We've all experienced the weight of procrastination! Some of us might even wait to finish (or start 😏) a project until the very last minute!
In reality, procrastination isn't just a barrier for us to overcome over the course of our work; it’s actually mirror reflecting our not-so-great habits.
A few weeks ago, productivity and organization expert, Tiago Forte posted this:
As someone who is no stranger to procrastination, I thought this was such a simple yet incredible technique!
This practice isn't about self-criticism, but more about understanding. By noting the reasons for procrastination, we can actually start to see the patterns of our bad habits.
Instead of generalizing our bad habits or saying "you do better work when you procrastinate", we can actually turn our habits into trackable data!
Now as a musician, our challenges are a bit more unique than someone working a 9-5 job. Your art thrives on inspiration, yet the need for consistent practice and the pressures of deadlines are always there.
So let's break down how you can apply Forte's method in your own musical journey:
🕵️ Identify the Moment of Procrastination: Whether it's skipping a practice session, delaying a songwriting process, or putting off learning a new piece, recognize when you're procrastinating.
✍️ Record Your Reasons: Write down why you're delaying. Is it lack of inspiration, fear of not being good enough, or maybe external distractions?
📊 Analyze the Patterns: Over time, review your notes. Do you procrastinate more during certain times of the day? Are there specific tasks in your musical process that you avoid more often?
✅ Implement Changes: Based on your insights, make adjustments. If you find you're more creative at night, rearrange your schedule. If certain tasks feel daunting, break them into smaller, manageable steps.
🧘 Embrace Flexibility and Forgiveness: The creative process is non-linear. Understand that some days will be better than others. Forgive yourself for the off days and celebrate the productive ones.
Procrastination, especially for musicians, can reveal a deeper underlying issue in your creative process. By adopting Tiago Forte's method of turning procrastination into insight, you might be able to uncover these issues and address them, leading to a more productive and fulfilling musical career!
Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate procrastination entirely but to understand and harness it as a tool for self-improvement!