micromoving toward your creative dream

Getting started on a creative project can be tough.  Especially when you find yourself procrastinating on it...which is so easy to do with demands on your time and energy.  Most creative people are inspired to create but may feel overwhelmed when it comes to actually starting a project.  We also live in a microwave world, where cell phones, social media and other distractions has caused many of us to have a short attention span which allows for procrastination. Sticking with a creative dream requires discipline, which is tends to lean on the tedious, boring, or time-consuming side. One concept, "micro-movements" is something to implement to help you finish that creative or artistic project. 

There are various descriptions of something similar, but in the book  ‘Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day’ by SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) ​ it is  defined as "a very tiny action that anyone can take toward some part of his or her creative dream. It's 5 seconds to 5 minutes in length, and you write it down, along with a gentle dte and time for completion."  SARK adds that a micromovement can be 5 seconds to 5 minuts long because "we can do just about anything for 5 seconds to 5 minutes."

So how do micromovemets work for our creative projects?   Here's an example...say you want to write a book but find yourself overwhelmed with the thought of doing such a task.  Use the steps below as a simple guideline to create manageable goals.

1. First define what your creative dream or project is about:                                        CREATIVE DREAM OR GOAL - To Write a Novel
2. Second define one micromovemet which can be completed within the threshold of 5 seconds to 5 minutes.  Make sure to set a day and time or some kind of threshold to measure some success.  MICROMOVEMENT - Saturday at 4 pm. Turn on the computer and open a file called "Novel".
3. After you have completed the first micromovement, choose your second.  MICROMOVEMENT - Sunday at 3 pm, do an internet search about books about writing a novel.

Keep setting micromovements and reaching them.  Remember that they should each have a "gentle" date and time writtent down and be able to be completed between 5 seconds and   5 minutes.   The more you do them, the easier they can be and the more you will see progress in your creative project!  The timing of each micromovement after the last one is completed can vary....this system is designed for your rhythm and flow, to incorporate in your life and for your creative project, not anyone else's.  Many people say that once they start on a 5 minute micromovement, it may extend to two or three hours making progress toward their creative goal.  The momentum may suck you in that you end up making more progress than ever before!

Some tools to consider to help you with the micromovement practice include creating a wheel as a visual way to keep track of your movements and progress.  You may want to find someone to serve as an accountability buddy so you can both support each other in reaching your creative goals. 

Have you tried micromovements or something similiar to reach your creative goals?  How did that work for you?  Share any comments or experiences below!

Source:  "Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day copyright 2004 by SARK, All rights reserved.