Creative Sprints

Everything breaks down if you don’t properly maintain it. This is also true of humans.

We live in a time where everything seems to be about hustling, grinding, and never stopping. Algorithms want to be constantly fed or fear that they will forget about you. This isn’t optimal. We aren’t machines, and even then, a machine will break down if not properly maintained. So it is no surprise when we break down from going too hard for too long.

For humans, breaking down is often seen in the form of burnout. It’s our body's way of saying that it needs a break and time to recover.

I believe we can avoid burnout if we are able to find a balance that works for us. One that allows us to be productive, but also gives us time to recover. 

My solution to finding balance is creative sprints. A creative sprint is a set period of time where I am working hard, and producing as much work as I can at a high level. Followed by a recovery period.

Sprints can be as long or as short as you want them to be. A couple of weeks to a few months. The kind of projects you are working on will determine how long a sprint should last.

For my work, these sprints look a lot like a season of television. I am currently making comics (check out my comics here) and writing this blog, each post is the equivalent of an episode. My sprint is then a set number of episodes I am going to make before taking a break. This allows me to focus when I am working, and also to have a goalpost of when I will have time off again.

Just as important as the sprints are my recovery periods. For this, I try and take some time and not even think of my comic or blog. To allow myself the opportunity to recover from the sprint. This can be a great time to take a vacation and be fully emersed in my trip without worrying about work.

After stepping away for a while, I find it important to be reflective before jumping back into another sprint. I like to look back at the past sprint and see what was working, and what didn’t. What is bringing me the most joy and excitement in my work? What areas do I need to improve? I then use these answers to start planning out what I want to accomplish in my next sprint.

Finding a balance between sprinting and recovery is going to differ for everyone. For some, they can go a lot longer without needing to stop and recover. Others will need to spend more time recovering and being reflective than in a sprint. Finding the balance that works for you will allow you to create more and feel less burnout. This balance will also change over time as your life changes.

Don’t wait until you have broken down to stop and take some time for yourself.