5 Resolutions to Keep Your Creative Energy Flowing

Last spring, I was doing an ordinary workout when I felt a sudden, sharp twinge in the small of my back. “That’s weird,” I thought. Within 24 hours, it developed into the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. 

It disrupted my sleep, interfered with my concentration and even drained my optimism, which made it very hard to get work done.

Thanks to rest, physical therapy, a cortisone shot and multiple sweet, sweet (legal) pain medications, I’ve mostly recovered (though my wife has specifically prohibited me from lifting our 8-year-old daughter, which breaks my heart).

The ordeal reminded me that part of our responsibility as creative people is to safeguard our energy and spirits so we can readily tap into the inspiration necessary for doing our best work. 

So here are a few priorities I try to keep front and center to preserve my physical, mental and emotional well-being.

1. Eat right and exercise (duh).

OK, this one’s pretty obvious. And ironic, since this all started with me injuring myself during exercise!

But I distinctly remember a night in my ‘30s coming home from a restaurant and feeling just awful — bloated, uncomfortable, woozy. It wasn’t the first time I felt that way, but I was determined to make it the last.

So, the next morning I started changing my diet of mostly pizza and pasta and chips and really exercising — more frequently, consistently and vigorously. Without that conditioning, my recovery probably would have been a lot harder. 

I know this is hard to imagine if you’re in your ‘20s, but our bodies are basically in a gradual state of decay, and they require constant upkeep if we want to stay productive.

2. Get more sleep.

I’ve spent countless nights tossing and turning, worrying about everything from work to relationships to, well, lack of sleep — which is hard on the body and bad for the brain.

But here’s an amazing trick that has changed everything for me. It’s called cognitive shuffling and is outlined in a New York Times piece (and elsewhere). Here’s how it works.

Pick a short word, like “stand.” Take the first letter (“s” in this case) and think of as many words as you can that start with that letter. When you run out, move on and do the same with the next letter (“t”), and so on until you fall asleep.

It’s designed to be just engaging enough to distract you from your worries but not so compelling that it keeps you up. I rarely get beyond the second letter before drifting off.

Plus, as a word guy, I find it fun!

3. Reconnect with friends.

A few months ago, I learned that a friend I used to hang out with a lot but had only seen intermittently lately had died at far too young an age. I didn’t even know he was sick and will always regret not keeping in better touch with him.

We’re all busy with our own lives, of course. But relationships are critical to happiness. Reach out to an old friend today. Chances are, they’ll be delighted to hear from you.

4. Be choosy with your news.

We’re in the information business, so avoiding the news really isn’t an option for most of us. But be selective about it. 

It baffles me when otherwise intelligent friends succumb to rage bait — poorly-sourced stories designed mainly to manipulate us and stoke our anger.

It’s not healthy, and the world is dark enough. Make unapologetic use of the hide, block and unfollow functions. 

5. Find an outside interest.

For much of my life I was a huge book reader. Then the internet came along and, these days, I mostly consume short-form content and online news.

But last year, I devoured one-by-one the entire Jack Reacher series. (Sorry, not sorry!) It wasn’t great literature by any means, but it reminded me of the pleasure of being immersed in an alternative (albeit grim!) world.

Find something to escape the everyday yuckiness. Whether it’s knitting, bird watching, gardening, marathon running — just revel in it and give your mind, heart and soul some much-needed nourishment.

Your happiness and productivity may depend on it.