The Creative Bumblebee
April showers bring May flowers, or so they say. And, truthfully, April is like a downpour of bustling activity and countless opportunities. The garden flourishes with an abundance of projects. Spring cleaning beckons with promises of clean closets and tidy cabinets. The act of sitting down to write feels charged with a similar frenetic energy. Should I write new fiction, marketing materials, newsletters, or social media content? It’s easy to flit from one idea to the next, like a bumblebee buzzing from flower to flower. And then question what I accomplished at the end of the day.
Seeing a pattern is the first step to change. So how do I change the bumblebee flittering?
Recognizing the bumblebee is the first step. Bumblebees are wonderful, but if we want to hunker down and complete larger projects, taming the bumblebee is important.
As ever, we have many more questions than answers. And we enjoy hearing strategies that work for you. So far, this is how we’re working through spring flitter-by energy.
Write a brain dump. All the ideas, all the plans and places to post, stories to write, ideas to polish, can go on the list so you don’t juggle them, like having 20 tabs open at once, in your mind. This frees that “remember, remember,” space into creative room to write or imagine.
Establish a clear focus and prioritize tasks. Easier said than done, we know. However, being a creative, it’s easy to look ahead to the next thing and next thing. Which can end the day with a “not enough” sense of momentum. Creating a few important goals each day allows us to feel accomplished. Creating a daily or weekly to-do list can help in organizing and categorizing the various projects and responsibilities.
Remember to set realistic goals and deadlines to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks can make them feel more attainable. A small goal can make your brain ready for a bigger project (on target of course, skipping from thing to thing is the bumblebee again).
Establishing a routine and dedicating specific time slots for different activities can help maintain productivity and prevent bumble-buzzing from one task to another.
Lastly, seeking accountability from a colleague, friend, or mentor can provide motivation and ensure progress towards specific goals.
With these strategies, the bumblebee flittering can take breaks and become like… uh, a caterpillar focusing on one thing at a time to become a butterfly? We’re writers, and we can write many metaphors. Though we should probably go focus on one of our stories or projects :)
Happy writing!
