It is often said that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Despite the passion that many filmmakers feel for their craft, the well of internal motivation will eventually run dry. Looming deadlines and budget constraints are always present, whether or not you’re feeling creatively inspired.
For this reason, it is essential that filmmakers take control of their productivity. When most people hear productivity, the first thing that comes to mind is some type of ‘hack’ that promises to boost concentration, focus, and output. While the traditional approaches to productivity sound good on paper, they can be very difficult to implement in reality. That is because most productivity advice makes one huge, incorrect assumption – people are constant and predictable beings.
As a filmmaker, you are probably aware that this is not true. In fact, you know that it is your characters’ imperfections that make them relatable, lovable, and engaging. Yet, when it comes to ourselves, we can be less forgiving of our inconsistency, and instead, misread our ups and downs as a lack of willpower or ambition.
The truth is that the mainstream productivity story isn’t complete. In order to use your time effectively, you must understand and respect your energy cycles first. The concept of planning your day around your waning energy levels rather than the rigid consistency of the clock is the main principle of energy management.
Energy management examines productivity from a biological approach. Most of us know that our bodies follow an internal circadian rhythm that is controlled by external factors, like sunlight and stress.
However, there are other natural cycles that extend beyond 24 hours that also impact our energy levels and therefore, our productivity. For example, menstruation is an infradian rhythm that runs on a 24 to 28-day cycle. During different points in the month, energy levels rise and fall. Likewise, many people experience energy highs and lows on a seasonal basis. Incorporating these broader cycles into your productivity system will have a profound effect on your creative work and your daily life.
Acknowledge Your Natural Rhythm
Seasonal and monthly energy cycles are just two examples of the multitude of natural rhythms present in the human population. For example, it is common for people with ADHD or other neurodiversity to have alternating cycles of very high and very low energy. The morning person / night owl divide also reflects the diversity of peak energy periods.
If you’re not sure when you hit your energy highs and lows, consider tracking your mood and productivity. This can be as simple as noting down your energy level at different times of the day over several weeks.
After completing this exercise, you may see a pattern start to emerge. If you notice that your energy seems to peak just after midnight, try moving your more cognitively-demanding tasks, like video editing or script writing, to those early morning hours. You’ll be amazed how much more you are able to get done.
Prevent Burnout
Planning and strategy are just one side of energy management. Since our energy levels are determined by biological processes, such as our metabolism, minding our health is equally important. If your energy levels are constantly low, it may be a sign of a deeper health issue. Choosing to power through rather than address chronic fatigue can worsen the issue and even lead to burnout, a serious stress-induced condition.
While it may be easier to throw yourself into your work and neglect your physical health, this will eventually catch up to you. Ongoing sleep deprivation, poor diet, excessive drinking, and smoking can all wreak havoc on your body. If you’re feeling sluggish, vitamin deficiency and hormone testing can pinpoint the root of your issue and get you on the path back to good health.
Embrace the Flow State
You can think of the flow state as the holy grail of productivity. Since you are so immersed in your task, you can remain focused for hours without exerting much effort. Getting into a flow state isn’t easy, as tasks have to provide a very specific set of circumstances to induce this reaction.
Luckily, many aspects of filmmaking meet these narrow criteria. For example, flow state tasks are challenging, but interesting and creative. You also get immediate feedback from your effort and a sense of pleasure from your work. You can imagine how video editing or directing can easily trigger this state.
When completing flow state tasks, the important thing is to minimize distractions. For example, try blocking out 2 or 3 hours a day to work on that one specific task. That way, you don’t have to worry about other responsibilities disrupting your flow and pulling you out of this productive state.
Michael Driver is a freelance writer from Texas. When not writing to pay the bills, he loves covering topics related to history, movies, and sports. Michael can be reached at ReddishRaddish87@gmail.com
