Using Momentum to Build Progress
Why doing something is better than nothing.
In last week’s essay, I mentioned that I experienced a burnout so intense, I ended up taking a long break from all my creative ambitions. It was brutal. I lost all momentum and struggled to get back on the horse. Struggled!
Lesson learned.
Instead of going full-throttle this time around, I decided to take small steps. As previously mentioned, take things slow. Build up to a sustainable and productive workflow instead of trying to do everything all at once and failing. Why do the same thing over and over again and expect different results? That’s insanity.
The return has been exponential.
Not only am I writing every day for at least one hour, but I also started drawing again, just for 30 minutes after I’ve completed my main tasks. Here are some sketches I did for Draw a Box.
Limiting myself to 30 minutes to do whatever I can has started to build momentum for me. That way, I can study and work without feeling this overwhelming guilt. What matters is doing the bare minimum until it becomes second nature.
Because motivation is not enough.
I mean, I knew this from the various neuroscience and psychology books I have read in my leisure time. But experience often makes you realize just how valuable that advice is. So instead of relying on my mind's whim, I want to make drawing a habitual act. Something I don’t think much about.
So far, this experiment has been a success!
Since I’m more focused on writing fiction and self-publishing something in the near future, I just want to keep the momentum going.