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.Resources Related to the PodcastHow to Live on Twenty-four Hours a Day by Arnold BennettAustin KleonAoM article on the “possibilities in spare moments”AoM article on Emerson, pear trees, and the seasons of lifeAoM article on famous men who took advantage of “splodge time” to become a successAoM Podcast #602: The Case for Being UnproductiveConnect With Madeleine DoreMadeleine’s WebsiteMadeleine on IG

In this episode, Madeleine Dore discusses how we can redefine productivity by embracing the messiness of life. Dore shares her insights on dismantling comparison, aspirational routines, and unrealistic expectations, encouraging listeners to find their own way to navigate the never-ending list of things to do. Tune in to discover a new perspective on what it means to be productive. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Madeleine Dore, an author and podcast host, offers a cure for “productivity guilt.” That’s the cycle of dejection she says many of us suffer from when we never reach the end of our lengthy to-do lists (even with modern technology to make us more efficient). Instead of trying to optimize our time, she suggests ways we can step back, listen to ourselves, and plan our days around delight. She offers tips and tricks to make this transition and explains why it can be good for business overall. Dore hosts the podcast Routines & Ruts and wrote the new book I Didn't Do the Thing Today.

Madeleine Dore, an expert on productivity, talks about letting go of productivity guilt and the negative impacts it has on our well-being and self-worth. She encourages embracing creativity, overcoming indecision, and finding delightful discipline. Dore highlights the importance of starting the day with something delightful and embracing learning. She also mentions the Next Big Idea app and production details of the podcast.

Writer Madeleine Dore discusses rethinking writing routines, embracing imperfection in creative processes, and her unique approach to Substack. She explores the importance of embracing micro-ambitions, flexibility in daily routines, and overcoming writing challenges in the creative process.