I'm so disappointed to see that this video has so few views, this is definitely something I wanna keep in a bookmark to rewatch every few weeks. Really good stuff, thank you Jessica! Also that was not what I expected from a video recommended after listening to "Beautiful and Tagic" on repeat.
So hard to not slip into breaking this without a site blocker app! But I agree, not getting sucked into hours of videos you didn't plan to watch is a great way to get more done and probably feel better about life (unless you're watching exclusively baby animal videos)
The 30 minutes is a relatively arbitrary number. My commute is about 2+ hours each day, during which time it's difficult to do anything productive. So, that's my RUclips window. It works for me, 10 minutes might work for someone else.
Something that helps me switch into fun/creative mode as soon as I get home from work, is using the last hour at work (when I can) to actively, mentally, relax and decompress. It looks like I'm staring at my computer and still working, but I'm actually internet browsing, writing my grocery list, or paying bills. Then, on my walk home, I do some like, calming and positive self-talk getting me all hyped up for the music fun at home. Awesome video and tips, Jessica! I'm adopting your cookie schedule.
As she moves the recorder around and turns her head to add inflection and gesticulation the signal moves back and forth ever so slightly in the stereo field. I love that. Since she holds the recorder in her right hand her voice stays primarily in the left monitor until about halfway through the video when she repositions the recorder. It's a cool effect even though the engineer in me would have stuck that straight into mono if the phasing were still OK.
Much of this advice is truly helpful and, in many ways, very beautiful. You're saying something about the human condition. It should be noted that this video doesn't do much to answer that opening question, though the tips do partially address the 2nd bit of the question. We had a really nice opportunity to talk about the real, material conditions that influence and constrain all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, but as is so often the case, we blew it. We redirected our attention to self-help. This channel is such a positive and creative space and i'm deeply grateful for all of your encouragement, levity, and ingenuity. It's to be expected that self-help would pop up in this space and i don't want to devalue any of your advice or sentiments. Self-help is, in almost all instances, an individualistic means of treating symptoms. It gives cover to those who benefit from, and perpetuate the causes. It deflects our attention away from collective solutions to systemic problems. Maybe you two could give this another go. Maybe ask, "Is it more or less possible to be creative, imaginative, and energetic when you're working a conventional job, (or 3)?" or maybe ask "Is capitalism morally/logically compatible with the things we value, i.e. creativity, imagination, mental/physical,emotional well-being?" Thanks/love
Prioritizing time became my favourite tip because it really helps making many of the different things i wanna do and I never get bored or exhaustied, thanks jes for all the tips!
Self talk is something I definitely need to work on. I regularly abuse myself for not being good enough. At anything. "stupid moron", "why can't you just do it right" "worthless loser" "pointless scumbag". That type of stuff. Sad but true. Very true.
Thanks Jessica - all good tips! Having fun is important - sometimes music can be really hard work and we forget how much we love it - important to bring the fun back into it. BTW - love your watercolors! :)
love when musicians and artists talk about habits, short steps, time tracking and setting a routine. I apply a lot of this tips myself and find lots of creativity every day ,but then, when collegues and people ask how do I do for keeping it creative, I say: set a routine, track your habits, plan ahead, eat well etc and they reply that being "that strict" would kill any sort of creativity they would have... Also people I know away from my music environment don't believe I dedicate most of the time composing, arranging and playing drums for a living... I believe they think creative people have to be unorganized, with a messy desk and 3 different tones of blue in the hair, I don't know! hahaha!
It's so counter-intuitive, right? I think to have the messy desk, artsy lifestyle and having it fail for me made me really understand that's not the only way. I find that having structure and a daily routine is more stable, not reliant on my mood, and actually makes me feel better! I feel like my creativity is an unstoppable force only reliant on time and before it felt like taming a wild animal that would only work with me by force or coincidence.
5:36 Strangely enough, I did not change what I wanted to be when I grew up until 8 years later. I wanted to be a marine mammologist from 1st to 8th grade, but then I had dissect a frog and realized I wouldn't survive biology school. Around the same time I had an epitome that I could do music for a living and that I loved music and that I wanted to create (I've been doing music pretty much my whole life). I can definitely say that my desire to be a musician for a living won't be changing soon.
Nice, and I don't think it should change! That segment was hard to harness all my thoughts about. I think people who know who they are and have fun pursuing it is all great! I just found that when I explored things that I didn't think were for me and got me out of my comfort zone, it turned me on to different assets of my personality I didn't even know were there/ or parts that were neglected because they didn't fit into my career (or so I thought). In other words, if you found time to observe marine mammals again or reignited that interest in some way, it most likely wouldn't detract from your music, it would likely add to your passions!
@@JusticeCow Yeah, I'm still fascinated by animals in a lot of ways, it's just that I don't think I have the heart to dissect them. I feel like my interest in the sea might lead to me writing a lot of ocean-inspired music, though.
I totally agree! Creativity is like an exercise in emotion and empathy and so we get really good at noticing and exploring emotions but maybe less good at knowing what to do when we're all filled up. Luckily, therapy and self-help stuff exists!
Thanks. In an age where so much of what falls under the 'motivational' category - is basically just unhealthy, self-optimization to adhere to noone even knows what, to be 'successful', when we really should just focus on creating a healthy, creative environment to thrive in, this video was needed.
I have consumed SO MUCH self-help and creativity related material, I'm so glad I distilled it down to something that makes sense for you! If you're looking for something that helps you look at your habits in a serious way- I highly recommend " The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I did the entire course and took an approach like "I'm just gonna commit to this whole-heartedly even if stuff makes me uncomfortable or feels like it doesn't apply to me" CHANGED MY EFFING LIFE! Best of luck to you!
@@JusticeCow yeah, I have a history of getting in my own way, blaming my job for not having time. I really do have enough time, I'm just scared to be creative. Maybe I have trouble getting started writing, or maybe Im scared of what I have to say. This video helped me realize that!! Thanks again Jessica!
@@Seth-hc2bj No problem! If trouble with getting started is a trend for you, you might look into "the Artist's Way" course. It's 12 weeks and can fit into the cracks of a really busy schedule and it made a WORLD of difference for me and mainly my self-esteem. Best of luck to you out there!
@@mateuslaet4140 "By the Book" is really helpful for me! I recommend starting with the "Magic Lessons" episode. Also, these talks by John Cleese are DOPE: ruclips.net/video/DMpdPrm6Ul4/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/Pb5oIIPO62g/видео.html
Excellent video lots of great tips. An an old guy I fell into a lot of holes she talks about, yes hindsight is 20-20. At least I am doing the one thing she mention and that even though I'm old I haven't stopped learning and some ways playing better than ever before on my main instrument and have decided to learn finally play piano which is quite a challenge at my ago, but at same time has me thinking more about music, sounds, composition. I can really see the difference with friends and others my age which ones are still learning stuff and those that are just doing the same things they've done their whole lifes. The ones who are learning think and don't feel their age and open to new things, they don't just sit around a gripe all day. I think there are young people that need to keep learning and would have better attitudes about things. Thanks for this video.
YES! I am so glad it resonated with you! I recently learned about the "growth mindset" vs. "fixed mindset" and I have actively observed this in people I interact with. I noticed it first when I was thinking of artists/people I admire and what made them different. This was the big difference and ever since I've been actively pushing myself to be on the prowl for knowledge. Keep learning, my friend!
Loved that part about dealing with insecurities and anxieties, it would be really neat to hear what that could mean when talking about instrument playing or singing since it's such a broad concept
i took it to mean things that you feel insecure about in your playing, for example maybe you feel more secure playing on an acoustic guitar than on an electric, and the best way to address that would be to play on an electric more
Conor Donaghy totally! For me, I have been insecure with technicality, speed, creativity with parts. With my voice, I've been really insecure with pitch and tone. Those are all things I actively work on by finding music that addresses those issues and warming up with them. Lessons also help a ton! Like therapy, it involves someone with an outside perspective who can help you manage your goals and address your insecurities.
Excellent advice in this vid! I struggle with #9. It's tough to find other creative people to jam/write/record with with a full time night shift job 6 nights a week in a city with not much going on musically.
Super late comment but I have a suggestion. Make up some kind of long term crafty side project you can do in your break and work on it every single day. The reason why this is really good is that a lot of the more impressive projects you can do will require a lot of time-consuming grunt work, and that little chunk of time every day will get you surprisingly far. Unfortunately, I think this works best with visual art forms but you could do it with music to for example practice complex rhythms or practice without your instrument.
I see how these tips can benefit me, but at the same time I feel somewhat repulsive to some of them... I hate routines, for instance, and I have a tendency to break out of it every time I try to establish one. My mind tends to call BS on everything that's too structured and would rather appreciate the delights of looseness. Any tips for working around that or using that to my favor?
I had this problem and actively fight to keep a routine. What really got me out of that mindset was reading the book "Daily Rituals" which is literally a collection of great thinkers/artists routines from that last few hundred years. Reading about so many people having success and making their days their own was so inspiring. Studies show that starting with tiny "mini habits" that get you doing a version of a routine are the key. An example is having the goal to exercise each day and the mini habit of doing just 1 push up. Also, find a way to keep track of the habit like red xs on a calendar that makes a chain. I also have used the apps "Streaks" and "Fabulous" to keep track of habits. I hope this helps!
I'm glad to be of service! I have a real interest in making creativity happen and it led me to consume a bunch of stuff about it. I'm glad it makes sense and there are take aways for ya!
this is some really great, practical advice! thanks jessica!
caught this comment at 69 (so nice)
This isn't just for creative people. This is life advice
As someone who works very full time, I can definitely say Jessica is my problem too. Namaste.
I AM the problem! Lock her up! Lock her up!
I could totally hug Jessica, the way she speaks, is soothing. My man Ben levin playing in the background was dope though. Always LOVE your content!
Watching this during lunch at my nine to five. This channel is one of the most creative on RUclips. Thanks for the inspiration.
Glad you got inspired! Thanks for watching!
This video came out right as I was thinking about the subject. Talk about timing… Thanks a lot!
I'm so disappointed to see that this video has so few views, this is definitely something I wanna keep in a bookmark to rewatch every few weeks. Really good stuff, thank you Jessica!
Also that was not what I expected from a video recommended after listening to "Beautiful and Tagic" on repeat.
Tip 1: Watch only 30minutes of RUclips per day
So hard to not slip into breaking this without a site blocker app! But I agree, not getting sucked into hours of videos you didn't plan to watch is a great way to get more done and probably feel better about life (unless you're watching exclusively baby animal videos)
The 30 minutes is a relatively arbitrary number. My commute is about 2+ hours each day, during which time it's difficult to do anything productive. So, that's my RUclips window. It works for me, 10 minutes might work for someone else.
oh god is it bad if I'm in the 5 hour- yes it's bad, oh god I have to stop this.
@@monowavy Been there so many times my friend. I'd say its only bad if you notice it, don't like it, and don't try to adjust the pattern.
yo man I love your videos on /r/jazzguitar
inspiration to me and a part of my 30 mins of youtube I look forward to!
Something that helps me switch into fun/creative mode as soon as I get home from work, is using the last hour at work (when I can) to actively, mentally, relax and decompress. It looks like I'm staring at my computer and still working, but I'm actually internet browsing, writing my grocery list, or paying bills. Then, on my walk home, I do some like, calming and positive self-talk getting me all hyped up for the music fun at home.
Awesome video and tips, Jessica! I'm adopting your cookie schedule.
Brilliant strategy! I can't recommend the cookie regimen more.
As she moves the recorder around and turns her head to add inflection and gesticulation the signal moves back and forth ever so slightly in the stereo field. I love that. Since she holds the recorder in her right hand her voice stays primarily in the left monitor until about halfway through the video when she repositions the recorder. It's a cool effect even though the engineer in me would have stuck that straight into mono if the phasing were still OK.
Every single tip is great
100% helpful content.
The part about following your anxieties really spoke to me. Thank you!
Thank you for making this video; it was great to hear Jessica talk more about this. You both are amazing and an inspiration.
Yay! Thanks for your great question that got it all started!
thank you Jessica
Much of this advice is truly helpful and, in many ways, very beautiful. You're saying something about the human condition. It should be noted that this video doesn't do much to answer that opening question, though the tips do partially address the 2nd bit of the question. We had a really nice opportunity to talk about the real, material conditions that influence and constrain all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, but as is so often the case, we blew it. We redirected our attention to self-help. This channel is such a positive and creative space and i'm deeply grateful for all of your encouragement, levity, and ingenuity. It's to be expected that self-help would pop up in this space and i don't want to devalue any of your advice or sentiments. Self-help is, in almost all instances, an individualistic means of treating symptoms. It gives cover to those who benefit from, and perpetuate the causes. It deflects our attention away from collective solutions to systemic problems. Maybe you two could give this another go. Maybe ask, "Is it more or less possible to be creative, imaginative, and energetic when you're working a conventional job, (or 3)?" or maybe ask "Is capitalism morally/logically compatible with the things we value, i.e. creativity, imagination, mental/physical,emotional well-being?" Thanks/love
+
+
cringe
Every now and then I return to this video and see that I finally got some of these! Exercise vs art was a tricky one to become aware about!
Thanks JusticeCow
This hit me in a few spots closer than I though. Scheduling and routine are the worst things about my practice habits.
Hey.
Thank you.
There's warmth here, for me.
Wow this is incredible thank you
Prioritizing time became my favourite tip because it really helps making many of the different things i wanna do and I never get bored or exhaustied, thanks jes for all the tips!
Self talk is something I definitely need to work on. I regularly abuse myself for not being good enough. At anything. "stupid moron", "why can't you just do it right" "worthless loser" "pointless scumbag". That type of stuff. Sad but true. Very true.
I’m gonna try these
Thanks Jessica - all good tips! Having fun is important - sometimes music can be really hard work and we forget how much we love it - important to bring the fun back into it. BTW - love your watercolors! :)
TRUTH and thank ya kindly!
Halfway through the video i forgot i was watching something about music, and it was just a nice self-help blog. Much appreciated!
Thank you, this might help me with my current creative crisis. :)
Yay!
Wow. i may need to watch this every day for a while. Thank you Jess.
love when musicians and artists talk about habits, short steps, time tracking and setting a routine. I apply a lot of this tips myself and find lots of creativity every day ,but then, when collegues and people ask how do I do for keeping it creative, I say: set a routine, track your habits, plan ahead, eat well etc and they reply that being "that strict" would kill any sort of creativity they would have... Also people I know away from my music environment don't believe I dedicate most of the time composing, arranging and playing drums for a living... I believe they think creative people have to be unorganized, with a messy desk and 3 different tones of blue in the hair, I don't know! hahaha!
1 Manufactured inspiration
2 Routine
3 Exercises vs. "art"
4 Basic self-care
5 Follow your anxieties
6 You're liquid
7 Goals
8 Time tracking
9 Find a buddy
10 Learn until you're dead
It's so counter-intuitive, right? I think to have the messy desk, artsy lifestyle and having it fail for me made me really understand that's not the only way. I find that having structure and a daily routine is more stable, not reliant on my mood, and actually makes me feel better! I feel like my creativity is an unstoppable force only reliant on time and before it felt like taming a wild animal that would only work with me by force or coincidence.
5:36 Strangely enough, I did not change what I wanted to be when I grew up until 8 years later. I wanted to be a marine mammologist from 1st to 8th grade, but then I had dissect a frog and realized I wouldn't survive biology school. Around the same time I had an epitome that I could do music for a living and that I loved music and that I wanted to create (I've been doing music pretty much my whole life).
I can definitely say that my desire to be a musician for a living won't be changing soon.
Nice, and I don't think it should change!
That segment was hard to harness all my thoughts about. I think people who know who they are and have fun pursuing it is all great! I just found that when I explored things that I didn't think were for me and got me out of my comfort zone, it turned me on to different assets of my personality I didn't even know were there/ or parts that were neglected because they didn't fit into my career (or so I thought).
In other words, if you found time to observe marine mammals again or reignited that interest in some way, it most likely wouldn't detract from your music, it would likely add to your passions!
@@JusticeCow Yeah, I'm still fascinated by animals in a lot of ways, it's just that I don't think I have the heart to dissect them.
I feel like my interest in the sea might lead to me writing a lot of ocean-inspired music, though.
@@lifeontheledgerlines8394 Sweet! That's a great direction!
Thank you, these tipps are perfect for me!
Really wish I'd seen this during middle and high school, I'm sure many of these would apply there too.
You guys are so sweet. Thanks!
This was phenomenal advice. Thank you!!
Greeeat video Ben and Jessica!!
I totally agree! Creativity is like an exercise in emotion and empathy and so we get really good at noticing and exploring emotions but maybe less good at knowing what to do when we're all filled up. Luckily, therapy and self-help stuff exists!
Thanks.
In an age where so much of what falls under the 'motivational' category - is basically just unhealthy, self-optimization to adhere to noone even knows what, to be 'successful', when we really should just focus on creating a healthy, creative environment to thrive in, this video was needed.
I have consumed SO MUCH self-help and creativity related material, I'm so glad I distilled it down to something that makes sense for you! If you're looking for something that helps you look at your habits in a serious way- I highly recommend " The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I did the entire course and took an approach like "I'm just gonna commit to this whole-heartedly even if stuff makes me uncomfortable or feels like it doesn't apply to me" CHANGED MY EFFING LIFE!
Best of luck to you!
@@JusticeCow
Thanks for the recommendation. I will check that one out. Cheers.
As a service industry person, this is such an inspiring video.
Wow, I'm so glad to hear that!
@@JusticeCow yeah, I have a history of getting in my own way, blaming my job for not having time. I really do have enough time, I'm just scared to be creative. Maybe I have trouble getting started writing, or maybe Im scared of what I have to say. This video helped me realize that!! Thanks again Jessica!
@@Seth-hc2bj No problem! If trouble with getting started is a trend for you, you might look into "the Artist's Way" course. It's 12 weeks and can fit into the cracks of a really busy schedule and it made a WORLD of difference for me and mainly my self-esteem. Best of luck to you out there!
@@JusticeCow ordered a used copy! We'll see how this goes!
This channel is perfect and this video is perfecter
Aww, thanks Justin!
tip 3 is yuggggee for me. thanks jessica!
This was super helpful! Thanks Jessica!
Your welcome, Joseph! See you next time we're on the West Coast!
@@JusticeCow :D Hopefully soon haha
It’s no secret and it even appears in one of the cartoons but The Artists Way is a great book on exactly this topic
Came at the right time.
Yay! I was so happy to make this with Ben.
I think I'm going to use this video as my creative inspiration :)
This is really good! There have been a few podcasts about this type of thing that have been motivating me lately.
What's the name of the podcast? I'm interested
@@mateuslaet4140 "By the Book" is really helpful for me! I recommend starting with the "Magic Lessons" episode. Also, these talks by John Cleese are DOPE: ruclips.net/video/DMpdPrm6Ul4/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/Pb5oIIPO62g/видео.html
This is exactly what I needed, thank you!!!
Welcome and good luck in your creative endeavors!
Very helpful and relatable video. Thank you, Jessica!
No problem, my friend! I'm glad you got something out of it!
Hey this was really great! Thanks a lot
Amazing, thanks Ben and friend!
Thanks! -Friend
Holy hell. Life advice actually.
Excellent video lots of great tips. An an old guy I fell into a lot of holes she talks about, yes hindsight is 20-20. At least I am doing the one thing she mention and that even though I'm old I haven't stopped learning and some ways playing better than ever before on my main instrument and have decided to learn finally play piano which is quite a challenge at my ago, but at same time has me thinking more about music, sounds, composition. I can really see the difference with friends and others my age which ones are still learning stuff and those that are just doing the same things they've done their whole lifes. The ones who are learning think and don't feel their age and open to new things, they don't just sit around a gripe all day. I think there are young people that need to keep learning and would have better attitudes about things. Thanks for this video.
YES! I am so glad it resonated with you!
I recently learned about the "growth mindset" vs. "fixed mindset" and I have actively observed this in people I interact with. I noticed it first when I was thinking of artists/people I admire and what made them different. This was the big difference and ever since I've been actively pushing myself to be on the prowl for knowledge. Keep learning, my friend!
6:26 Oh I recognize this song
To stay productive, I plan out my day ahead of time:
7PM: Cookies. 7:30PM: Cookies. 8PM: Cookies. 8:30PM: Cookies. :3
Loved that part about dealing with insecurities and anxieties, it would be really neat to hear what that could mean when talking about instrument playing or singing since it's such a broad concept
i took it to mean things that you feel insecure about in your playing, for example maybe you feel more secure playing on an acoustic guitar than on an electric, and the best way to address that would be to play on an electric more
Conor Donaghy totally! For me, I have been insecure with technicality, speed, creativity with parts. With my voice, I've been really insecure with pitch and tone. Those are all things I actively work on by finding music that addresses those issues and warming up with them. Lessons also help a ton! Like therapy, it involves someone with an outside perspective who can help you manage your goals and address your insecurities.
@@JusticeCow Thank you! That makes a lot of sense.
Excellent advice in this vid! I struggle with #9. It's tough to find other creative people to jam/write/record with with a full time night shift job 6 nights a week in a city with not much going on musically.
This is a really helpful and specific video, I can't wait to try some of these in future.
Best of luck to you, Ben!
Needed this video. Thanks!!!!!!
That was dope. And the drawings were cool too. I liked this video a lot
Thank you 🖤
You're welcome! Best of luck to you!
Super late comment but I have a suggestion. Make up some kind of long term crafty side project you can do in your break and work on it every single day. The reason why this is really good is that a lot of the more impressive projects you can do will require a lot of time-consuming grunt work, and that little chunk of time every day will get you surprisingly far. Unfortunately, I think this works best with visual art forms but you could do it with music to for example practice complex rhythms or practice without your instrument.
just build a piano at work
Thank you
Welcome!!
this was so beneficial omg thank you
Awesomeness. I just shared a link of this vid to the important people in my life. #negativeselftalk
Thanks for sharing! :)
Glad you liked it, hope it helps!
Why was I not aware of this person until now???
Listening to this at work. Just glanced at the video. Is she holding a taser? Which number is tase yourself when you are being lazy?
learning till im dead
ty ben levin and jessica kion 5:41
You're welcome, don't forget to pay taxes on it!
What's the name of the song at the end of the video?
I see how these tips can benefit me, but at the same time I feel somewhat repulsive to some of them... I hate routines, for instance, and I have a tendency to break out of it every time I try to establish one. My mind tends to call BS on everything that's too structured and would rather appreciate the delights of looseness. Any tips for working around that or using that to my favor?
I had this problem and actively fight to keep a routine. What really got me out of that mindset was reading the book "Daily Rituals" which is literally a collection of great thinkers/artists routines from that last few hundred years. Reading about so many people having success and making their days their own was so inspiring. Studies show that starting with tiny "mini habits" that get you doing a version of a routine are the key. An example is having the goal to exercise each day and the mini habit of doing just 1 push up. Also, find a way to keep track of the habit like red xs on a calendar that makes a chain. I also have used the apps "Streaks" and "Fabulous" to keep track of habits. I hope this helps!
Portlandia vibes
Yeah, creators' selfcare basics
But no one follows all of them yet and it's good to have those assorted in one video
I'm glad to be of service! I have a real interest in making creativity happen and it led me to consume a bunch of stuff about it. I'm glad it makes sense and there are take aways for ya!
jessica kion comes as therapy
I AM THERAPY
Sleep enough
Yeah that makes sense
I just listen to creative people for inspiration, at the moment in on a serious Tom Waits kick
Nice! Yeah, he's incredible.
At 5.26 she tries to speak but she only leaks water, bu then she speaks.