I really should memorize that aria.
I need to email that student back.
I haven’t finished reading that article…
But maybe I’ll just watch one more episode.
Raise your hand if you’ve had a similar back-and-forth with yourself before. Now laugh a little that you just raised your hand to a computer, tablet, or phone (bonus points if other people saw you do it).
In all seriousness though, what is this back and forth we do with ourselves? We all do it. We know that it’ll feel good to get these things done, that we’ll grow as professionals if we knock through our to-do list. Still, sometimes we just hit this road block that tells us, “It can wait.”
The purpose of this post is not to discuss why we procrastinate. There may be a bunch of answers to the “why” of this, but ultimately it doesn’t get us to where we need to go. Instead, I’m much more interested in discussing how we can move past it. How can we inspire ourselves to get that project done, to get ourselves going and make our dreams realities?
The way I see it, there are four kinds of inspiration that will get us from the top to the bottom of our to-do lists. Each of these can appear in different ways for different projects. Some of these may work better for you than others. As you read through them though, please consider how you have experienced each of these in your life, if at all, or which ones you identify with.
1. Direct Inspiration
This kind of inspiration is the kind where you need to do something, so you sit yourself down and do it no matter what. Based purely off of drive, determination, and discipline, this one is perhaps best summed up by Nike: just do it. This may mean that if you need to practice, you sit down right in front of your piano, score in hand and start singing. If you need to write, you open up your computer or notebook and start writing. If you need to work out, you put on your shoes and get out the door.
2. Indirect Inspiration
With this form of inspiration, you may find that “just doing it” doesn’t quite make the cut. You find yourself staring at your score or wandering off to Facebook. When your mind wanders, it may be best to guide it towards something related to what you need to do, but not the actual task. For example, if you need to practice, perhaps listen to some recordings of your piece, or singers of your voice type. If you need to write, maybe read some articles or a book that relate to what you’re writing about. This type of inspiration warms you up for the task you’re setting out to accomplish.
3. Unrelated Inspiration
Sometimes you may find yourself purely uninterested in the task at hand, or uninterested in doing anything productive at all. Who doesn’t want to spend all day watching Netflix once in a while? Sometimes we can’t though, and often times it’s not in our best interest. What do we do then? Well, perhaps there is some sort of activity that is appealing and motivational that doesn’t relate to anything on your to-do list, but will get you going. Maybe pick up one of your hobbies for a bit to get your creative juices flowing, or go for a walk to get some fresh air. One action can guide us to the next, and then the next, and finally to the one we really need to get done.
4. Unexpected Inspiration
While this inspiration is wonderful, it is best reserved as a type of inspiration you try to identify rather than create. This inspiration is when you have no intention of getting any particular thing done at that moment, yet whatever activity you are doing inspires you to get something done anyway.
I hope that being able to identify different types of inspiration will help you create more inspiration for yourself rather than waiting for it to come around. Creating inspiration may help you meet deadlines, enhance your goals, and boost your creativity. Especially for those who like to do things in their own time, this could help you find a balance between rigid deadlines and enjoying the creative process.
Which types of inspiration do you use? Which ones do you like the most, or the least? What kind of work regularly inspires you? Do you think there are other kinds of inspiration out there? For the curious, I wrote this blog post using indirect inspiration after reading a book relating to practice.