHY IT’S OKAY TO SWITCH GEARS FOR CREATIVE WORK
When it comes to deciding whether or not to stop a creative project, there are a number of factors that should be considered. It’s hard for creative people to let go of something, especially if you’ve spent any length of time really diving into it. But there are also benefits of letting go of something that isn’t working as part of your overall creative goals.
1. Lost interest in the topic
Creativity means we have many ideas that pop up at random times. Those we choose to pursue, whether as a simple curiosity, or an actual project, involve an initial burst of interest. But over time, some projects become more of job rather than something creative. While that shouldn’t be the only factor, especially if you actually are completing a creative project for a client, if you have lost creative interest in the topic, that’s a good sign you at least need to ask yourself questions about why you’re doing this.
2. Too much at once
It’s easy to think you can work on several projects at once. But in reality, creative work is still work. It takes time. And sometimes, a project can take years to fully complete, depending on how often you are able to work on it. When trying to work on several projects, your creative thoughts have to shift between the different topics. For writers, working on both a fiction and non-fiction project takes different skill sets. For musicians, trying to work on your own compositions requires different creative elements than preparing a cover piece for an audition. In short, trying to work on different projects, especially if you have more than two, your creative skills get stretched thin. Ultimately, you can’t give your full attention to a single project. As a result, all the projects end up being half-hearted.
3. Hard to focus on what you’re meant to be doing
As much as creative people enjoy finding new projects and trying new things, not every type of work is something we’re meant to do. It’s fun to dabble in new things and see what sticks. But if you’re taking on too many things at once, you can lose sight of your primary projects. The mix of projects can take time away from your overall goals. But more importantly, trying to do too much can overshadow your real passions. If you’re busy with five different things, the thing that first called you to a creative life gets lost.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ME
Over the last six months, I’ve been blogging regularly, trying to write three posts a week. While there have been some weeks that didn’t quite happen, I’ve tried to be as consistent as possible.
And while I enjoy coming up with new ideas and sharing experiences on creativity and learning, I’ve come to realize that posting three times a week has taken away from projects that I want to finish. And something I want to start devoting more time to in the future.
For starters, I have been working on my first novel for some time. Years, really. I first started working on the basic ideas after grad school. I worked on the book occasionally for a while. But in the last two years, I made it a priority. Writing was slow as I also worked a full-time job. But I eventually got the first draft finished. As I’ve started working on the second draft, I realized I was spending more time on my blog – gathering ideas, research, writing/editing posts, creating graphics – than I have on my book. I haven’t been able to devote as much time to my book as I want. I want to get this book finished, but that means giving up some other things.
Second, as my work situation has changed, I have spent more time thinking about what I really want to do career wise and how I want my life to look in terms of creative freedom. As a result, I plan to look more into freelance writing and editing opportunities. This will allow me to have more control over both my creative work and financial goals.
So what does all this mean?
Going forward, I will only be posting once a week (on Wednesday). I will still focus on creativity and education. I do still enjoy producing blog content. But I need to dial things back a bit so I can focus more time on finishing my book and developing freelance opportunities.
Starting next week (4/8/19), I am putting myself on a regular schedule. While I’ve been away from a day job, I’ve had the freedom to work on things at my own pace. While this is awesome, I need to be more self-disciplined to stay focused on these specific projects. Also, I’ll be sharing more regularly about my writing on my Facebook page. I’d love to have you follow along with my writing journey. And, I’ll soon be in need of beta readers for me book!
The door on more frequent blog posts is still open. I’ll have additional posts occasionally to share updates and/or reflect on current trends, etc. I’m just stepping away from the themed content and three-times-a-week format for a while to focus on areas that need more attention right now.
Thanks for following along. I look forward to sharing updates about my book and writing experiences.
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