The 6 productivity myths that are holding back your creative output

Creating, producing, and delivering great work must happen for us to achieve our goals and crush our goals. What happens when the energy is low? What happens when the output isn't there? What happens when ideas don't flow and there just doesn't seem to be time to create? Or when we are held back by procrastination and perfectionism? While many things can stop a good job, our own excuses shouldn't be the blockage. Most people come up with excuses and most of them aren't real; these are simply myths to be busted.

Deborah Hurwitz helps entrepreneurs overcome procrastination and perfectionism. As a composer, bandleader and recording artist whose projects have included Cirque du Soleil's Iris, Jersey Boys and Sesame Street, Hurwitz knows how to produce great work for large audiences under the pressures he faces. imposed. She founded Productivity for Perfectionists in 2017 to help artists and entrepreneurs improve their creative output without sacrificing quality. Now an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and Certified Master Practitioner of Transformational NLP, she coaches perfectionists in their genius through her shows, programs, and online events.

I interviewed Hurwitz to uncover 6 productivity myths that might be bugging you.

1. You need long periods of time off

"It's a myth that you can only be creative, strategic, or visionary when you set aside hours of unstructured time," Hurwitz explained, "and it can cause epic procrastination." Hurwitz thinks it's pointless to focus your attention on this mystical "block of time." The reality is that the block shrinks as work and administrative tasks encroach, even before you start creating, you're already tired, so time is often wasted going down "research" rabbit holes.< /p>

“Delaying action until a block of time is available, then failing to make meaningful progress during that block causes negative conditioning. You teach yourself to avoid and avoid. Neither the other aren't conducive to the release you're looking for. Rather than waiting for large windows of opportunity to produce, take small ones. Hang out for a few minutes in a waiting room to jot down a few ideas, forget about the television for the benefit of free writing. Wake up earlier to sculpt, paint, or record. Find time when you can to get your priorities straight.

2. Once you get started, don't stop

Once you're in the flow, the work will be enjoyable. You type with ideas that come in droves and fast and effortlessly produce page after page. This is your jam. But the anxiety whispers that this feeling might go away. Maybe it took so long to get here, you dare not stop in case you can't rediscover the mojo. "Getting started on the run can be fun," Hurwitz said, "but if you keep going until you're exhausted, you'll feel a temporary euphoria followed by the realization that you can't pick up where you left off. , or even figure out how to get back there."

Hurwitz wants you to look at the big picture. "Worrying about not being able to get into the zone anymore creates an anxiety loop." Not only that, but flow state "can be intentionally generated by choice and practice." Rather than treating the flow as a rare sight, remember that it can be abundant. The rate is administered in proportion to your level of calm. So relax and know it's happening.

3. You need to be inspired to do great work

In the creator's version of the chicken and egg, which came first, the inspiration or the result? The myth is that inspiration starts the chain, but it often doesn't. "You don't get inspired to work, you work to be inspired," Hurwitz explained. "Show yourself whether you want to or not." "Waiting for inspiration to strike leaves you powerless." Impotence is not good. The goal is productive and powerful.

Start before the inspiration hits. Beat him to the starting line and know he's catching up to you. Maybe you treat it like a game; in your lowest energy moments, see what it is possible for you to create. If you can write a messy page even when you're tired, grumpy, and hungry, imagine what you can do when you're in good shape. Get to work first, inspiration will follow exactly as planned.

The 6 productivity myths that are holding back your creative output