When creative work isn’t working

Some days, creative work just doesn’t flow. On days like these, you generally have two options.

The first option is to quit. Stop for the day, save it for tomorrow, wait for a good idea. 

The second option is to push through. To make something anyway. Even if it’s not exactly what you imagined, to get the day’s work done. Then, hope tomorrow brings better work. 

In both cases, you’re hoping a better day comes tomorrow. But the first option increases inertia, while the second option builds momentum. 

The day after you choose option one, you’re stuck thinking about how you got blocked. How you tried and failed. An identity starts to form—an identity that doesn’t help you create better work in the future. 

The day after you choose option two, you’re thinking about what you could have done better. You’re gleaning lessons from the work you did. You’re proud of yourself for showing up. An identity starts to form—an identity that helps you create better work in the future. 

For this reason alone it’s worth it to push through a bad day. It’s worth it to wrestle with the work. It’s worth it to create anyway. It’s always worth it.