The Mix of Joy and Deadlines
I was recently given the reminder that I should only write
for fun, never because I think it’s a chore. While that makes sense on the
surface, I wanted to take a moment and deconstruct that. I think there is more to
this than meets the eye.
Deadlines can lead to joy
The first component of this is that sometimes having a
deadline can eventually lead to joy. Sometimes the hardest part of a project is
simply jumping in. Once you are “swimming in the cold water” you get used to it
and can even find it fun. However, when you look at the surface and think of
the initial impact of the water, it can lead you to avoiding it all together.
Life is too short to avoid building things that can lead to joy. Sometimes,
having a deadline in that can be frustrating, but can lead to something you get
in the rhythm of.
Inspiration can be caused by action
One thing sometimes leads to another. A spark of inspiration
can cause a raging fire to occur. That’s why having a deadline can be a really
good thing. Sometimes you are forced to “light the fire” of your creativity,
which can cause it to burn even brighter the next time. In addition, it becomes
easier and easier to light each time. That makes the deadlines feel less
stressful and easier to manage. It becomes closer to habit than to herculean
task.
Opportunities for growth may only occur after creation
Sometimes the only way to move forward is to already have a
few steps in your past. If you are further down the road, and know what
works/doesn’t work, then you may be in a good position to take advantage of an
opportunity. That can be wonderful as it allows you to be more mindful of what
is around you. Furthermore, you may revel in the additional opportunities presented
to you, which can be a type of joy.
Past deadlines can lead to future success
Like the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree is five
years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is now.” Not only does
understanding what you can produce now matter but knowing what constant
production can achieve is important. If you constantly achieve words and
content every day, you will be better suited to create / mange content in the
future.
In summation:
Deadlines can sometimes zap joy out of a creative effort,
but that’s not always true. Sometimes deadlines can help get your creative
juices flowing. They can help you achieve more now because you achieved more in
the past. Furthermore, the more you work with deadlines, the less threatening /
big they seem. I think that’s why building a routine of joy is important, and
including a deadline in that routine is key.
