A couple of years ago, during the most intense part of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was feeling stuck. As I wrote a new website for my business, my creativity seemed to just ebb away – I couldn’t harness it at all! So I put on my “deadline album,” a collection of music that helps me break through creative blocks. Today I’m going to teach you how to find (and use) your own “deadline album.”
What’s a “deadline album,” anyway?
As a professional writer who’s worked since the age of 16, I have learned approximately one bazillion tricks to force myself to meet deadlines. The “deadline album” is a concept I developed in the early 2000s.
Here’s how I define a “deadline album:”
Music without words (mostly) that I can listen to in the background when my brain is trying to write
Music that doesn’t distract me from my work, but instead inspires my work
An album I know so well I can recreate the music in my head at any time, even if I don’t have access to the real thing
A collection of songs I can listen to over and over without feeling bored
An album that empowers me to break through creative blocks
I don’t know exactly why listening to music when I write works, but it does. Some experts say listening to music can help block out other distracting noise, and I know that’s true. This Healthline article explains music can be motivating, mood-elevating, and concentration-boosting. Check check and check!
While the soundtrack to the 2001 Miyazaki film Spirited Away is my “deadline album,” I consider you to find the music that resonates most for you
My “deadline album:” Spirited Away
Ever since I first saw the Miyazaki film Spirited Away, I’ve been addicted to its music.
The first time I saw it, I was captivated by everything. Around my third or fourth viewing, I realized I could close my eyes and follow along with the action because the music took me on a complete journey. So I bought the CD (yes, I’m old) and started listening to it over and over.
This was in the early days of my freelance writing business, and I started to find that when I wrote while listening to the soundtrack, I was a better – and faster – writer. I started testing myself: Could I write a 1,000-word client article in the time it took to listen to the entire soundtrack? Yes. Yes! Could I bang out a handful of blog posts in the same amount of time? Heck yeah!
I’m not sure how it works, but I know that it does work. This album is my “deadline album.”
How to pick the best “deadline album” to break through creative blocks
Go ahead and listen to Spirited Away. Maybe you’ll find it helpful – maybe not. It’s probably not YOUR “deadline album.” Picking a “deadline album” is really personal! Here are some tips:
- Focus on instrumentals; adding words into the background as you write or pursue other creative activities can complicate your thoughts
- Movie scores and soundtracks often have a lot of movement to carry you on a journey, so they give your brain lots to focus on in the background
- If you prefer, you can assemble a playlist of different songs to work in the same way, but keep it two hours or shorter. Part of what can motivate you to speed up the creative process when listening to a “deadline album” is you’ll learn to hear when you’re nearing the end; an endless playlist won’t give you that benefit
- Try to listen to your choice in order every time; this helps with memorization, which improves the chance of you being able to summon the music in your head if you can’t access it
- As you’re narrowing down your choices, grab challenging creative projects to work on as you audition albums – and be gentle with yourself if your first choices don’t work out
How to use a “deadline album”
This is the easy part. If you’re feeling creatively blocked, find a chunk of time (perhaps one to two hours) and:
- Put your digital devices on Do Not Disturb
- Ask anyone in your space to give you some distance while you work through a creative challenge for an hour or two
- Remove any other distractions, like pets, food, or other creative projects
- Put on your music (ideally through headphones)
- Allow your mind to flow with each song at first, humming along
- Get to work and keep on working
- As you realize the “deadline album” is nearing its end, evaluate how you feel – do you need to put it on repeat one more time?
Here’s a crucial bit of advice: DO NOT listen to your “deadline album” at other times. Reserve it for the moments of deep creative challenge. Over time, hearing it will trigger your brain to realize you’re about to go into deep focus, and you’ll find you’re able to enter that state more and more easily.
What will your “deadline album” be?
I’m eager to hear what you pick! Drop your “deadline album” in the comments below so we can all listen in.
Need even more inspiration for your creativity? Check out my collection of blog posts all about creative resilience.
