Everything I do as an artist and content creator falls into one of three modes—creation, consumption, or communication.
Each of these modes uses a different aspect of my brain and it can be difficult to switch between them at a moment’s notice, so it’s important to start with the right one every time I sit down to work.
For me, that’s creation mode.
When I’m able to quickly get into creation mode, I’m able to substantially magnify both the quality of my work and the quantity of my output on a regular basis.
Here’s how I do that.
Jumping in
When I first sit down to work, I know I have a very small window of time—usually less than five minutes—to start down the path to productivity.
I know me, and if I allow myself to get sidetracked by checking email, watching YouTube videos, or scrolling on social media, I have the ability to see 30 minutes go by under the guise of “doing work” when, in reality, all I’m doing is wasting time.
I used to think that the most effective way to be productive, especially when it came to creative work, was to wait for inspiration to strike.
Wrong.
I’ve since discovered that, if I want to get something done, especially creative work, the best path forward is to simply get started.
So when I sit down at my desk, my single biggest focus is getting to work on what needs to be done as quickly as possible to avoid even having the option for distraction.
This means opening a new Logic session the moment my computer wakes up, bringing up Google docs to write this newsletter, or simply turning on the camera so I can start filming my YouTube video for the week.
Whatever it is, the most important moment is the beginning.
If I can get started without getting sidetracked, I will fall into creation mode and stay there.
Phone in the drawer
I hate my phone.
Yeah, I said it.
If I could live my life without a smartphone, I would. Unfortunately for me, it is a necessity of life, but that doesn’t mean I have to be beholden to it, especially not when I’m trying to create.
Simply having my phone on the desk when I’m working is a distraction.
It’s like it calls to me.
To eliminate this, I put my phone on “do not disturb” and stick it in the drawer as soon as I get to work.
“But what if someone needs me?”
Well, there is a very short list of people who may need to reach me about something during the day that absolutely cannot wait.
It’s a list of one: my wife.
I’ve set parameters on my phone that allow her to bypass the “do not disturb” feature, so when the phone goes in the drawer and “do not disturb” is turned on, she can always get through if she really needs me.
Everyone else can wait.
Batching communication
Like most of us, I’m sure, communication is a necessity for my job.
I do my best to stay up to date with everyone on social media, replying to comments and answering DMs, and I have an expanding list of clients and customers that need to reach me from time to time as well.
But I know that if I leave my email app open or keep checking YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter for comments and replies, I’ll never get anything done.
That’s why I batch my communication at specific times throughout the day.
I have deliberately structured the business side of what I do so that there are no “fires” to put out—there is very little in my world that can’t wait another hour until I get to it.
I make sure to check email and social media at least a couple of times throughout the day so I can serve and help those who need me, but when it’s not time to do that, every one of those apps stays closed.
Getting into creation mode can be difficult, especially when the world is designed for constant consumption and communication.
By setting some simple, sometimes physical boundaries for myself, I’m able to more readily get into the zone and create the things I want to put out into the world.
So if you’re struggling with creative output, give these methods a shot for a few weeks and see what happens.
I hope it helps.
Everything I do as an artist and content creator falls into one of three modes—creation, consumption, or communication.
Each of these modes uses a different aspect of my brain and it can be difficult to switch between them at a moment’s notice, so it’s important to start with the right one every time I sit down to work.
For me, that’s creation mode.
When I’m able to quickly get into creation mode, I’m able to substantially magnify both the quality of my work and the quantity of my output on a regular basis.
Here’s how I do that.
Jumping in
When I first sit down to work, I know I have a very small window of time—usually less than five minutes—to start down the path to productivity.
I know me, and if I allow myself to get sidetracked by checking email, watching YouTube videos, or scrolling on social media, I have the ability to see 30 minutes go by under the guise of “doing work” when, in reality, all I’m doing is wasting time.
I used to think that the most effective way to be productive, especially when it came to creative work, was to wait for inspiration to strike.
Wrong.
I’ve since discovered that, if I want to get something done, especially creative work, the best path forward is to simply get started.
So when I sit down at my desk, my single biggest focus is getting to work on what needs to be done as quickly as possible to avoid even having the option for distraction.
This means opening a new Logic session the moment my computer wakes up, bringing up Google docs to write this newsletter, or simply turning on the camera so I can start filming my YouTube video for the week.
Whatever it is, the most important moment is the beginning.
If I can get started without getting sidetracked, I will fall into creation mode and stay there.
Phone in the drawer
I hate my phone.
Yeah, I said it.
If I could live my life without a smartphone, I would. Unfortunately for me, it is a necessity of life, but that doesn’t mean I have to be beholden to it, especially not when I’m trying to create.
Simply having my phone on the desk when I’m working is a distraction.
It’s like it calls to me.
To eliminate this, I put my phone on “do not disturb” and stick it in the drawer as soon as I get to work.
“But what if someone needs me?”
Well, there is a very short list of people who may need to reach me about something during the day that absolutely cannot wait.
It’s a list of one: my wife.
I’ve set parameters on my phone that allow her to bypass the “do not disturb” feature, so when the phone goes in the drawer and “do not disturb” is turned on, she can always get through if she really needs me.
Everyone else can wait.
Batching communication
Like most of us, I’m sure, communication is a necessity for my job.
I do my best to stay up to date with everyone on social media, replying to comments and answering DMs, and I have an expanding list of clients and customers that need to reach me from time to time as well.
But I know that if I leave my email app open or keep checking YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter for comments and replies, I’ll never get anything done.
That’s why I batch my communication at specific times throughout the day.
I have deliberately structured the business side of what I do so that there are no “fires” to put out—there is very little in my world that can’t wait another hour until I get to it.
I make sure to check email and social media at least a couple of times throughout the day so I can serve and help those who need me, but when it’s not time to do that, every one of those apps stays closed.
Getting into creation mode can be difficult, especially when the world is designed for constant consumption and communication.
By setting some simple, sometimes physical boundaries for myself, I’m able to more readily get into the zone and create the things I want to put out into the world.
So if you’re struggling with creative output, give these methods a shot for a few weeks and see what happens.
I hope it helps.
Everything I do as an artist and content creator falls into one of three modes—creation, consumption, or communication.
Each of these modes uses a different aspect of my brain and it can be difficult to switch between them at a moment’s notice, so it’s important to start with the right one every time I sit down to work.
For me, that’s creation mode.
When I’m able to quickly get into creation mode, I’m able to substantially magnify both the quality of my work and the quantity of my output on a regular basis.
Here’s how I do that.
Jumping in
When I first sit down to work, I know I have a very small window of time—usually less than five minutes—to start down the path to productivity.
I know me, and if I allow myself to get sidetracked by checking email, watching YouTube videos, or scrolling on social media, I have the ability to see 30 minutes go by under the guise of “doing work” when, in reality, all I’m doing is wasting time.
I used to think that the most effective way to be productive, especially when it came to creative work, was to wait for inspiration to strike.
Wrong.
I’ve since discovered that, if I want to get something done, especially creative work, the best path forward is to simply get started.
So when I sit down at my desk, my single biggest focus is getting to work on what needs to be done as quickly as possible to avoid even having the option for distraction.
This means opening a new Logic session the moment my computer wakes up, bringing up Google docs to write this newsletter, or simply turning on the camera so I can start filming my YouTube video for the week.
Whatever it is, the most important moment is the beginning.
If I can get started without getting sidetracked, I will fall into creation mode and stay there.
Phone in the drawer
I hate my phone.
Yeah, I said it.
If I could live my life without a smartphone, I would. Unfortunately for me, it is a necessity of life, but that doesn’t mean I have to be beholden to it, especially not when I’m trying to create.
Simply having my phone on the desk when I’m working is a distraction.
It’s like it calls to me.
To eliminate this, I put my phone on “do not disturb” and stick it in the drawer as soon as I get to work.
“But what if someone needs me?”
Well, there is a very short list of people who may need to reach me about something during the day that absolutely cannot wait.
It’s a list of one: my wife.
I’ve set parameters on my phone that allow her to bypass the “do not disturb” feature, so when the phone goes in the drawer and “do not disturb” is turned on, she can always get through if she really needs me.
Everyone else can wait.
Batching communication
Like most of us, I’m sure, communication is a necessity for my job.
I do my best to stay up to date with everyone on social media, replying to comments and answering DMs, and I have an expanding list of clients and customers that need to reach me from time to time as well.
But I know that if I leave my email app open or keep checking YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter for comments and replies, I’ll never get anything done.
That’s why I batch my communication at specific times throughout the day.
I have deliberately structured the business side of what I do so that there are no “fires” to put out—there is very little in my world that can’t wait another hour until I get to it.
I make sure to check email and social media at least a couple of times throughout the day so I can serve and help those who need me, but when it’s not time to do that, every one of those apps stays closed.
Getting into creation mode can be difficult, especially when the world is designed for constant consumption and communication.
By setting some simple, sometimes physical boundaries for myself, I’m able to more readily get into the zone and create the things I want to put out into the world.
So if you’re struggling with creative output, give these methods a shot for a few weeks and see what happens.
I hope it helps.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.