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February 12, 2009

Creative Batteries: How Far Can You Go on a Single Charge?

kathryn wrote this at 7:45 am

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by Seth Simonds

How long can you work on a creative task before you need to recharge?

I like to think of my creative energy in terms of a little electric car. Not a beautiful and fast electric supercar (who am I kidding?) but a little bee-bop two-seater with an 8-inch steering wheel. If I had a picture of my creative energy, it’d look a lot like the one in the photo, only blue.

Thinking in terms of a small electric car allows me to plan for my projects based on three factors:

  1. My Range: I’m good for about 150 miles of projects before low-battery warnings start to sound. Sure, I can push a bit more, but if I do, I’ll need to take an extended break before I can get back to work in top form. There’s a time to push ahead through blinding exhaustion in order to get a task done but I try to avoid it.
  2. My Itinerary: Having a plan means I’ll know when to stop  for breaks so that I keep myself charged and can bring a project to completion. Planning can seem like a dreadfully dull portion of a project but the resulting energy makes every moment of planning worth the effort.
  3. My Destination: If you’ve ever driven a car the size of my creative energy, you know that it can be hard to see over and around the larger vehicles involved in a project. Financial restriction trucks block intersections and deadline buses will try to run you off the road. Having a clear idea of what my end product allows me to stay focused no matter what short term distraction comes up.

I’m not a tireless machine that can happily trudge around social media stapling smiles to telephone polls and posting stump speeches on my blog without ever needing a break. I’m more like that little electric car, using power at a discernible rate. I get worn out during projects and find myself growing frustrated with people over things I’d never notice if I were getting enough sleep. I get dismayed by human nature and sometimes catch myself saying things like “I hate people” even though I don’t really mean it.

That all changes when I’ve planned out a project and know what my destination is and how I plan on reaching it. When I take time to recharge by quietly reading a novel, talking on the phone with a friend, or going for a walk, I find that my energy level stays high and projects are completed with a flourish. Bringing a friend along for the ride can add a lot to a project as well. The picture of the car shows only two seats but there’s room for a lot more people than you’d imagine!

What do you do to keep your battery charged?

Seth Simonds is about writing, networking, sharing in crazy conversations with brilliant people. He writes at Seth Simonds.com
Follow him on Twitter: @sethsimonds
photo credit: Flickr: frankh

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7 Comments to “Creative Batteries: How Far Can You Go on a Single Charge?”

  1. February 12th, 2009 at 8:07 am
    matt said

    Nice analogy there. Yeah, I think it is also important to mention that if you get lost, don’t be afraid to ask for directions to get back on track.

    If you look at a project for too long, or stare at a road for too long, it becomes just a road/canvas. Every exit looks the same, all the signs blend together. While you know generally where you are headed, a fresh set of eyes always helps exponentially.

    Nice job!

  2. February 12th, 2009 at 9:27 am
    Hendry Lee said

    People often forget about taking a break. My plan is to work in 55-minute blocks so I can take the 5 minute to go to the kitchen to fill my glass and talk to a family member.

    Your post reminds me of getting into the habit of using the timer again.

    I also take a 3-day weekend (a mini-vacation) every month and spend some time with my girlfriend.

  3. February 12th, 2009 at 11:23 am
    the famous nemo said

    I dont know how I do it but I work 15 hour days 7 days a week, I guess it all about loving what you do.

  4. February 12th, 2009 at 11:37 am
    Henie said

    Hi Seth and Liz!

    I potentially require only 4 hours of sleep…always have…but therein lies the danger of me abusing this rarity, pushing it to 2 hours and eventually my red light is blinking battery power 1% left.

    So, to keep it all balanced, I have officially declared Sundays as my “STOP DAY” where literally everything stops except for personal nurturing.

    Sunday is languish day at my house, where the only thing that pushes me around is my rested creative energy!:)

    Thank you, Seth, as always for a terrific and informative post!

    Best Always,
    Henie

  5. February 12th, 2009 at 11:53 am
    Jane Chambers said

    I am working with breaks as well and generally with stress-relief to stay sharper mentally. I find that my thoughts do not flow freely when stress has had time to build up, and there are plenty of causes of stress.

  6. February 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
    LisaNewton said

    I used to be a workaholic, and still am, to a certain extent. However, I’ve recently found a way to totally relax, plus do work at the same time.

    It’s my camera. Now, I walk, hike, or just stroll around my neighborhood, but taking my camera with me. I love taking pictures and then sharing them. It’s not work when it’s a passion.

    BTW, I love the car analogy. Actually, this car would be very practical for 90% of my transportation needs, but then I wouldn’t need my bike…….:(

  7. February 12th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
    Seth said

    Lisa: Ahh, but the danger in having a job you’re passionate about is that it can be very easy to overwork withing being aware of it. Even if you love it, make time to take breaks! I’m sure you do though.

    I like riding a bike as well. Just not in the rain. =)

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