Why write daily?

First off I believe consistent action is a superpower. The systems, habits, inputs that come to form the right kind behaviour for maximal results. While goals are important for any achievement, the goals themselves are not actionable. It is what you do (well and consistently) that makes you reach your goals. It take both a clear vision for what you want and how you’ll get it.

To me, writing is leverage. It has a domino effect on other aspects of my life. Writing is my way of thinking through problems, thinking more deeply, thinking more clearly. Sometimes I need to write to define what I actually think. Improving thinking has effects on how I work, how I live my life, the implications are quite profound.

In this day and age we’ve become used to consuming so much information. Everyone seems to be struggling to manage the quantity of information coming at them.

Absorbing information is one thing, but really digesting, internalizing and enacting any insights and lessons is something that requires explicit effort. Without any intentionality, I am bound to consume media endlessly. Writing, for me, is a way to switch my mind from passive consumption of information to active creation and participation.

Another good reason I like to write daily is because I get into flow. It brings out this sense of creative enjoyment of the process of writing. As a matter of fact one of the important metrics in my professional life is the time I spend in flow. This happens to be the best leading indicator of good, creative work.

Being in flow also means being present in the moment. It means therapy. It helps me quiet the inner critic, constantly judging or complaining. It helps me channel and process my emotions.

Nowadays, ideas are the new wealth. One of the features of good ideas is that they are social, they travel well and other people want to pick them up. To some extent, I would be glad for the ideas I write to find their way to other people. Because they might build on them, or falsify them if I am mistaken. I might even make new friends in the process of sharing ideas.

My whole point here is that there are so many great potential benefits to writing daily. I think this is one of the most under-appreciated things one can do that will benefit in many, many ways. Just like anything worth doing, it feels hard, sometimes impossible. Writing daily requires building determination, patience and consistency. Great qualities to have for creative people with ambitious goals.