The Dichotomy of Discipline vs Creativity

Recently, I've been going to the gym. I tend to go in the evenings, either after work, or around 8pm three hours before my bed time.

Part of this discipline is being consistent.

Consistent in going, eating enough protein and sticking to the workout routine.

Juggling this commitment with work, I work Monday to Friday and Sundays at my second job.

This Saturday passed, I was struck by inspiration to make a movie edit of Howl's Moving Castle, inspired by an Instagram repost on YouTube.

My normal Saturday routine is a midday workout session which then became me sitting at my desktop editing the video...

The next day, I thought of going to the gym to make up for not going yesterday.

But, only to be struck by inspiration again, recording and editing a video with a script I had ready.

Yes, I felt bad that I did not go to the gym.

But I thought of what Naval Ravikant on the Modern Wisdom Podcast,

"Inspiration is perishable, act on it immediately."

I did exactly that.

I would have felt worse being at the gym doing my sets while still thinking about that video edit.

The reason I'm telling you this Saturday side quest is that

Discipline is a tool: it should not be your slave.

Especially when it comes to the realm of creativity. Those moments of 'eureka' should be treated like gold.

Then you might rebut saying it's an issue of time management.

I quite possibly could have worked on the video edit and still went to the gym.

Of course, I want to reap the rewards of going to the gym.

If I continue to undermine my fitness, my physical weakness will influence my ability to exercise my creativity.

Could a better routine be that I go to the gym in the afternoons after work?

I found the mornings, early dawn, where I am uninterrupted provides the best environment for creative work.

Then again, it's a matter of prioritization, what gets attention and what does not.

If the activity is not done, then it was not a priority.

I believe the person who will be the most consistent in any endeavor is the one who does not make a big deal out of missing out on work.

If you know you'll miss a day, as long as you don't miss two, then it doesn't become a habit.

That's another line I think from James Clear's Atomic Habits:

"A habit missed once is a mistake. Missed twice is the start of a new habit."