How to Escape Consuming and Keep Creating?
Every day we’re bombarded by a stream of information, endless entertainment, and thousands of short videos pushed in the blink of an eye. We keep falling into a trap of consuming when we eat, when we commute, and even when we’re in a restroom trying to relax. Binge-watching TV shows, mindlessly scrolling through social media, or for instance, getting a new game from a Steam summer sale have made our lives majorly passive. We’re not the same anymore. We’re not as curious, dedicated, persistent, as we’ve been when we were kids. But what if we could shift our focus from mindless consumption to purposeful creation? What if we could break that bad habit, stop being stuck in something that’s not even living anymore, and instead, become someone that gets the juicy fulfillment out of their life? Let’s explore here the saying "Create More, Consume Less" and discover how saying yes to this mindset can lead to something good for us.
The Pitfalls of Overconsumption
Let's face it – we've all fallen victim to the charm of binge-watching our favorite shows or endlessly scrolling through our social media feeds. You know what I’m talking about. That one evening that you don’t remember how four hours had just passed. Multipled by hundreds, or even thousands of similar days. We’ve all had these moments.
These activities give us temporary enjoyment, this so-called sweet dopamine shot, or simply a temporary boost of volatile happiness. It’s like we were on drugs. But then the crash happens. We’re left alone, sitting in the dark corner of our minds, feeling like sh***. We feel guilty. We’ve not met our expectations, we’ve not pursued our goals, we haven’t even done the bare minimum. We feel unproductive. And the worst thing is, that social media learns about it. And it pushes onto us another video, another ad, another IG story about productivity and how only we are to blame.
Not to mention we’re getting overwhelmed. We can process only as much, as our brain capacity, yet we treat it like an unlimited memory storage. Overconsuming can lead to a lack of motivation, decreased creativity, and a sense of disconnection from the real world. We’re becoming an easy victim of everything that can use our state for the benefit of attracting to us more stuff to buy and consume. And thus the vicious circle begins. Yikes!
The Benefits of Creating More
On the flip side, engaging in creative activities can have incredible benefits for our mental and emotional well-being. While the process of creating might not give us an instant reaction - it’s not a shortcut for pleasure, the act itself builds up the feeling of achievement. And, eventually, while resulting in something tangible, it ends up with feeling good, not just temporary, but ultimately.
Whether it's writing, drawing, cooking, or any other form of self-expression, creating allows us to tap into our inner selves and connect with our passions. The act of bringing something into existence fosters a sense of accomplishment and purpose that is unparalleled in the realm of consumption. So, if we know that, and there is plenty of evidence to support it, why don’t we act like that? Or, maybe a better question is: how to act like that?
Here are some tips that hopefully would help, and at the end of this post, I’m going to give you one bonus one, which - if not done beforehand - can make those pointless.
Practical Tips for Creating More
Set aside dedicated time. Although I’m not a huge fan, to say the least, of blocking your timeslot in a calendar, specifying the right time in your schedule for creative stuff, is likely to help. This doesn’t have to be much. It still needs to fit your lifestyle. So if you don’t have several hours during your day - that’s totally fine. If you just have 30 minutes to spare, go for it. It doesn’t matter how much, it matters that it’s started, that it’s been chosen in spite of having a smartphone in your hand.
Experiment with different mediums or formats. Don't be afraid to try new things. If you've never considered yourself a creative person, explore various mediums until you find something that resonates with you. Just don’t overcomplicate it. I know from experience, that we tend to think too much and do too little. Maybe I instantly know that I don’t want to write, paint, or cover One Direction’s latest hit, or whatever’s popular right now. But it usually is that we’re rather facing resistance to try new stuff. Because it’s hard to start, to move, to put something in motion, and easier to remain still. Once I’ve realized I can have fun from coloring things on iPad. Like, I would’ve never imagined that it might be the thing, hadn’t I tried it. But at some point, I would’ve definitely said that it’s not it, without any evidence. Odd, but true.
Start small. Creating needs to be fun. And I mean it. The ultimate foundation stone of anything that creates fulfillment is fun. Without fun, without actively, during the process, having fun, you’re going to eventually be frustrated. There will be things that won’t be given to you on a silver platter. There will be things that you need to sweat to get. And the worst you could do is to start big. You don't need to create a masterpiece right away. Begin with small, manageable projects that you can easily accomplish. The key is to build momentum over time, not become overwhelmed, and eventually give up.
Limit what you’re consuming. This is hard because most of us are already addicted to some extent. We might not be fully aware of it, but it’s the ugly reality that we’re living in and which is incredibly hard to escape. I could say here: be mindful of how much time you spend on passive consumption. But what would that mean exactly? I wouldn’t lock my phone, I wouldn’t block all the apps, because eventually that wouldn’t work or create more problems than benefits. And, in fact, when I tried, it did. So how to set boundaries? What I think works is to keep reminding yourself, every day, not occasionally, why, where, and what you want to get. What’s your intrinsic motivation? The one reason rooted deep inside you, that you cannot easily harvest and throw in a trashcan. This is what you should focus on. Start with it your day. Whenever I remind myself where I want to be, what I want to do, and why I want to do that, I instantly can spill out thoughts much easier, and create. It’s still hard to do, but easier to build momentum.
Share your results. Whether it's with friends, family, or online communities, sharing your creations can be a source of motivation and encouragement. It also opens the door to constructive feedback and collaboration. It’s one thing to feel good about what you’ve done, what you’ve built, and how you’ve avoided the trap of passive scrolling. But it’s a different story to feel connected, to feel safe after being exposed through your art and not rejected. It feels like you’re a part of a tribe. And you know that to keep that state, you have to express yourself even more. This is, again, the circle, but this time it’s not vicious.
Overcoming Common Obstacles
It's natural to face obstacles when transitioning from a consumer mindset to a creator mindset. Look, whenever I grab my camera, set up my lights, microphone, etc. something weird happens. Recently my camera started to freeze. My audio dropped in the middle for no reason, the export has gone not the way I had anticipated. The list goes on. And, at that time, I got a little bit uneasy. Which is funny, because whenever that happens, and it happens, it’s just tiny details, nothing crucial. It doesn’t affect the overall message that I want to share.
Still, apart from these things, that you need to keep an eye on, here are some common that all creators face daily:
Lack of inspiration. This is absurd, but it happens. Why is it absurd? Because we’re living in a world filled with information that can be the next source of inspiration. We just seem to neglect it, miss the opportunity, miss the moment that should’ve been captured, and so on. If you're feeling uninspired, take a break and seek inspiration from various sources. Nature, books, and even everyday experiences can spark creativity. Just look around, you can even go and consume content, but now with the purpose that you want to find something that you might be inspired by, or that you might use as part of your next post, video, or any creative project.
Fear of failure. Let’s understand that most of the things that we’re going to do won’t be perfect in our minds. For a reason, there’s a saying that we are our worst critics. So, it’s not a surprise, that we might feel like we’re constantly failing. If we don’t get enough recognition or kind words, or after comparing our stuff to others (which is btw a terrible idea), we don’t feel like we are better, we can fear as if we had failed. And this feeling builds something dangerous - the feeling of it happening again. Instead, let’s embrace the learning process and view failures as stepping stones to improvement because it’s the only thing they are.
Time constraints. Many of us lead busy lives, but even small pockets of time can be utilized for creativity. It's about making it a priority, it’s about assessing whether it’s actually valuable to us, or not. If you’re reading this, I assume it is, but let’s make sure. If the answer is that you want to create, then you need to fit it. There’s no other way, and no sugar coating, sorry.
Comparison syndrome. Terrible idea. Period. Avoid comparing your creations, your art, and eventually yourself, to others. Everyone's creative journey is unique, and the goal is personal fulfillment, not external validation. The goal is to feel like your life is meaningful, to feel like you’re alive and active, not slowly decaying. Any comparison is unfair because the story is different, and the input is different, so why would we even assume that the outcome might be compared?
In a world packed with distractions, the mantra "Create More, Consume Less" serves as a gentle reminder to prioritize our creative selves. By including purposeful creating in our lives, we can break free from the shackles of overconsumption and cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling existence. So, what will you create today? The possibilities are endless, and the journey is yours only.
Oh, and I almost forgot. The bonus point is: start your day with a creator mindset, not a consumer mindset. Everything follows a certain pattern, and the beginning of your day can make your whole world smooth and simple, or bumpy and obscure.
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