Inspiration and motivation are such wild, unpredictable creatures— showing up to dance with creativity, like, whenever they want and then leaving this intoxicating, irregular little pop-up disco as soon as you suggest making a go of it.
The last two weeks I was at this disco. Or, this disco was in me. It began with a week that was meant to be busy with project work but wasn’t. Stuck at a desk, just in case, I started fucking around with some Midnight Voice Memos product ideas. I found flow quickly, and felt highly motivated to move these ideas forward. There’s an electricity to this kind of momentum, and it was crackling in me.
This most recent week, I took off. One project had wrapped, and I saw this as an opportunity to play more with the product ideas. Faced with a gloriously bare week, my motivation stuttered. I had taken the time to plan out the work that needed to get done. I sat down at my desk every day to do it, but the electricity just fizzled out. I got way less done than I had hoped, and played more hours of video games than I had intended.
Some parts of this feel like the classic push-pull of obligation and desire: grass-is-greener flurries of creative work that happen because there is something less interesting you should be doing. Other parts of this feel less obvious, harder to navigate. Not least of all for me because these product ideas pull on elements of game design so playing the games felt like it could conceivably be work. Right?
Questions of when I need rest, or when I need play, or when play is actually work, or if work-play is actually just procrastination in disguise are questions I’m still learning to answer for myself. While I may be an expert in feeling tortured by those questions, I am not an expert in knowing what reply to offer. This week, I’m sharing what I do know.
Big love and keep going!
Lucy
How to check in, before you tap out
MEMO - Check depletion: How to know if you’re truly done for the day
When you're unsure if you've hit your limit, it can be helpful to test your energy levels with a simple experiment. If you find yourself unable to start, sit down where you would normally work and do absolutely nothing for 30 minutes. This time of stillness can reveal whether you're truly out of steam or just in need of a reset. On the other hand, if you feel tapped out earlier than expected, challenge yourself to push through for just ten more minutes. Often, this brief extension can reignite your focus and help you finish the day on a stronger note. By tuning into these subtle signals, you can better understand when it's time to rest and when it's worth pushing a little further.
MEMO - Apply boredom: How to listen for what you need
Before reaching for a distraction, give yourself permission to be bored—literally. Spend some time staring at a wall, letting your mind wander without the pull of devices or tasks. In this space, you'll create room for your true needs to surface. Do you find yourself suddenly yearning to read an article or explore a new idea? This could be a sign that your creative well needs filling. Alternatively, if your thoughts drift toward sorting and processing, it might indicate that you need fallow time—an opportunity to mentally organize and recover. By allowing boredom to take its course, you gain clarity on whether you need to feed your creativity or give it a break.
MEMO - Restore full life: How to give yourself what you need
Once you’ve identified what you need, it can still be challenging to actually give it to yourself. This hesitation might stem from a subconscious need for permission or difficulty in pinpointing exactly what would restore you. To tackle the permission barrier, consider writing yourself ‘playful permission slips’—little notes that allow you to indulge in the areas where you struggle most to let yourself off the hook. If staring at a wall doesn’t clarify your needs, try turning to journaling. Writing can often help you untangle complex emotions and uncover what you truly require to feel recharged and ready to create again.
Let me know: How do you keep yourself honest when it comes to rest, play and procrastination?