Over the next little while, as I continue to move in to my beautiful new home online, I’m going to bring some of my past content over to share. Originally published on Starshyne Productions.
What does sleep have to do with creativity?
I can think of many times in my life when lack of sleep has accompanied my creative process. I’m sure you’ve had this experience too. You’re writing that piece with a deadline pressing. It’s the night before a show and the set isn’t finished. Perhaps you’re completely inspired and just don’t want to sleep until you’re done. Your adrenalin and the need at hand combine to take you through and gets you to the other side. This intensity can be thrilling.
But there is another side to this coin. How many times have you done less than your best work because you were exhausted? How many times have you sat looking for inspiration and stared at a blank, blank, blank screen or page or canvas with dead-tired eyes? How many times have you ploughed through to completion and then found yourself sick as soon as you’re done? Can making sure you get enough sleep serve your art?
I have to say that I resisted even considering this issue. I thought, man, if I’m thinking about getting enough sleep, I’m lame – I’m old! But I’ve shifted my perspective. I know that taking care of myself is taking care of the most valuable resource a creative person has. Actors know this, which is one of the reasons they often end up with a reputation for being self-obsessed. In order for them to show up and draw on their bodies, their voices and their creative faculties, they must attend to each of those things with care.
I am not encouraging self-absorption but rather creative self-care. I am suggesting that by attending to your own needs, especially basic ones like eating and sleeping, you are caring for the most valuable asset you have in your creativity bank – your self. So when you’re getting ready for your next project, please, inclue yourself and your self-care in your plans.
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{ 2 comments }
I couldn’t agree more Jamie, I think sleep is so important in so many ways for our physical, spiritual and creative health. Our society today pushes us more and more to be busy busy and as great as that can be, losing the fun to illness really bites. If we learn to pace ourselves, we can actually end up doing more. If we know how to sleep, which is a lesson I am still learning.
This is so timely. I’ve been utterly exhausted lately. With a 3.5 yr-old who doesn’t sleep well and (therefore) I don’t either. I’m an artist and I’m supposed to be in the midst of creating a whole new line of pieces but I feel so very burnt out and tired. I don’t know if I have the creative juice to do it. So I’m nervous. Sometimes I do have to just push myself to do things but there are those times where you have to tend to your needs first!
Thank you for the reminder! And good luck with your new site!
:)
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