MY PAJAMA ELF
"Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits." -Twyla Tharp
My alarm clock (a.k.a my 3 year old son), woke me up with his usual, "It's morning time Mama!" As I'm sure you can all relate, I haven't used a real alarm clock since before I had children. I also used to be best friends with sleep --- we had a falling out because I couldn't spend any time with her. I'm still really sad about it.
Anyway, we got into our usual routine here at the Schloss household where my son has a minor melt down session because he doesn't want to get dressed in the morning. Sure, sometimes he ends up going to school in his pajamas and that's ok by me, but what occurred to me today was that this routine of ours has become a habit.
Habit: A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.
Yup. This morning scenario has definitely become a habit. So after taking a few deep breaths, I decided to break it and take on the creative instead. As my little guy got himself into a stir, I quickly made up a story about Pajama Elves. Oh! You don't know about them? Well, basically, I told my son that if he was spotted wearing his pjs during the day by the Pajama Elves, then they would bring him a bed. "See, the Pajama Elves are extremely thoughtful so if you're tired, and you must be since you have pajamas on, they make you sleep." My son stopped crying immediately and asked, "The whole day?" I quickly replied, "For as long as you have your pjs on." He then said in his very certain way, "But you can't sleep during the day." I nodded knowingly as he took a moment to think. "Even at the grocery store?" he asked. "Yup. They can spot you anywhere." I replied. And that was that. He quickly got dressed. On the car ride to school, we made up silly voices for the pajama elves. I know, I can't help it.......it's what I do. I think they had a slight Spanish accent. We were hysterical. As my son skipped off to school to tell his friends about the Pajama Elves, I realized that by taking on the creative, I totally dodged a doozy!
So my noodles started bubbling...
How many habits that don't actually benefit us do we unconsciously allow every day? And if we could delete those from the repertoire and add a little creativity, wouldn't we feel better and maybe a little happier?
Popping in Netflix after the kids went to bed was a habit of mine that became extremely hard to break. I felt justified because I was tired and I deserved a break. Then I realized that giving myself an hour of creativity instead, gave me a new found energy. As I embraced this creative habit, I found myself upgrading from one hour to two and sometimes three. I became a creative machine! I was getting things done and feeling creatively fulfilled.
But maybe you don't have a full hour to devote to the creative at night. Start with fifteen minutes before your usual "wake up call." Before the morning coffee ritual and the hustle and bustle of kids eating and getting dressed, take just a measly fifteen minutes to write in a journal, take a walk, exercise, meditate or simply work on a project. After all, fifteen minutes is better than nothing, right? And what a great way to start your day. Maybe like me, you will be having so much fun, that fifteen minutes will turn into a half hour.
So I invite you to seek out that creative moment and make it a habit.
Get rid of what doesn't serve you and insert a little creativity. Start off even smaller....maybe five minutes to brainstorm, look through a magazine for inspiration or read a motivational quote. Whatever creative noodle you come up with, make it a habit!
It may even help you dodge a doozy too :)
My alarm clock (a.k.a my 3 year old son), woke me up with his usual, "It's morning time Mama!" As I'm sure you can all relate, I haven't used a real alarm clock since before I had children. I also used to be best friends with sleep --- we had a falling out because I couldn't spend any time with her. I'm still really sad about it.
Anyway, we got into our usual routine here at the Schloss household where my son has a minor melt down session because he doesn't want to get dressed in the morning. Sure, sometimes he ends up going to school in his pajamas and that's ok by me, but what occurred to me today was that this routine of ours has become a habit.
Habit: A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.
Yup. This morning scenario has definitely become a habit. So after taking a few deep breaths, I decided to break it and take on the creative instead. As my little guy got himself into a stir, I quickly made up a story about Pajama Elves. Oh! You don't know about them? Well, basically, I told my son that if he was spotted wearing his pjs during the day by the Pajama Elves, then they would bring him a bed. "See, the Pajama Elves are extremely thoughtful so if you're tired, and you must be since you have pajamas on, they make you sleep." My son stopped crying immediately and asked, "The whole day?" I quickly replied, "For as long as you have your pjs on." He then said in his very certain way, "But you can't sleep during the day." I nodded knowingly as he took a moment to think. "Even at the grocery store?" he asked. "Yup. They can spot you anywhere." I replied. And that was that. He quickly got dressed. On the car ride to school, we made up silly voices for the pajama elves. I know, I can't help it.......it's what I do. I think they had a slight Spanish accent. We were hysterical. As my son skipped off to school to tell his friends about the Pajama Elves, I realized that by taking on the creative, I totally dodged a doozy!
So my noodles started bubbling...
How many habits that don't actually benefit us do we unconsciously allow every day? And if we could delete those from the repertoire and add a little creativity, wouldn't we feel better and maybe a little happier?
Popping in Netflix after the kids went to bed was a habit of mine that became extremely hard to break. I felt justified because I was tired and I deserved a break. Then I realized that giving myself an hour of creativity instead, gave me a new found energy. As I embraced this creative habit, I found myself upgrading from one hour to two and sometimes three. I became a creative machine! I was getting things done and feeling creatively fulfilled.
But maybe you don't have a full hour to devote to the creative at night. Start with fifteen minutes before your usual "wake up call." Before the morning coffee ritual and the hustle and bustle of kids eating and getting dressed, take just a measly fifteen minutes to write in a journal, take a walk, exercise, meditate or simply work on a project. After all, fifteen minutes is better than nothing, right? And what a great way to start your day. Maybe like me, you will be having so much fun, that fifteen minutes will turn into a half hour.
So I invite you to seek out that creative moment and make it a habit.
Get rid of what doesn't serve you and insert a little creativity. Start off even smaller....maybe five minutes to brainstorm, look through a magazine for inspiration or read a motivational quote. Whatever creative noodle you come up with, make it a habit!
It may even help you dodge a doozy too :)
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