119: Boundaries & Boosting Our Creative Energy

As a Night Owl

Dear Creative Minds,

No matter your work style—night owl or early bird—we all seek balance and peak performance. In this newsletter, let's dive into how setting boundaries can help manage our energy and supercharge our creativity. Discover the power of boundaries tailored to your unique schedule and unlock your full creative potential

In the book "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, the authors discuss four types of energy that individuals need to manage in order to optimize their performance and overall well-being. These four types of energy are physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Over the years, I've tweaked my schedule to create situations where I regularly arrive at my most important work with high levels of each type of energy. The anchor habit I've built around is setting boundaries for my most important goals. Currently, my goal is to reach the "Next Level" as a picture book illustrator.

Creating this boundary is like claiming space in my calendar. I envision my calendar as a natural landscape, and the boundary I'm creating is a space in that landscape that I can defend and cultivate. Naturally, I chose the part of the landscape with the least obstruction, which for me is between 10 pm and 2 am. To create this boundary, I transitioned from being a morning person to a night owl.

By setting boundaries, I ensure that I have dedicated, uninterrupted time to focus on my work, which allows me to better manage and align the four types of energy:

1. Physical energy: During my designated work hours, I can concentrate on tasks without sacrificing sleep, exercise, or proper nutrition.

2. Emotional energy: Boundaries help me maintain a positive attitude and emotional balance by providing a clear separation between work and personal life.

3. Mental energy: By minimizing distractions and allocating focused time for my work, I can enhance my mental energy and maintain a sharp focus on my goals.

4. Spiritual energy: Knowing that I have dedicated time to work on my passion and purpose as an illustrator reinforces my sense of meaning and motivation.

I believe this change will allow me to produce my best work, primarily within the confines of this boundary but also throughout the day.

Intentionally managing these four types of energy by setting boundaries has helped me optimize my performance and well-being, leading to increased productivity and satisfaction in both my personal and professional life. By setting boundaries and aligning our energy, we can make the most of our time and achieve our goals.