Hello all,
Welcome back to another edition of The Practice.
Spring is in full effect here in South Bend. I am savoring the smell of lilac on a breeze and the speckling of green as trees begin to bud. On a cool and wet morning walk with the dog recently, I listened to episode 435 of The Minimalists. The hosts visited with computer scientist and author Cal Newport.
I’ve been aware of Newport and his writing for a while (a copy of Deep Work sits on our bookshelf), but this podcast episode reminded me of an article he had published recently that I never quite finished: To Cure Burnout, Embrace Seasonality.
The piece is worth reading, but the quote below summarizes the overall message well.
“The process of producing value with the human brain — the foundational activity of many knowledge sector roles — cannot be forced into a regular, unvarying schedule. Intense periods of cognition must be followed by quieter periods of mental rejuvenation. Energized creative breakthroughs must be supported by the slower incubation of new ideas.”
Creativity does not operate best in an industrial context.
Rather, we can improve our work by slowing down and shifting our days, weeks, and months to vary pacing and intensity. I’ve found this to be true throughout my career. When I worked on the daily news, there was no slowdown. By the time I left, I was toeing the precipice of burnout, and a shift was required.
Newport notes that not all workers can embrace a seasonality of weeks or months of slowdown, but even a shift toward slower days can be beneficial. “At first, this might feel as though you’re wasting time on Mondays, but what you’re gaining in exchange is a more sustainable pace that sidesteps burnout and keeps quality high.”
In line with Newport’s writing, I’ve been able to experience the refreshing impact of a shift in pacing throughout the year. In these slowdowns, there are opportunities for exploration and testing. It seems to be in these periods that gains are often realized for me. And it is in these gains that I keep coming back for more.
Since I went freelance (almost two years ago), I’ve been working on identifying an answer to the question, “How do I sustain this for thirty years?”
I don’t think I’ve found a clear and concise answer yet, especially as we wade into new creative waters with AI churning everything. Still, I recognize the importance of pacing and its impact on the sustainable nature of the work.
In my first year of freelance work, I often struggled during slowdowns.
My patience was limited and pressed by financial realities. In 2024, as my work has stabilized and clients continue to come back to work with me, I am finding slowdowns as opportunities to step out of the usual rhythm and into something new.
If we trust Newport's thinking, these slowdowns are the key to sustaining and growing our current creativity over time.
This month, I am also selling a myriad of travel prints and a couple of my past zines. The online store will close at the end of April.
Great post, Evan. Thank you!