Alright, so we’ve talked quite a bit about doing the work that matters; but what about when the work that matters… sucks?
What about those times when doing the work that matters isn’t fun, because those seasons definitely come along. Every so often, we find ourselves just really not enjoying the creative process or project that we’re engaged in and we can feel it beginning to sap the energy from us and we’re not sure what to do about it.
Well, I’ve often found that a nap and/or a meal can go a long ways. Sometimes, when I’m in a rut, literally taking some time off and enjoying myself away from the work can be all the difference maker I need. It can literally be an hour long nap, it can be an afternoon off doing something that
I enjoy not related to the work. It could be a whole vacation if the situation allows it.
The point is that a lot of times, stepping back and hitting the refresh (not reset) button can get you right back into it.
But what if the problem is more stubborn? What if it’s not just an energy thing and you need a little more than a break and a snickers.
That’s what passion projects are for. For me, passion projects typically fall into the realm of film making and photography but they certainly don’t have to be in the same territory as your professional work. I also really love wood working and running; the marathon I’m currently training for is definitely a passion project. The importance of passion projects, aside from engaging in work that you really believe in on the deepest level, is that they give you options.
I find that I’m more likely to experience this feeling of really not being engaged in the work, even though it’s work that matters, if it’s the only thing that I’m working on and I have no other outlet. My brain needs a break sometimes, not from the kind of work overall, just from the details of specific projects. If I’ve got four wedding films breathing down my neck That need edited and I’m feeling like I can’t really get into them, I probably need to go shoot some landscape photography or film something for my Youtube channel; the brain needs variety to stay sharp. Not variety like multi tasking, that creates cognitive residue when you’re rapidly task switching like that and is the opposite of sharp. It just needs to have options. If you give yourself options you trick the brain into thinking that since you chose this specific thing to work on, then it must be enjoyable, because you wouldn’t intentionally choose to do something unenjoyable… right?
But if you’re experiencing this drag, this friction in creating something that you don’t always experience, maybe make something else for a little while, see how that boosts your creativity and your energy back up to normal levels.
And if you always feel like you’re struggling while creating something, chances are that work isn’t the kind of work that really gets your motor running and you should probably shift your focus. I’m not talking about switching your specialty, I’m just saying that if you can never get motivated to edit wedding films after you’ve shot them, maybe stop shooting wedding films. Maybe try shooting commercials, or music videos, or your cousins 5th grade birthday party, I don’t care what it is, just make sure that the work carries the potential for you to truly get invested in it.
And once you know you can get invested in it, make sure you’ve got some options to give your brain the separation it needs to see projects in their entirety.
If the only view you allow yourself to have is up close, you’re going to miss a lot. It would be a shame to go to Yosemite and spend all of creativeyour time with your face 6 inches away from El Cap admiring the intricacies of the granite but never back up a mile or so and take in the grandiosity of the mountain in all it’s glory.
Don’t do the equivalent of admiring a mountain from 6 inches away with your work that matters.
Short read today, thanks for checking it out. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Much love. Peace.
