A Fun Way We Achieve Creativity - And Productivity As Well

I am often asked what "secrets" my husband and I have to being creative, and productive. A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson appears on the bottom of all my emails: "Success is living life on your own terms." Now that saying always gives me focus, but I'm never sure if it resonates or speaks to everyone on the question of how we get things accomplished.

That said, I saw an interview with James Clear the other day on CBS This Morning that R.J. and I both identified with.  I realized he gave a perfect description of just what we continue to do in our creative lives. Clear has just written a book titled "The Physics of Productivity" - now that's quite a scientific title, but stay with me. This is actually a fun - as well as useful - concept.

He explains that most people set a goal for themselves that, by its nature, can become overwhelming to achieve. He advocates starting with "two minutes" of investment toward that goal. For example, if you want to take a run each day, just focus on tying your running shoes. Just start. That will set you off on your run because small wins make you want to keep going or, as Clear puts it; tiny habits lead to productivity.

While mastering this idea, you must remember that habits matter. Habits, he says, help you embody what you want to be. By reducing the amount of time you spend doing mindless things, you increase your productivity. Small wins make you want to continue. Just do something! He claims that if you reduce your unproductive habits by 1%, you will be 37% more productive in a year.

I'll give you some examples of how I've changed work habits, and seen the results he talks about. I make lists each week of the things I need to accomplish. Each day, I choose 2 or 3 and begin to take small advances to eventually accomplish them by the end of the week. I'm able to focus more because I've changed habits that resulted in frustration at not "getting things done".

One of the most important habits I curbed was waiting until 9 a.m. to turn on my mobile phone, and I  turn it off at 5 p.m.  Family members and close friends know to reach us by our landline phone outside of business hours. In addition, I do not check emails, except at the beginning and end of the standard work day. I learned that I can still function if I do this, and my productive and creative sides  concentrate more on the goals I'm determined to achieve.

These are just two of many ways R.J. and I have updated our "mindless habits", and I can assure you  it definitely makes it easier for us to be what we want to be, and with a much more positive outlook. Author James Clear calls it "mico-progress". I encourage you to check out his online newletter (he has over 400,000 subscribers), or search "CBS This Morning James Clear interview" to listen to his workable ideas.

For next week's blog, I'm going to talk about how the "social side" of our lives enriches our creativity as well.