Remembering the importance of chocolate spread in the creative process

I’ve recently been reminded of just how important chocolate spread is in the creative process. Not just chocolate spread of course, but any treat or gentle indulgence.

Reading this post from Fiona Robyn left me craving chocolate spread on a hot buttered crumpet and wondering why I didn’t have a jar in my cupboard.

Gentle goals and rewards

I’ve written before about the importance of being kind to ourselves in the creative process, especially if we’re people with limited energy. Setting gentle goals and rewarding ourselves for reaching them really is the way to get our Important Work done.

In need of a not so gentle reminder

This week I’ve been in need of a not so gentle reminder to reward myself for getting my own Important Work done. I’ve had a busy month finishing new book, Sustainable Creativity and have been finding it very difficult to wind down and rest since the launch last week. In fact, I wonder that if my computer hadn’t decided to break down at the weekend I would have remembered to stop at all! But break down it did and I was forced to look up and stop. I suddenly noticed just how much I fancied a chocolate spread covered crumpet and finding the cupboard bare, went out and bought myself a jar.

A sweet symbol

The jar has become a (very tasty!) symbol for me of the importance of remembering to stop and reward myself for all I’ve achieved. Even after so many years of struggling with limited energy I still need reminding. How about you?

Why treats are important:

1. Treats can work as an incentive for you to focus on your Important Work for a specific amount of time. Much better to use a carrot (or a jar of chocolate spread!) than a stick in my experience.

2. Taking time to give yourself a treat during the working day provides a much needed punctuation to the creative routine. You can use it to examine what you’ve done and to make sure you’re using your energy wisely and really focusing on what’s important.

3. Taking time out for a treat means you’re having a rest (and a change of pace). This is particularly important if you have limited energy. Resting and paying money back into our Energy Banks is vital.

4. Life really is about the small pleasures. There seems very little point to me in achieving what I think of as my Important Work if I don’t take time to appreciate what I’ve done and and enjoy some pleasures along the way (time to toast a crumpet I think).

A final word

Of course, treats don’t all need to be calorific ones (!). You could treat yourself to a ten minute walk in the sun, a chapter of your favourite book, a special tea, a bubble bath, an episode of a favourite TV programme, or even a lovely nap. I’m sure you can come up with lots of ideas of your own. Keep a list of them, or perhaps make a treat box full of ideas. When you need to give yourself a treat open the box and pull one out.