I have wanted to record this episode ever since I finished Manoush Zomorodi's Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self. I loved it so much that I'm giving away a copy of it to one of our newsletter subscribers.
In summary: Back in 2015, Note to Self podcast host Manoush wondered if being connected to technology with a constant stream of entertainment and information was making our lives better or worse. She noticed that we're never bored anymore and wondered what is that lack of boredom doing to us?
I had heard about this book a while ago, but had to wait until the Library had it available. I read it at the beginning of Feb and found that it really aligned with my main goal for 2018 - to get off my phone and technology and be okay with being bored (with the aim of then being more creative). I'm still yet to hear of someone lying on their death bed who wished they spent more of their life on Instagram.
Anyway, I've been working towards this goal since January 1 this year and these are some of the things that I have found have helped me to make some progress in this area:
Reading Bored and Brilliant and implementing some of the strategies, including observing my behaviour, devices away when in transit, deleting the app that sucks most of your time and observing something else. Putting my most tempting apps in harder to reach places. My home screen is now not home to any social media, photo editing apps, etc. They are on another screen and in folders so they are more inconvenient to get to.Try signing out of your favourite time wasting apps. It is super annoying to have to sign back in every time and this is a good way to break a mindless habit.Read this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/well/phone-cellphone-addiction-time.html It has some great ways to break up with your phone.
Try the Moment App. I found it super eye opening to learn how much time was really spent staring at my phone.
Try the Flipd App. It blocks you from accessing certain features on your phone for preset periods of time. (I'm trying it today for the first time, but I've been impressed by it thus dar.)
Engage the strategy of 'monitoring' as suggested by Gretchen Rubin. I've been tracking my progress towards my goal in my 'commonplace' book. (Here is Brandi Kincaid's commonplace book which is just too beautiful.) . I've also got my 'Get "Stuff" Done' notebook - pictured underneath - which is a great way of tracking progress.
Elise Blaha Cripe has a great goal tracker to help with #7. This is my progress:
And don't forget to sign up to the 100 Creatives newsletter to find out how you can win an Amazon Voucher to buy yourself a copy of Bored and Brilliant or one of two handlettered 'Just Start' pieces by Sarah Letters made especially for the show!
BONUS EPISODE: 'Tis the end of Season Three (Falalala la la la laaaah)
Episode 75: How do you learn a new creative skill?
Episode 74: How do you manage your supplies and workspace?
Episode 73: What do you read for creativity?
Episode 72: Is self care for creatives a thing?
Episode 71: What do you wish you knew how to do?
Episode 70: Do you try new creative things or do you stick with what you know?
Episode 69: How do you deal with distraction?
Episode 68: What do you wish you knew how to do?
Episode 67: How do you do social media?
Episode 66: Who would be your dream collaboration?
Episode 65: What is your earliest creative memory?
Episode 64: What are the best and worst bits of being a creative?
Episode 63: Welcome to Season Three
#the100dayproject - Day ... I don't know what!
#the100dayproject - Day 30
#the100dayproject - Day 16
It all begins again today
Episode 62: Nicole Presley of Plan My Wedding Please
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