Too Many Ideas - Allowed to do One Thing at a Time

creativity killers, allowed to be creative, watercolor lettering, calligraphy letters

Creativity Killer #4, Too Many Ideas

In creative business, some days come easier than others. Sometimes, we’re focused and on task and cranking things out. Then other times, it feels like slogging through mud while walking uphill in a snowstorm.

What makes the difference? Why are ideas exciting and energizing one day but overwhelming and unappealing the next day? What gets in the way of motivation and kills creativity? In this post, we’ll talk about the fourth of seven creativity killers and give ourselves permission to move beyond them.

Full Speed Ahead

When I decide I want to do something, I dig into it, trying to think about it from many different angles. I listen to podcasts, read blogs and articles, and flip through books looking for answers to unending questions. I brainstorm possibilities, trying to find the ones that work.

As I do, golden, sparkly ideas spring up everywhere, inspiration flows like a massive waterfall. One idea leads to another and another and another, drenching me with options.

But sometimes … many times the very things that inspire and spark ideas in me create Creativity Killer #4, Too Many Ideas, leading me to become frazzled and unfocused.

shiny object syndrome, new ideas, too many ideas, brush lettering, gold ink — New ideas bring excitement, enthusiasm and distraction, especially in the middle of the mundane but necessary tasks.

Chasing Shiny New Ideas

I’ve heard it called Shiny Object Syndrome. Each idea feels new and exciting, full of possibilities. Each feels like the next right step, I really want to do all of them and they all lead in a different direction.

So I pick up one or two or three of them and start. I work at them for a while and the progress is slow. The excitement starts to wear off as the monotonous pieces of the process set in.

In the midst of this monotony, my brain starts its creative work (For more on being creative, read How to be More Creative – Allowed to Play). Without permission, it wanders around looking for some way to relieve the boredom. Something exciting and new.

It doesn’t take long to find entertainment in the form of another exciting idea, and because I’m in the middle of the necessary but mundane part of the first ideas, this idea looks even more enticing. The temptation begins. Maybe the new idea is better for my business. What if I could finish it faster?

If I allow myself to get distracted and follow the new idea (and there will always be a new idea in the middle of the humdrum of getting things done), then I end up with nothing but a pile of unfinished ideas. All good. All started. But none of them leading anywhere that works for me or my business.

Herbert A. Simon quote, hand lettered quote, brush lettering, too many ideas, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention — Ideas and information offer two sides. They have the potential to keep creativity flowing and to squelch it with distraction.

How can having too many ideas kill creativity?

I don’t find my area of expertise or become known for one thing because I’m constantly jumping from one idea to another. This jumping can feel like failure and end in discouragement.
When I push ahead with too many exciting ideas all at once, I always feel behind and out of time. Creativity needs my full attention without too much pressure. Pressure makes me feel frazzled.
When I feel frazzled, unfocused and/or distracted, I want to zone out. This kind of zoning out shuts off any creative thought (it shuts off all thought, actually) as it gets lost in mindless activity: games, scrolling through Instagram, searching for ideas on Pinterest, wandering aimlessly around the room, etc.

How to capture the ideas but avoid becoming frazzled.

Have a notebook where you write your ideas all in one place. When you see that shiny new idea, write it in your notebook. Writing things down clears your mind so you can focus on the task at hand.
Make a mind map to capture multiple thoughts centering around a similar idea. Then, prioritize the list. It could be in order by enthusiasm, by length of time to complete the project, by easy of monetizing, etc. You pick the priority, but organizing your ideas will help you sort through and narrow down your options.
Pick one idea. Focus in on it and save the other great ideas for later. You can do one great idea at a time. It doesn’t mean you forget the other ideas. In fact, letting ideas sit for a while usually helps us recognize which ideas are worth pursuing. The ones that are stay exciting over time.

Allowed to do one thing at a time, too many ideas, creativity killer, watercolor background, hand lettered quote — When you face too many ideas, write them down and remember, you are allowed to do one thing at a time.

Use a planner or goal workbook to plan out your project. Putting dates to things lets you see the end of the project and push through when you enter those monotonous, necessary tasks. Doing a little planning will also reveal if you have the resources and time for the project. Some shiny ideas aren’t practical at this stage of your life or business.
Step away from your list for a short time. Sometimes things come into focus after a short break. Do something else for a half hour, an hour or even a day.

Give yourself permission to do one thing at a time.

Watch how it helps you stay focused and weed out the pieces of fools’ gold from among your collection of genuine nuggets.

And above all, Happy Creating!

In case you missed them, here are the first three Creativity Killers and the Permission you can give yourself to move beyond them.

Too Many Ideas – Allowed to do One Thing at a Time