Creativity and the Importance of Routine and Daily Practice

Joshua Dietz is an established New York professional with an extensive background in counseling and human development. He has worked with clients in helping resolve issues such as attention deficit and mood disorder, and in building confidence and motivation. In an article on creativity, Joshua Dietz notes that creative people are those who are open to new experiences and ideas and able to channel their experiences in ways that shape and reshape the reality around them.

Unfortunately, this openness can also open the door to danger, risk, and unwanted experiences. It can be challenging to manage that which is original and unquantifiable, without traditional signposts to judge its value. Compounding this, society has a tendency to pathologize the mind’s creative features, even though they are naturally wired and potentially beneficial.

As a result, many creative people find themselves on the fringes of society, with the nontraditional paths of their thoughts making them a liability in situations where conformity and groupthink takes precedence. The obsessiveness, instability, irregular hours, and freedom they represent can even threaten the status quo.

The key is to find ways to harness creative impulses productively and integrate them within routines in ways that emphasize beneficial aspects. This includes creating on a daily basis, not simply waiting for inspiration to arise. The effective creator has the ability to utilize time and space afforded and quickly get the gears turning toward creative purpose, without this interfering with daily life.