Become a light switch

Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start.

I call this becoming a “light switch”

When you’re not creating, flick off the artistic thoughts from your consciousness. And when you sit down to write, switch them back on.

The light switch is binary, meaning you are either aware of creating or not. Do not chew on work in the back of your head. Get it out.

Shutting down seems counterintuitive. After all, we are artists… right? Shouldn’t we let our craft consume the day as it pleases?

Here are some benefits I’ve found from becoming a light switch:

• Creative sessions have a newfound focus. You become hungry to create instead of dreading the canvas.
• Reenter your work in a fresh headspace. Perspective is needed for creativity.
• Helps prevent burnout. Keep yourself making for years without feeling exhausted.

You don’t always have to be a light switch. Sometimes, the work is so engaging it’s unstoppable. That’s okay.

Usually we can create space to turn off. Ideas will still appear during the day; You can capture them and resume art-free activity.

If you’re still not sold on the “light switch” idea, the first paragraph was a quote from Ernest Hemingway.

Give this a try.