Hey Creative Souls!
At some point in our lives, we’ve all done it, put off a task we knew was important.
Maybe we told ourselves we’d get to it tomorrow.
Maybe we avoided it altogether.
And this is what we often hear in response.
“You’re lazy.”
“You’re unmotivated.”
“Stop procrastinating.”
But what if procrastination isn’t always the enemy?
What if, when used intentionally. it can actually help us get more done and even spark creative breakthroughs?
There are two types of procrastination:
This is what we usually think of when we hear the word procrastination. Scrolling social media, binge-watching Netflix and doing some random things. Most importantly, avoiding the important task to be done and feeling guilty about it.
This is the strategic kind. It’s when you deliberately step away from a task to give your brain some breathing space. You’re still thinking about the task, just not consciously, and you plan to return to it eventually.
This type of procrastination can actually boost productivity and creativity.
One of the most important phases of creativity is something called incubation.
This idea was introduced by Graham Wallas in The Art of Thought (1926), where he broke the creative process into 4 stages:
Incubation allows your mind to break free from a fixed pattern and build new connections.
Ever had a breakthrough in the shower?
Or while driving, walking, or cooking?
That’s incubation at work.
Here are 3 practical strategies to make procrastination work for you:
Have multiple creative projects? Avoid one by working on another. Once you are actively working on any project and want to take a break, that’s completely fine. You can procrastinate on one task and may be use the time to work on another rather simpler task. You can use the momentum from one task to fuel progress elsewhere. This strategy is very effective because you can get more done in the same amount of time. Dale Lyles says in his book Lichtenbergianism:
Procrastinate on one task by doing another. — Lichtenbergianism
Don’t just wait for a break, schedule it.
Use a time tracking app or calendar blocks to create “think time” or “creative blocks”. If you are someone like me then you live by your calendar. This helps me tremendously to stay creative. Once I schedule all my routine tasks and breaks, it gives me more space and time to schedule blocks to work on my creative projects. So if I am planning an hour or two hours blocks to work on any project, I will also schedule a 15 or even 30 minutes break after to just do nothing. This break provides an opportunity to process all the information in your brain and also refreshes you. So make sure to schedule breaks and also your return to the task.
Take a moment to step away from the screen. Go for a walk or do something different. The age we are living in, we are surrounded with screens and things that demands all our attention. We should realize that attention is a finite resource that we have so we should spend it wisely which can benefit us. Taking these short breaks to let your wander can be extremely helpful, not just to your mind but also to your body and overall health. Our minds are a powerful beast which has the potential to do the impossible but overrunning it can be harmful too. While doing any creative work, ensure you are giving your mind some time to just think freely and wander in the unfamiliar territories. This can help you brain making new associations to generate new ideas.
Procrastination isn’t always a flaw.
Sometimes it’s exactly what your brain needs to do its best work.
So next time you catch yourself stepping away from a task… don’t beat yourself up.Take the break on purpose.Let your ideas breathe.
Let your creativity flow.
You might be closer to your next breakthrough than you think.