I used to be a night owl. There was something romantic about late nights under the glow of a laptop, while I poured my heart all over the screen. Even with works that weren’t so emotional, it always felt better to begin my writing and creative thinking after midnight.
When I was in graduate school, my late night rendezvous with the pen had to come to an end. I couldn’t juggle my long days, with my long sleepless nights. One of my professors offered me a solution that was revolutionary: sleep at night, and write in the mornings. In fact, write as early as I can stand waking up. So I reverse my whole creative schedule, waking up as early as 5 a.m. to write for a few hours, while feeling rested and relaxed in the evenings and actually sleeping.
#TeamNoSleepIn
Many successful entrepreneurs have noted that they wake up insanely early to start their creative day. There is something peaceful and energetic about doing your best work before checking tweets or texts or turning on the TV. Recently, there was an Instagram movement called #TeamNoSleepIn, that encouraged people to fit in all the things they wanted to do–read books, exercise and be creative.
What I was depriving myself from was time in the day where there was no pressure and no expectations. For the same reasons that I felt most creative on Saturday mornings and on planes, 4 a.m. has become a place of productive peace. That feeling is why I love what I do. I don’t need a vacation. I don’t need to step away. I just need a couple hours a day before anyone else is up.
Paul DeJoe, co-founder of Ecquire
The Power of Five Minutes
So, waking up at 5 a.m. is a lot of ask, even for a dedicated creative like yourself. But a five-minute commitment can serve just as well. I meet so many writers who tell me they want to write a novel, or start a blog, but they have no time. But starting with just five minutes a day can get you to 500 pages, eventually. If you are one of those people who want to write a book, or draw, or paint or any other creative endeavor, start it now! Below is a song I like to free write to. Here are three prompts to start your project:
- If you know exactly what project is on your heart, start it now! Start writing, sketching or detailing your dream!
- Make a Creative To-Do List of the research, purchases or planning you need to do to launch your dream
- If you don’t have an idea immediately, then free write. Two prompts I like to use are, “I don’t want to write because…” or “I am passionate about…”
Song is below, let’s go!
Feel free to share with me what creative project you started. Also, check out the other posts in the 4 Fears series and share it with your creative community!
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