Create vs Consume: 2020 Vision
I am a social media addict. I would rather spend my time consuming content than creating it; I am gullible person and believe everything I read, no matter how far-fetched. This is debilitating when following other artists on social media. I doubt my own ability when I don't have the new album or Spotify stats to brag about. I often feel like my own brain is getting in the way of deep, creative work.
I've compiled a list of strategies and ideas I'm trying or continuing in 2020 in hopes of making more time for creativity, and believing my work is worthy of sharing with others. I thought it'd be worth sharing in case you are feeling as trapped by your phone as I am.
Srinivas Rao: I stumbled onto Srini's work in a moment of artistic crisis, when I first realized how much more creativity I needed in my daily life. His book An Audience of One and his Unmistakable Creative podcast have been incredibly inspirational and reassuring as I try to make creativity a normal part of my daily habits again. Some of his ideas that have been helpful:
Cultivate a physical space that is conducive to your creative flow: This has been a game changer for me. No matter how hard I try otherwise, I need to work at a desk to be creative. It's the only way I can be productive. By working in the same physical space, I'm able to quickly fall into flow and focus on my work.
Create for the audience of one: Srini made me realize that I literally have no idea what you all are thinking when you listen to my music. Even if I try to create something I think you will like, I can't guarantee you will enjoy it. That is such a terrifyingly freeing idea for me. In 2020, I hope to stop letting expectations paralyze me and create some new music that I am proud of and is authentically me.
Cal Newport: Cal's book The Digital Minimalist changed my perspective on my phone. Rather than demonizing it, I love Cal's perspective on transitioning my phone into a tool that supports my needs. Cal also has a really interesting perspective on social media for artists. Like MySpace, I think Facebook and Instagram also have their expiration dates. Also, it feels fruitless to cultivate a following on Instagram and Facebook when I know about the algorithms and pay walls restricting my ability to reach all my fans. With all this in mind, I appreciate the advice I've gleaned from Cal's work:
Create a social network that isn't dependent on Facebook or Instagram: In 2020, I'm hoping to create a newsletter! Nothing that feels spammy; maybe once a month. I'd love to share the music I've been listening to, what I've been thinking about as a creative person, and maybe even some music I've been recently working on. I appreciate the dialogue I've been able to engage with online, and I hope that I can connect with more people in a more meaningful way than through "likes".
Your phone is a tool, not entertainment: This is my biggest struggle. I would rather be consuming content than creating. But I've made efforts to rein in my screen time! I've removed Instagram from my phone and only install it once a day to check in. I'm pretty proud to say that Instagram is the only social media app I interact with anymore. I have a bare bones Facebook account to keep my music page active, and I deactivated my Twitter account a few years ago. But even with all of this effort, I'm still averaging 1.5-2 hours a day on my phone. Always room for improvement.
Dr. Michael Gervais: Another big goal for 2020 is to work on my performance mindset. As both a dancer and musician, I struggle with being on stage. I don't feel like I am talented enough to warrant anyone's attention and it's gotten to the point where it's almost debilitating. I discovered Michael's work a few weeks ago, so I don't yet have a firm grasp on techniques that are helpful for me. Some ideas I am trying, or hope to try in 2020:
Performance Mindset by Headspace: Michael seems to be a big proponent for meditation. Headspace partnered with the NBA to do different courses inspired by the mental characteristics necessary for peak performance. I already use Headspace for their other guided meditations, so I'm excited to give these courses a go and see how helpful they are!
Finding Mastery Podcast: Since Michael's perspective is so new to me, I'll be binging on his podcast in 2020.