I greatly prefer paper books over digital, but today I found myself unexpectedly buying and reading: “Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad” by Austin Kleon online.

To cement my reading I’ve put together 5 (kind of random) takeaways for you, big and small. For those who need some encouragement to keep going like I did this morning:

Measuring nonmechanical time…

Exercise taking a step back to measure time through differences in your surroundings. This may look like studying a certain tree for a year, or how thick the ice is getting on a nearby lake. Working with creative flows in relation to nature. Everything has to die off in winter to rebloom in spring.

“Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long.” – May Sarton

A note on quick success…

Similarly to changing seasons, trees take many years to establish vast root systems. Be wary of early successes, and don’t compare yourself to those who seem to have it easy. Chances could be, that they don’t have a root system established enough to survive unexpected weather events.

Go on walks…

I didn’t know this, apparently there are an extensive amount of famous creatives who were known for their walking & wandering. Some have been caught walking around random suburbs, leading to their arrests. Austin emphasizes the importance of walks, not only for the physical movement that’s beneficial to the creative process, but in mindfully observing nature and surroundings around you.

Establishing sacred times & spaces…

Working creatives need designated spaces & times that are replenishing and refueling. Austin writes about the importance of these spaces in combating burnout. Make a time of day, a certain desk, or a room in your home yours to unwind. Protect it.

Making your routine work for you…

There are many, many silly things that well-known creatives have incorporated into their daily routines–because they found it works for them. Are you a morning person or an evening person? What puts you into a creative mood? Do you detest working at a certain time of day? Throw out your idealized schedule from that one morning routine on TikTok and set yourself up for success by making your day yours.

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Here’s a quote from the end of his book:

“Worry less about getting things done. Worry more about things worth doing. Worry less about being a great artist. Worry more about being a good human being who makes art. Worry less about making a mark. Worry more about leaving things better than you found them.”

– Austin Kleon, “Keep Going”

I’m happy I sat down to read this book today, as it left me with many needed takeaways and reminders. Go with your gut, lean into what interests you, and KEEP GOING.