photo by jhoc
I’ll be honest — I didn’t keep up my promise on the last two days of the Creation Challenge, because of an emergency trip to the border to sort out some visa issues. My project is close to completion, but not quite polished.
Nevertheless, the 15-day Creation Challenge was an eye-opening exercise for me. I realized that one hour each day can actually have a significant impact in moving a project forward. Perhaps more importantly, I found it was an extremely effective way to propel myself from the planning stage into the actual doing stage.
I worked on putting together a multimedia story, which entailed learning a new software application. The application wasn’t very difficult, but I had to go through a few tutorials to get the hang of all the tricks and tweaks. Because I knew I was devoting only one hour each day to this project, I didn’t linger on the learning process, choosing instead to learn as I created.
Now, although one hour per day allowed me to make substantial progress on my project, I wondered if a long block of uninterrupted time would have been even more beneficial.
The accepted view on creative production is that long, focused blocks of time are necessary for getting in the zone. But as we all know well, the technology we have at our fingertips makes it much harder to pull away into that zone. Of course, day jobs, kids, and all sorts of things also get in the way. Shutting off the phone isn’t enough — you have to close your e-mail application, close your feed reader, log out of Facebook… simply getting off the computer is often the easiest fix.
Here are the questions I’m putting on the table:
What were you able to accomplish during the 15-day Creation Challenge?
Ideally, would you work in long, uninterrupted blocks of time, or in regular, concentrated short blocks?
Do you think the flood of information and connectivity has made us more able to concentrate in shorter chunks of time? Or simply harder to grab those long blocks of time?
I can’t wait to hear all your thoughts… the comment board is yours!
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I wasn’t one of the those who took part in the 15 Day Creation Challenge, but thought I would offer up my opinion on getting into the zone.
I’ve been thinking about this a fair bit lately and realised that for me to get into the zone I need a trigger, which can be almost anything from a sudden feeling of laziness, music, sorting out the tasks I need to do or witnessing something beautiful, to completely internal triggers like a memory or stray thought.
Whenever these triggers hit me I find I can work constantly for hours at a time. It’s both bliss and burden though — I can sometimes get into the zone in a matter of seconds or spend hours working without actually hitting that space fully..
And I think all this connectivity is ruining my ability to think, to put it simply. With an ipod (there’s a convoluted reason for this, heh) in my ears all the time, a telephone and email I can’t turn off because of work, it seems to be getting harder and harder to just.. think.. I should really get around to that meditation article I’ve been wanting to read, huh? It’s so fantastic to have this ability to find virtually anything we want instantly.. learning can be a distraction of odd sorts, can’t it? It’s so fun to learn all new things that wikipedia can offer, but in the long run, you become a heck of a lot less productive.
What are your thoughts, Zoe?
Alex Charchar´s last blog post..Beautiful Björk
I’m sorry I missed this! It would have been wonderful to do.
Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on Twitter)´s last blog post..The Monday edition: This title is not a snow-related cliché
Fist of all, I didn’t sign up for your 15-day challenge because something came up medically and I knew I couldn’t fulfill it. But something else happened in these 15 days of healing for me. I had been setting aside an hour per weekday for three or four months to write on my book. In the months of doing that, I experienced the last question — the flood of connectivity and information makes it harder for me to concentrate in those short bursts of time. So, I evaluated and came to a realization that I am going to still participate in those things in a limited way for the next three months, but I’m turning your challenge into a 3-month one where I devote the majority of my time to get the majority of my book written. All was not lost, I used one of my hours from your challenge to create a visual time line on a large chunk of blueprint paper. And know I’m ready to write fervently without interruption. Thanks for the challenge.
TJ Hirst´s last blog post..From the Inside of a Remodel, Part III
It was an interesting process indeed. As far as time for creativity goes, and being in the zone – a long time block works well for me. As far as commiting a specific time block, it helped to say this time is for such and such, or I will only spend this hour and then keep my other commitments. I did decide to forgo the commitment on the weekends here as family time is important. Plus I am happy to say I can be self indulgent and take time as I need it during the week. Which is exactly what I did. There were weekdays where I had to ‘make’ myself keep the commtiment too…Having said that I ventured into 3 new arenas: an online collage making site (polyvore.com), a pallete/pattern creating site (colourlovers.com), and picasa.google.com for ‘sharing’ images. Anyone wishing to view my relfections on things I enjoy may do so at http://picasaweb.google.com/Buitenwerfs.Calgary/Reflections# Thanks for challenging us Zoe.
I need to say up front that I didn’t actually participate in the 15 day challenge. The biggest reason I didn’t is because the very nature of my work requires me to work in larger chunks of time. I need to get in the zone and keep the momentum going when I’m making larger scale necklaces and metal objects. Also, I work part-time and do most of the housework and dog related stuff. I have to schedule blocks of time in the studio where I can get that momentum going and focus entirely on my artwork.
Wendy Edsall-Kerwin´s last blog post..Super “Bowl” Sunday Challenge Complete
Like most others in the comment section, I didn’t do the challenge, but I wanted to say something about the Zone. I find even 20 minutes enough to move projects forward. I have so many things on the go right now that some can’t receive a full hour. I don’t put them off, however. I do one little bit and it moves forward slowly but surely. The trick I’m learning is patience. It doesn’t all need to happen now.
As for interruptions. While working on something I’m usually pretty good at ignoring temptations, especially if I’m really interested in what I’m doing.
Cheers,
Alex
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..Getting through it on your own: The Deep Friar interview
@ Alex – I too think that a trigger is often the most effective way to propel yourself into the zone — of course, having a trigger that you control is really useful. Actually, one trigger that usually works for me is putting my headphones on with Bach music, cup of tea at my side, and it gets me focused for my morning writing sessions. But I fear I’m not always as focused as I’d like to be, and as you mentioned, my knowledge-chasing can get in the way. Looking up a synonym may turn into a 15-minute distraction, or I may get completely sidetracked looking for photos of something I’m describing.
I think the best way to counter this is to make strict separation between creation time and preparation time. Keep a notepad next to you as things you need to look up pop into your head — then move onto that list when you’re “out” of the zone.
@ Joely – Looks like you’re creating quite regularly anyway
. Of course, you can always put yourself to this challenge on your own…
@ TJ – Sounds like you used the time marvelously! Your motivation to write is contagious
@ Trina – My pattern was similar to yours — I often felt an hour was way too short, but then there were also days when I had to push myself to do that hour. Thanks for sharing the link with us! I’m really intrigued by how you used Polyvore — I’ve never seen it before.
@ Wendy – Yes, I personally agree that larger chunks are ideal. Smaller chunks work for me when it is a side project, or when I’m trying to push myself to actually start moving forward with a project. Momentum is a good word — once you have that going, it’s a shame to cut it off.
@ Alex – Yep, small chunks are perfect for moving a project forward. But I do think that for my creative projects, especially the ones I’m focused on, an hour sometimes feels too limited.
It is a good trick, however, to stop writing (for fiction) when you still have more to say — that way when you sit down to write the next day, you can pick up with that same momentum.
I find I work best in shorter blocks of time. The problem I have is coming back to a project after taking a break. I lose motivation quickly.
The Weakonomist´s last blog post..Weaky #11: Sweet Home, Nigeria
Hi there all. Today is day 15 by my count, having signed up on Jan 19th. Aiming for just one hour a day was a real breakthrough for me, so thanks a lot for the challenge Zoe!
I have distractions galore apart from just the online ones, so it really worked well to focus for ‘just’ one hour and then get on with some of the other things that were calling me.
The revelation was that several of the things I was previously labeling ‘distractions’ (in relation to a particular project) are genuine activities which also need my attention throughout an average day. Collecting the kids from school for example!! (Ok, just kidding).
An hour is also plenty of time for me to get into the zone. In fact only having an hour helped me to focus hugely.
Will post the link to the website once it’s done. I have a friend helping with the tech side next week, so I’m setting myself another 15 days from tomorrow till going online.
Did it—15 one-hour days! Jan 21 was day one; yesterday, Feb 3, was day 15.
Worked on a book proposal: I put together a table of contents, outlined chapters, roughed out an introduction, started a sample chapter, and started jotting thoughts about potential audience, marketing, etc.–things that would be part of a proposal. It’s far from done, but I’ve laid out a path.
I did miss a couple days, but I set a rule: Make up a missed day the next day, but not by doing a two hour block—by doing two separate 1 hour blocks at least an hour apart. That was hard, and it helped. It served as an incentive to stay on schedule. I also learned that even though I think of myself as a night person, it was definitely best for me to put in my block of time first thing in the morning.
I agree that an hour a day can really move a project forward. I’m guessing maybe a 2 hour block would be good too. Anything beyond that I can only imagine… It didn’t seem like I could really get into the zone in anything less than 30 minutes. I found shorter “extra” chunks of time useful too, but only for thinking, planning, jotting in a notebook, etc, rather than actual writing.
Starting each time was hardest, but sometimes stopping was hard too. When things were going well, continuing was easiest.
It worked so well I’ve decided to set another 15 day challenge of one hour blocks for myself. That’ll make it a month total. It’s worked so far, and I’m hoping this will get a routine established.
@ The Weakonomist – Yes, I find that once you halt the momentum it can be tough to keep up a really good pace of work. But no breaks isn’t a great idea either
@ Lindsay – Sounds excellent, I’m looking forward to seeing the site! It’s true that sometimes making modest promises to ourselves (like 1 hr each day) helps us actually get moving, whereas it’s easy to push off a big project by saying you just never have enough time.
@ tt – Wow, that sounds like a pretty comprehensive book proposal! I do agree that planning the block of time in the morning is really helpful toward actually doing it. I like staying up late, but my attention tends to be more scattered at night.
Very cool that you’re giving yourself a new 15-day challenge
I wasn’t able to do the fifteen-day challenge, but I sure would like to see your multimedia project. And at some point, when the timing is right, I would like to do something similar – experiment with an hour a day versus longer blocks of time.
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Top Secret Fiction Writing Exercises
@ Melissa – Sounds good! Next, I plan to experiment with a long chunk of time, so I’ll keep you posted : )
Though I did not participate, I want to share something a little different. When in comes to “getting in the zone”, I see this relating to an individual’s control over mood, ability to deal with stress and how much relaxed power of concentration they have–dealing with the psyche. I always recommend things not attributed to writing or the creative process to get in the zone; that magical Zen state where imaginations burn: serious yoga, the true study of Zen under a master, or an internal martial art like Aikido or Tai Chi. I have studied all of these over 25 years and have become so in tune with myself, it’s almost impossible to not be in the zone. Really, I’ve just adopted the reflective and detached Zen mind as a way of life. To me, it’s almost like a diet. You go on a diet, you go off the diet. And we all know it’s better to just adopt healthy eating habits . . . permanently. That’s how I see “the zone”. It’s not something I must find or get into, it’s just a reality of thought that never stops. A completely relaxed, interrogative and hyper-intuitive state of open, flowing thought . . . that never stops–regardless of what’s happening in our lives. It’s like being free from your own mental prison–a prison from which you cannot escape. If you try to escape, you are locked in deeper. So my answer is transcending the idea of not trying.
I don’t mean to sound like some kind of priest, I’m just a regular guy who drinks coke and eats potato chips LOL!
Bobby Revell´s last blog post..Writing & Artistic Creativity – The Power of Belief
Bobby,
You’ve offered us such an intriguing perspective. I am only just starting to explore meditation as a complement to the creative process, so I am a long way from the serious study you speak of. I love your diet analogy, because that really challenges a lot of the typical thinking on “getting into the zone.” I’d love to hear more about your practices — you sound interesting, not like some kind of priest!