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You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

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Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#51

Post by philipov »

121789 wrote: post #21
FigurativeVoid wrote: post #13

I think that we are being overwhelmed and it hurts us in more ways than our creativity. We are moving through the world in constant distraction. Until recently, when I was doing something around the house, no matter what, I was listening to music, podcasts, or books. I found that it seemed like it was taking for ever for me to do the simplest tasks. After a while... I figured that I must be going slower because I was…

I can’t agree with this any more. If you find yourself always thinking “I’ll do the laundry, let me just find a good podcast first” you are in trouble. It’s so easy just to have constant input these days

At first, I thought you meant you could no longer agree with this.

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#53

Post by datameta »

yamazakiwi wrote: post #49
BagelGuy wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Boredom + Freedom = Creativity.

I see, the missing link is not age, it's freedom. I myself do a bad job of being bored, even when freedom is provided. My reaction is reinforced due to how often I am compelled to deal with boredom without freedom.

I second this very much so. Even if I have the extra time due to working from home, I usually don't feel free enough during work hours to get engrossed in a hobby or side project. I just seek escape in the form of cheap temporary entertainment.

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#54

Post by IanCal »

FigurativeVoid wrote: post #13

I think that we are being overwhelmed and it hurts us in more ways than our creativity. We are moving through the world in constant distraction. Until recently, when I was doing something around the house, no matter what, I was listening to music, podcasts, or books. I found that it seemed like it was taking for ever for me to do the simplest tasks. After a while... I figured that I must be going slower because I was…

It's personal. For me I have multiple conversations happening in my head most of the time, not quite simultaneously. Listening to something like a podcast occupies that part of my brain so it's less chatty - and I can move forwards more quickly with a simpler task (e.g. now the lawn).

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#55

Post by m463 »

alisson_dover wrote: post #2

Creativity requires space. Can't remember who said it (paraphrasing): dedicate at least 4 hours to the process, you might end up being creative for only 10 minutes of that time.

I find much creativity when I am awake but haven't gotten out of bed in the morning.

(I do need my phone to capture it)

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#56

Post by coldtea »

FigurativeVoid wrote: post #13

I think that we are being overwhelmed and it hurts us in more ways than our creativity. We are moving through the world in constant distraction. Until recently, when I was doing something around the house, no matter what, I was listening to music, podcasts, or books. I found that it seemed like it was taking for ever for me to do the simplest tasks. After a while... I figured that I must be going slower because I was…

Yes, the emphasis on hurting our creativity is a red herring.

It first and foremost hurts our ability to focus, work, live our private life, pay attention to our partners, family, and friends, be aware politically, and so on.

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#57

Post by coldtea »

makeitdouble wrote: post #46
FigurativeVoid wrote: post #13

I think that we are being overwhelmed and it hurts us in more ways than our creativity. We are moving through the world in constant distraction. Until recently, when I was doing something around the house, no matter what, I was listening to music, podcasts, or books. I found that it seemed like it was taking for ever for me to do the simplest tasks. After a while... I figured that I must be going slower because I was…

The obvious other side of that coin: of the two things we're doing at once, one of them is neither fun nor engaging. Making it the thing to 100% focus on will also mean it it's now a stronger candidate to procrastination, and just won't be done at all.

Perhaps it shouldn't have been done or added to our plate in the first place?

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#58

Post by paulpauper »

Sorta off-topic, but the submitted Substack link only got a single 'like' on Substack an a single comment despite being viral here, top of front page of HN with 107 points. If that is good enough for only a single 'like', what does it take to get dozens of likes, as I often see on other Substack blogs? or many comments? A huge PR campaign? Being famous? What hope does anyone have to make money or success at writing when virality leads to no readers?

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#59

Post by firecall »

sosodev wrote: post #4

This seems like nonsense. The author claims that we're overwhelmed by the volume of content we consume and that's why we can't be creative. So the suggested solution is to do more work to consume content? That doesn't make any sense to me.

Yes, the article isnt good.

Re: You're not lacking creativity, you're overwhelmed

#60

Post by grvdrm »

121789 wrote: post #21
FigurativeVoid wrote: post #13

I think that we are being overwhelmed and it hurts us in more ways than our creativity. We are moving through the world in constant distraction. Until recently, when I was doing something around the house, no matter what, I was listening to music, podcasts, or books. I found that it seemed like it was taking for ever for me to do the simplest tasks. After a while... I figured that I must be going slower because I was…

I can’t agree with this any more. If you find yourself always thinking “I’ll do the laundry, let me just find a good podcast first” you are in trouble. It’s so easy just to have constant input these days

Maybe I can suggest a middle-ground that is sort of best of both worlds: put on a podcast that isn't one that you're certain you want to be focused on?

I listen to The Daily and variety of others when I do dishes. When I'm certain I want to really ingest a podcast, I listen during dedicated time.

So, I think we're just conflating a bit - ok to have something in your ear while, in reality, you focus on just one thing - dishes. Just remember that you're not going to remember the thing in your ear all that much.

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