Creative Chaos

For some reason, having a structured life seems like a challenge to me. I have never really been much of a person to have such a strict routine and really follow it through. Maybe for the first few days after listening to motivational talks.

As a matter of fact, my whole wall seems to come crashing down when I do set a list of things to do or achieve for the week. When I vex and set a schedule of posts to write for a week, guess what happens next. I became a ghost for that week, the very opposite of the original plan to write every day.

Taking an introspective look at myself, however, I realise that the kind of person that I am doesn't really do well with rigid routines. I wander a lot in my mind. Random and spontaneous ideas pop up like fireworks. And we all know what happens to ideas unwritten or acted on; they just disappear as quickly as they come.

Let me give an example of what happens in the mind of this author. One time, I got a random idea to develop a DIY Power Backup System for my router. Electricity isn't a regular thing here. I adjusted my agenda for that day to focus on it. It may not have happened eventually if I had tried to "schedule it." I was in the mood to think deeply about it.

I mean, it's good to have some level of structure and organisation. But the truth is, when it comes to creativity, structure doesn't exactly cut it for me.

For things like creating content and problem-solving, mood and environment matter a lot. I have had my dreams transcend into my posts some times. No jokes. I'd wake up from sleep with an idea from nowhere and fire on.

Another time was when I woke up from sleep and knew the answer to how to shift the power drawn from the grid on to a different metre that had the electric units we needed to consume. I had pondered about it in my sleep, maybe. But then, spontaneity again...

When it comes to work, if tasks are not exactly time-bound and they require some level of creativity, I just wait for the inspiration for something solid to come, and then I just fire on. I'd meet the deadlines somehow.

My activities are mostly random, especially these days that I am out of school and serving my country. And there usually isn't a structure. There would be things to do for the day, but they come in random order most of the time.

For someone who's keen on creativity, being spontaneous works well for me. I don't do it so well, however, and there are certain drawbacks and shortcomings.

I mean, I am not in any way dissing routines and structure. They're great, but they don't exactly work for me in many areas. Admittedly, it gets messy with spontaneity sometimes. When I do not attend to things at the right time, everything just rolls and builds up into a big boulder that would be demanding to move.

To strike a balance, I try to maintain a loose framework that allows for spontaneity while preventing the chaos from becoming overwhelming.

One thing I learned from Elizabeth Filips, one of my favourite YouTubers, is that rather than setting a long list of things to do for the day, it is better to create a list of things to do to "feel accomplished for the day." The most important things, basically. What that helps me do is create a more streamlined list that has a higher chance of success. I would also allow room for random things.

Adaptive planning is another thing I do regularly. Sometimes, my emotions may affect "what I think I could be able to achieve in a day." When I do not achieve a good amount of success, I feel bummed and beat myself up. Intead, I would keep my mind open to adjusting the agenda as I go. Plans change, and that's okay.

Following a solid structure and going on autopilot never really works for me. I am more of a creative person, and to fully explore that side of me, I need to embrace some randomness. Some order for efficiency and more productivity cannot be neglected, however, so I find a way to mix it in and strike a balance.

To put a wrap on this, what I am trying to say in essence is that there are generally two types of people and how they go about their days. I am more of a "let's see how it goes person." What about you?