In this engaging conversation, Madeleine Dore, author of "I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt," discusses the pitfalls of rigid routines and the value of flexibility in productivity. She reveals how many successful creatives thrive without strict schedules. Topics include embracing 'splodge time' for task completion and understanding creativity through life's natural cycles. Madeleine emphasizes letting go of productivity guilt and finding delight in discipline, encouraging listeners to redefine their approach to getting things done.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Unexpected Findings
Madeleine Dore started a podcast interviewing creatives about routines to improve her productivity.
Ironically, she discovered many didn't have routines either, shifting her focus to productivity guilt.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Routine Struggles
Dore's early routines were inconsistent, struggling with strict schedules like the "5 AM club."
Despite elaborate plans, one missed alarm would derail her entire day, leading to self-criticism.
insights INSIGHT
Perfection Paradox
Striving for the perfect routine can hinder productivity by creating an excuse for failure.
A single deviation can ruin the entire day, fostering a cycle of self-blame and inaction.
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Written by Arnold Bennett, this book advises readers on how to make the most of their time by engaging in activities that enrich their lives, such as reading, learning, and reflecting. It was originally published as a series of articles in 1907 and remains popular for its timeless advice on personal efficiency.
You struggle with being productive. So you decide you need to establish a routine for yourself. You get real gung-ho about this routine — this is going to be the thing that changes everything! But then you fail to stick to it. So you flagellate yourself for that failure and decide what you need is a different routine. But then you don’t stick with that routine either. The cycle then repeats itself, leaving you no more productive than you were at the start.
My guest, Madeleine Dore, found herself stuck in this cycle. So she decided to start interviewing successful creative types to get their secrets to an optimal routine. Yet these folks would confide to her a different secret: they actually didn’t have a routine either.
Madeleine has come to believe something that I’ve discovered too: routines aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and you can actually still be very creative and productive even if you go about each day in a looser, more ad-hoc fashion.
Today on the show, I talk to Madeleine, who’s the author of I Didn’t Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt, about how the all-or-nothing thinking which surrounds routines can actually sabotage our effectiveness. We then discuss alternatives to keeping a strict routine that still allow you to get stuff done, including moving to a “portable routine,” taking advantage of “splodge time,” and embracing cycles and seasons in your work. We also discuss other ways to let go of unuseful productivity guilt, including setting realistic expectations and not eating the frog first.
The Art of Manliness 
