Episode 22 - Building a Creative Habit

In this episode, we tackle the topic of building a creative habit. We start by examining how habits work, with the help of James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, and then offer five strategies to help you get started building your own. Robyn plays Stardew Valley and Michelle begins a full life slow overhaul.

Recorded on May 12th, 2024

Timestamps:

(0:30) Intro

(2:35) Robyn’s last few weeks

(11:53) Michelle’s last few weeks

(15:10) Notion, please sponsor us

(15:31) Some albums to check out

(16:03) Main topic: Building a creative habit

(16:21) How habits work (Atomic Habits)

(21:51) James Clear, please sponsor us

(22:40) Habit Strategy 1: Start Small

(25:08) Habit Strategy 2: Track Your Habit

(31:35) Habit Strategy 3: Don’t Break the Chain, and Learn to Recover When You Do

(42:09) Habit Strategy 4: Pick the Right Time and Consider Your Energy Levels

(47:12) Habit Strategy 5: Develop the Right Mindset

(52:50) Final thoughts

(57:21) Robyn’s next couple of weeks

(57:42) Michelle’s next couple of weeks

(59:03) Outro

Resources, references, and further exploration:

The Easiest Way to Create Recurring Tasks in Notion (2024) - Thomas Frank Explains

Thing. by Courtney Swain and Kyle Harris

The Loop by Jordan Rakei

Don’t break the chain

The Two-Day Rule - Matt D’Avella

Michelle’s blog post How to Build a Regular Practice Habit

Michelle’s blog post Regain Your Rhythm

Michelle’s blog post Focus on the Process, Not on the Prize

Michelle’s blog post Leading and Lagging Indicators

Books mentioned:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Quotes, ideas, and insights:

“Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing.” - Zeno, quoted in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, 7.1.26 (from The Daily Stoic)

“So in the majority of other things, we address circumstances not in accordance with the right assumptions, but mostly by following wretched habit. Since all that I’ve said is the case, the person in training must seek to rise above, so as to stop seeking out pleasure and steering away from pain; to stop clinging to living and abhorring death; and in the case of property and money, to stop valuing receiving over giving.” - Musonius Rufus, Lectures, 6.25.5-11 (from The Daily Stoic)

Links:

Learn more about Robyn at https://www.robynlester.com/

Learn more about Michelle at https://www.michellemonettemusic.com/

Follow Stream of Art on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/streamofartpodcast/

Follow Robyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynlester.art/

Follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemonettemusic/

Subscribe to Michelle’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC64o4jtMmYWJE-7qVoLxtQA

Please feel free to send questions and comments to [e-mail]

Connect with like-minded artists and creatives at our Discord server: https://discord.gg/mHa8GSQqsv

Credits:

Podcast art by: Robyn Lester

Theme music by: Michelle Monette

Podcast editing by: Michelle Monette