is routine the enemy of creativity
begin routine
wake up
play with baby
go for run
shower
go to work
stare at computer
eat lunch at desk
awkward conversation in hallway
go home
eat dinner
stare at computer
watch TV
play with baby
read
go to bed
repeat
It’s somewhat strange to reduce my life to a list of actions like this, but this is nonetheless my (more or less) routine. My question is whether or not routine is the enemy of creativity? Am I less creative because I have such a routine (which is an argument I hear fairly often)?
I think not.
If that were true, all “creative” people would have no routine, which is certainly not the case. Routine is good, and allows us to focus on things that matter. My hunch is that most people hate their routine, which is why they blame routine for their lack of creativity. So the root cause is a lack of passion for the things within the routine, rather than routine itself.
But I would argue that if you enjoy your routine and have a passion for some of the things within it, then creativity will be a byproduct of engaging with your routine. So instead of dismissing the idea of having a routine, the focus should be on maximizing the time we spend on things within the routine that we thoroughly enjoy.
“Creativity and discipline go hand in hand.” —Jim Collins, quoted in INC
