When it comes to starting a new project, procrastination can take hold and delay a solid start.
Beginnings are hard for everyone.
Staring at a blank screen or piece of paper is among the most painful of creative challenges. Inertia and writer’s block between assignments can affect even the most skilled practitioners.
The frustration, anxiety, and sense of being “stuck” can create a paralysis that is hard to overcome.
Prolific creators understand that building on the confidence and maintaining the momentum from the last project is essential for warding off this potential paralysis.
That’s why so many writers, artists, and performers advise practitioners to start the next project immediately after finishing the last one.
Upon finishing a book or painting, many successful writers and artists immediately outline or sketch the next project, even if it’s a rough form, to keep their creativity flowing. Jumping right in can leverage the euphoria of the most recent completion and prevent a loss of drive that might occur during a pause.
Once the new project has been started, the practitioner can now take a break and allow the brain to rest, recharge, and incubate new ideas. But starting the next project immediately after the last one is a common best practice among the most productive creators.
Here’s the logic: Sustaining the process continuity and rhythm of the just-completed project energizes people and makes them more efficient.
Because resources remain in use or engaged, downtime costs and interruptions are eliminated or minimized. Recently acquired insights and learnings can be immediately integrated into the new project, boosting the chances of success.
Equally important is the idea that the habits that make any project successful are much easier to maintain if they aren’t pushed aside for an extended time.
Creativity muscles and conditioning are much like physical ones. Breaking off from the work for more than a few days makes starting again painful and slow.
Keeping the flow, riding the wave of momentum, and enjoying the energy high of progress is what the most productive people do.
Before taking a break and relaxing between projects, consider making a fast start on the next assignment. Returning to a rough outline or more makes reengaging the work so much easier.
As a wise person once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
