Creativity and Procrastination: The Perfect Marriage
Hire a copywriter, hire a procrastinator – who will hit the deadlines
A couple of years ago, the BBC published an article about creativity and procrastination and how putting stuff off is a normal habit for creatives and actually fuels the process.
One of the most famous procrastinators the article mentions is Agatha Christie – one of the most prolific writers of the 20th Century – who said she came up with her best ideas when she was doing something else, or sometimes even when she was simply being lazy.
And if procrastilaziness is good enough for good ol’ Aggie– then it’s good enough for me.
How to stop procrastinating?
A man rests his head on his hand in boredom, sitting at a cafe desk with tea and a laptop in front of him
I know not all jobs can involve a massive pause – a paramedic, for example, can’t really sit about for an hour wondering what to do next – but lots of things benefit from a bit of procrastity (not a real word but I like it).
Things like creative hobbies. Problem solving. Decision making. Difficult conversation having. Choice making. Loads.
So, in an act of sheer procrastination in itself, I decided to write my top 10 ways to indulge in creative procrastination.
And to explain why arsing about for a bit can be your friend.
My top 10 ways to marry creativity and procrastination
Hang on. Before I continue, I just want to say, don’t get me wrong, procrastination isn’t always welcome.
It can be like one of those people you barely know who’ve come to your house with a bunch of other people, who don’t get the hint to leave at one in the morning, when you’re standing next to your open front door, yawning and waving at the milkman.
But sometimes I think procrastination gets a bad rap. I’d like it to become less of a negatively-viewed pastime.
So may I present to you 10 ways to procrastinate and why those ways are so amazing.
1. Doing nothing at all
Good for discovering unconscious thoughts
Seriously. Want to get something done? Do nothing. And I mean nothing. I like to lie down for this, either on the floor, the sofa, or my bed.
I like this method because it helps my brain relax, and when my brain is relaxed I can think clearly.
Try it – and if you can’t relax right away, listen for sounds outside your window, or look around at things you can see to make sure you feel present.
Lying down grounds you, making you feel safe.
When I do this, occasionally I might start to fall asleep, which allows some deeply-rooted thoughts to pop up that I didn’t even know were there. Plenty occurs to us when we’re on the verge of unconsciousness!
A young child with cropped, dark hair leans on a window ledge where rain is falling onto the glass
2. Sleeping on it
Gives perspective, allows for good day/ bad day issues
This could be seen as an extension of point 1, and it probably is.
But one reason I love this method of procrastination is that one day things can feel impossible, and on other days they feel just easy-breezy.
So, while the very act of being unconscious can allow us to tap into unexplored thoughts, sometimes it’s a simple case of catching you on a good day or bad day.
3. Going for a walk
Do I really need to explain this one?
You know you’ve heard this one a million times, but it’s truer than a true thing said by Trudy Truman.
Even if – no, especially if – you think you “don’t have the time”, because you’re “too busy and stressed!” this is precisely when you should go. for. that. walk.
Getting out of your surroundings is amazing for putting things into perspective. Seeing rabbits and birds and bees and dogs and even the old man from three doors down is also very good for the soul.
Getting a bit sweaty and out of breath takes your brain away from its own ramblings and it’s forced to focus on your body. Which, incidentally, will be getting well sexy from all the walking you’re doing. Win-win.
4. Get out your jotter and jot
Giving your brain a chance to storm
Sometimes, some wild, cerebral activity can thrash things out a bit. If you start to jot down some notes, you can organise your thoughts.
In fact, if you do this after doing any of the other items on this list, you can keep a record of the first thoughts you have after having switched off your brain.
I like lists. Pros and cons lists. Options you could make lists. Random ideas lists. People to pass this problem onto lists. Shopping lists (for when you’re taking creativity and procrastination to the next level and decide to do something else entirely.)
Write it down in a hot mess and, importantly, come back to it to organise later.
5. Talking
Good for sounding off
I love a good moan about stuff. “You’ll never guess what some douche did at the petrol station roundabout this afternoon!” or “God, I hate this advert, it makes no sense, why would a ‘staycation’ be something you do on a cruise ship?!” (actual advert on TV).
If you use someone or something as a sounding board, the answer to a problem can become obvious. You can moan to the cat, your partner, or yourself. Sometimes I make voice notes on my phone.
Sometimes – and this is a bit mean of me – talking to someone can also make you motivated to go off and do that thing you’ve been putting off. Smile and nod, smile and nod, right now I’m off to start chapter one of that book I’ve always wanted to write.
Also, this one is good for the perspective thing. Hearing about other people’s problems is a real soberer upper.
6. Watch TV
Doing something you enjoy releases happy tingles
This is probably the one that should come with a warning.
Because while TV has helped me a lot it can also be a bit too tempting to do it for longer than necessary.
A man in a yellow shirt in a yellow room at a yellow table looks at a yellow, vintage TV that is showing static
But for now, I will admit that I’ve used TV as a tool to reduce feelings of anxiety on days when that little blighter of a feeling just gets too much. Sit down, focus on the screen, maybe grab a cup of tea and a biscuit. It’s like a reset button.
It’s also nice to take some inspiration from people who’ve made a great programme – even if you’re not trying to write a programme yourself. Inspiration takes many forms.
And if it’s a programme you really love, just the very act of enjoying it is enough to give you a spring in your step for the rest of the day. You could get up earlier to watch something before work, or watch it on the commute home. Whenever you can fit it in, give yourself some un-guilty pleasure.
7. Research
Good for getting your head in the right space
As a copywriter, I make sure that research is actually part of my service. Therefore this one can sometimes be part of the job itself, and can be scratched off this list.
Other times, ‘research’ for me can simply be looking at what other copywriters do for inspiration or entertainment. And, even more tenuously, ‘research’ could be reading a good book that has flip all to do with what I’m going to write.
So you could reword this one as ‘looking around you’. What’s out there? What can inform you?
The answer is, there’s always something to inform you. You just need to look for it.
8. Cook
Making something that fuels you feels nice
You don’t have to be the greatest cook to enjoy putting something delicious together that feeds you.
You could be an amazing sandwich maker. Make that fantastic sandwich.
You could be a wonderful home cook. Make a delicious pie with homemade, steaming mash.
Either way, not only is the process a nice way to remove your brain from the stress or worry of the thing you need to do, but cooking for yourself or others feels nice.
Even the process of washing up can be made better with a podcast to entertain you.
Doing something practical makes you feel useful. And that feels good too.
9. Clean
Because it’s the other thing you’ve been putting off, right?
If you’re procrastinating over one thing, it’s a funny irony that you suddenly want to do something else you’ve been putting off for ages too.
I spent two hours pulling out my furniture and cleaning behind it the other day because I’d been staring at the laptop screen too long.
The result? I felt useful and satisfied and wanted to sit down after a good cleaning session. Even sitting down at my computer was alluring.
10. Spend some time with kids or pets
Being with creatures who don’t care about your worries is fun
It’s an old idea, that kids and animals are so innocent they drag you out of the damp, dripping dungeon that is your own brain, but it’s a good idea.
There’s a lot to be said for uninhibited activity, like pooing in public or showing your pants to strangers.
That’s not something I’ve indulged in for… oh, weeks now… but witnessing it done by kids and furry friends gives you a really grounding feeling. It makes you laugh, and helps you realise how futile worry really is.
That said, I don’t have kids myself, so handing them back because, “ah dang, I’ve got to go back home now,” is a legit excuse to get you back to the thing you were putting off.
And you can close the door, with a smile on your face, knowing you’re about to be productive AF in a quiet house where no-one’s pooing in public.
So there we go – creativity and procrastination are made for each other
I wrote a sentence earlier in this blog post that you’ll have seen in lots of other blog posts: how to stop procrastinating.
But personally, I think the answer to this quandary is: don’t stop!
Get used to your own process and the ways you like to stew a bit. Then here’s the important part: OWN your procrastination and make sure you get right into some work before the day completely runs away from you!