Make up your work routine
…and try to stick to it!
“Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition.”
–WH Auden
“When I’m in writing mode for a novel,” spoke the great Japanese writer Haruki Murakami in a 2004 Paris Review interview with John Wray, “I get up at four A.M. and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for ten kilometres or swim for fifteen hundred metres (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at nine P.M.”
Despite the fact that the creation of art and creative work in general is seen from the outside as something that arises randomly, when the artist is inspired by the muse, and artists in turn as masters of sloppiness, whose schedule is absolutely unpredictable, the opposite is true. In order for an artist or creative person to be able to create something valuable, he or she needs to have order in life, in daily routine. Otherwise, the day of a creative will really turn into a carousel of random stimuli and tasks, and there will be no time left for creative work.
It's probably because art and its creation is still considered more of a hobby, a leisure activity, or something that children do at a young age. But as soon as you start taking this job seriously, doing it professionally, and eventually you start living off it, you need your unbreakable daily routine. “I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerise myself to reach a deeper state of mind,” said Murakami.
However, Murakami also emphasises that following a strict routine every day or for a longer period (when a specific project is created) requires also a good amount of mental and physical strength which is “as necessary as artistic sensitivity.” Therefore, in addition to creation, never forget to move physically (I will talk about that a lot more later), to socialise and dive into your hobbies either. Napoleon Hill said that a diet (what and how you eat) has an equally great influence on self-discipline and, as a result, on your daily routine. Of course, you don't have to be a nutritionist or so, but semi-finished products and constant snacks are also not the best choice.
“I do pushups and sit ups all the time.”
–Kurt Vonnegut
There are the types of artists who, as soon as they immerse themselves in a project, let themselves be completely consumed by it and everything else has to fall by the wayside. If they do something else, they do it only out of duty, with their head always in their project. This state is exhilarating, but it doesn't last long. It lasts exactly until the artist is completely exhausted and needs to take a break. However, with a properly set routine, it doesn't have to be like that. It shouldn't be.
Creation is continuous work and an artist should find the right balance between art and everything else. Everyone is comfortable with something different, but just as important as finding your routine and your best time to create is also knowing when to stop and start focusing on something else. Go for a run, swim, play a musical instrument, go for a walk with the dog, play with the children, in short, find other hobbies that will lighten your head, stimulate your body and, as a result, help your work, even if you're not doing it at the moment.
Ernest Hemingway, for example, stopped writing at the exact moment he knew how the story would continue. Then he left the table and let his subconscious work. Other authors (artists in general) determine in advance the exact time they devote to creation, others focus on the number of pages they must write per day. Regardless of which method of work you choose, include in your routine both creation and time during which you will not devote yourself to creation and gather strength for it. However, it is important to have a regular routine that you will follow no matter what happens.
Plan, do things consciously and above all (which is more and more difficult in today's world) do just one thing at a time. Are you working on a project? Okay, then don't pick up the phone, don't answer e-mails, don't read the news. Did you go for a run or meditate? Okay, so just do this one thing and let your thoughts run wild. Are you playing with the child? The principle is the same every time. Choose one thing and do it as best as you can. And the moment you start doing the second one, give it the same attention.
Many artists prefer to work first thing in the morning, when they are not overwhelmed by tons of emails, phone calls and other duties. "Write first and always," points out American novelist and painter Henry Miller. "Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards." First work, then everything else.
Are you more of a night owl? It's okay—no creative routine is correct or adaptable to another person. Literally everyone creates their own, which suits them the most. But always think about what is most important: your work and the project you want to complete. Don't let yourself be absorbed by other duties or other people's needs and—this one is tricky—don't let yourself be absorbed by rituals to support your creativity either. Choose the ones that suit you best and use them regularly. When they no longer work, change them and choose a different one—it's a constant process and it's okay. But then sit down and do the work.