What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “know your creative cycles”?
“Cycles” remind me that nature breathes new life in different seasons. Similarly, you follow that pattern when creating anything. There is a specific time for a specific activity.
Every creative discovers their own cycle. If you conduct a quick Google search, you will a variety of perspectives. However, there are some common denominators that involve three major phases:
- Time to consume information or explore new interests
- Going on hermit mode and integrating what you consumed
- Time to create and share (if you’re called to share)
There’s no ‘one size fits all’. Not every cycle is meant for creation. There is no set timeline for each phase of your personal process. Only you determine where you are and when it’s time to move to the next part.
Heck. Your creative cycles might not even sound like the ones listed above.
There might be long periods of contemplation where it looks as if “you’re not doing anything”. As Austin Kleon puts it, “I’m not languishing, I’m dormant”. This stage is as important as any other to create.
It’s a matter of asking yourself: What do I know about my creative cycles?