Why taking your time matters
Type A Control Freak Introverts thrive on structure, precision and self sufficiency. We set high standards, obsess over details and find comfort in planning. Today’s world is so fast paced that there is a lot of pressure to create quickly and we feel the pressure even more.
Social media posts have such a short life that it’s become imperative to stay ahead of the algorithm that content needs to be churned out like we are on a factory production line. There is a cost to this. Quality is reduced as well as enjoyment.
History has shown that actually, great art - or indeed any creative endeavour - takes time! The slow creativity approach values patience, reflection and meticulous craftsmanship (even if we are just creating for ourselves and not for an audience or for profit). In fact, I think that it’s important to recognise the creation for ourselves…over time we can see our own development and increase our patience (I know that as an impatient person this is quite a task!). Slow creativity allows for a more richer and meaningful artistic expression. Creativity doesn't mean producing art, though I will use art as an example as that is personal to me...but the concept applies to any passion project that has an element of creativity.
The myth of speed equals productivity
There is such a celebration of speed in our modern culture. As mentioned, social media platforms demand constant creation of content - they are businesses after all. In the corporate space that I’m all to familiar with, efficiency and productivity rule (and this is a forte of mine - and it makes me a great employee…but in my personal down time it can be to my detriment).
Over the pandemic I did an abstract painting course and I then opted for some professional art coaching with one of the course mentors. She encouraged me to go to galleries (at that time when everything was closed it was not feasible but I went when things opened up again) to really take a look at and absorb the creation of art. Thinking about famous works of art, one of my favourites, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (which looks very different in real life than on any screen or print), took about four years to paint. Many novels take years (I know…I’ve been working on mine for ages). In the age of YouTube and quick content, we sometimes forget that film production can take years. Throughout history, creatives have understood that great work requires time - not just to actually make but for deep thought, experimentation and revision.
I do think the natural tendency to control every detail is a gift…though we are here because we want to loosen the control..so instead of using it to stress ourselves out we can curate a softer creative life where quality matters more than speed and where what we are working on unfolds with intention and ease.
The power of reflection and iteration
A benefit of slow creativity is the opportunity for reflection. Instead of forcing ideas, we can let them arrive. Instead of rushing to finish something, we can allow time to refine and savour the process.
When we create by taking our time, we can step back and reassess our work and make adjustments thoughtfully. As mentioned above, working in corporate with my efficiency hat on…this attitude sometimes creeps into my creativity time and I end up rushing or making changes too rashly which ruins what I’ve been doing. It takes time to put taking time into practice. By taking time, the iterative process will lead to a more deeper and refined end result.
When considering writing, a rushed draft will likely lack depth, coherence or emotional resonance. I’m struggling with my writing because I have the story idea in my head but putting it on paper (or indeed the laptop screen) is a struggle for me because I’m wanting the final result immediately. Which is not happening…so I’m learning to embrace slowing down. If I allow myself time to revise, rewrite and rethink I’m more likely to produce a richer narrative and more nuanced characters. Thinking about the painting course, I recall learning the techniques being taught and then attempting to implement them did take time to execute. We had to experiment with colour after learning about colour theory, then about composition - actually sketching out broadly even though an abstract piece was being produced, was really beneficial as abstract really isn’t about just throwing paint on a canvas randomly. Learning about texture and different mediums to produce it was so interesting because think paint and textures take time to dry (I mainly used acrylics but then moved onto oils - oil takes weeks to dry!).
The role of patience in mastery
Patience is such an important part in artistic mastery. Creativity is a skill that improves over time and true mastery cannot be rushed. Having said that, we might not all be wanting to be true masters but the point is still valid I think from the benefit we incur from being able to slow down and really develop something that gives us a sense of accomplishment.
I really enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Outliers’. He suggests that achieving expertise in any field requires about 10,000 hours of practice. Now, this to those of us who aren’t particularly relaxed may seem like a goal to be achieved (at least that it what it seems like to me!), so I’ve had to recognise that it is not the reaching of 10,000 in as short a time as possible (I know…the logic doesn’t make sense to me either to think that way)…but rather to enjoy the journey on my way to achieving some level of mastery.
By embracing slow creativity, we can focus on learning, experimenting and growing rather than striving for immediate perfection. I have learned that perfection is not really attainable so trying to achieve it is an exercise in futility. Thinking about slowing things down and enjoying the process is something I am actively practising. Slowing down allows for the exploration of different techniques, absorb different influences and refine style.
Patience and a soft creative life
Patience is about trusting the process…not just about waiting. Creativity will flourish when we stop treating it like a race rather than a relationship…the more we nurture, the more it gives back. As introverts we have a natural ability to commit deeply and we should use this to build a life where creative excellence and ease coexist rather than using it to push us to exhaustion.
Deep work and flow state
A book on my ‘to read list’ is Cal Newport’s ‘Deep Work’. I enjoyed his book ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You’. The concept of deep work emphasises the importance of distraction free focus in achieving meaningful results. I think a lot of us Type A Control Freaks already do this in the quest to ensure what we are producing is of a high standard…but applying to creative endeavours, if we work slowly and deliberately on creating something we can enter a flow state - a state of really deep concentration where creativity can flourish.
Rushed creativity can result in surface level ideas…if we take the time to fully immerse ourselves in whatever craft we have chosen, we allow more space to immerse ourselves which allows for more personal insights and a richer artistic expression. I think a deeper engagement fosters more authenticity. This links in with the desire to live a softer life in that we become less distracted by to do lists and the desire for quick productivity, instead we dive deeper into the production of something more unique and creative that would not be the same if it were rushed and then ticked off a list.
Structured soft discipline seems to be working for me - working in deeply focused blocks with indulgent breaks, setting boundaries around my creative time and enjoying the process instead of rushing through, entering the flow state gently.
We have to remember that a soft life isn’t about doing nothing…it is about doing things in a way that nourishes us.
Embracing imperfection
For those of us on the path to relinquish perfectionism, approaching a creative project slowly allows us to embrace imperfection because mistakes become opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. If I’m painting and something doesn’t look right…I can alter it, hide the mistake or just leave it as that is what makes it unique. This kind of mindset does encourage experimentation and innovation.
I love the idea of wabi-sabi which is celebrated in Japanese culture. Wabi-sabi finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence. I have been embracing this when I do my drawings…sometimes a flower I have drawn for instance doesn’t look quite right…not like the others. Traditional Japanese artists can take years to master a single brushstroke - they have the understanding that art is a continuous journey rather than a race to complete something. The Japanese also have the practice of kintsugi which means golden repair. Broken pottery is repaired with gold or other precious metals. This celebrates the history of the object, the scars, rather than concealing them. Also, how sustainable?
Slow creativity does allow for artistic evolution. Over time, our visions may shift resulting in unexpected and exciting results. Keeping old sketchbooks or a documentation of produced creative projects, perhaps on Instagram, can be really insightful to see how we have evolved over a period of time. If we were to rush things, this natural evolution may be stifled resulting in work that is uninspiring.
I don’t think I want to lose my Control Freak nature - just tone it down or at least adapt it in a way that allows for more softness. Some questions to ask:
How can I create structure without rigidity?
How can I refine my work without stressing over it?
How can I make the creative process feel good instead of productive?
The psychological benefits of slowing down
One of the reasons I am pursuing the living of a soft life is to enhance my mental wellbeing. I found at times that even with my creative practices I was trying to be really productive and efficient and this was putting undue pressure on me for something that was supposed to be fun! Slowly creating my artworks has reversed some of the burnout I was feeling…and I’m not even sure why I was putting pressure on myself to create when I was supposed to be doing it for relaxation rather than for selling and staying relevant.
Embracing a slower approach, being more mindful of the process can enhance the joy involved.
Strategies for cultivating slow creativity
As someone who is used to working quickly, slowing down is definitely challenging! Some ideas to embrace slow creativity include:
Creating a ritual around creativity - lighting candles, a favourite playlist, a nice cup of tea. Anything that makes the process feel indulgent and enjoyable.
Prioritising quality over quantity - instead of focusing on producing a large volume of work, aim for depth and craftsmanship. I once set myself a challenge to draw 100 dresses in my whimsical style and post them on Instagram daily. Oh my goodness, I felt I had made a commitment and had to see it through…I’m glad I did it but it wasn’t joyful. I learned not to set such high standards again.
Create without deadlines - whenever possible, give the freedom to work without rigid time constraints. Again, this is tricky for those of us who like a regiment, but as with my 100 Dresses project…sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. But this is about embracing change to embrace a softer life so I acknowledge what I did that didn’t work and I move on!
Engage in deep work - minimise distractions, set aside dedicated time to create and immerse yourself fully in the process.
Embrace imperfection - allow any mistakes to guide rather than hinder.
Take luxurious breaks - taking a break away from any endeavour provides a fresh perspective and can prevent fatigue.
Embrace incremental progress - a little progress every day can add up to something great.
Reflect and revise - regularly revisit and refine work to uncover deeper insights and improvementsEnjoy the process - shift focus from end result to the act of creating instead.