Healthy Perfectionism is an Actual Thing

This week on Keep the Flow, I share a recent experience when I felt completely unmotivated on what should have been a productive day. Instead of forcing myself to work through creative blocks, I discovered that taking pressure off by watching a movie unexpectedly led to one of my best drum practice sessions. I explore the science behind why our brains need this balance between focus and relaxation, share strategies I've developed for working with low-energy days, and explain how this connects to the "enjoyment-based productivity" concept from Ali Abdaal's book. Despite increasing my creative output by 700% through systems, fluctuations are normal and sometimes the most productive thing we can do is stop trying to be productive.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a musician and creative professional, I discovered that waiting for inspiration is the enemy of creativity. By committing to a structured approach – setting aside dedicated time, documenting my process through Patreon, and removing the pressure of perfect output – I transformed my creative practice. Instead of treating inspiration as a rare, mystical force, I realized it's a skill that can be cultivated through consistent engagement. This shift allowed me to move from sporadic creative bursts to a reliable workflow, ultimately leading to two album releases and a fundamentally different relationship with my art. My message is simple: creativity isn't about waiting to be chosen, it's about showing up and creating space for ideas to emerge.Grab my new ebook: https://shop.scottmclemore.comTo follow me on Patreon for free: https://patreon.com/scottmclemoreListen to my music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.comCheck my website: https://scottmclemore.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Keep the Flow, I dive into the tangled relationship between creativity and perfectionism. From personal stories of wrestling with unfinished compositions to insights from artists like Bill Frisell and research on "perfectionistic strivings," I explore the fine line between pushing for excellence and getting stuck in self-doubt. Whether you’re chasing creative flow or learning to let go, this episode is a reminder that sometimes 90% is good enough — and that progress beats perfection every time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://shop.scottmclemore.comEver feel guilty about falling down a rabbit hole of distractions? In this episode of Keep the Flow, I flip the script on curiosity and show how the right kind of "curiosity snacks" can fuel your creativity instead of draining your time. Inspired by Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s take on mindful exploration, I dive into how creative professionals—especially those who are neurodivergent—can balance focus and discovery. From tweaking your digital environment to hacking YouTube’s algorithm, I share practical ways to turn distractions into creative fuel. Because sometimes, wasting time the right way is the most productive thing you can do.Also mentioned in this episode: Simon Sinek, Jacob Collier, Andy J. Pizza and Chris Piascik_____________Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.I also have a free newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. In addition to my career in music, I've been involved in creative pursuits such as working in graphic design and writing about creativity.https://scottmclemore.comYou can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://shop.scottmclemore.comIn this episode, I explore how creative people can boost both productivity and happiness by embracing Ali Abdaal’s book Feel Good Productivity. We break down the three energizers—Play, Power, and People—and see how they can help us work smarter, enjoy the process, and stay connected. I also share my own approach to gamifying tasks I usually avoid (like booking gigs) and why confidence, agency, and collaboration are essential for any creative. If you’ve ever struggled with creative burnout or self-doubt, this episode offers practical ways to shift your mindset and keep the flow going.–––––––––––––––––––Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.I also have a free newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. In addition to my career in music, I've been involved in creative pursuits such as working in graphic design and writing about creativity.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a thrill to be able to chat with the incredible illustrator Chris Piascik on the latest episode of Keep the Flow! We get into his background in graphic design, the importance of creating what you like and being intentional with your work.YouTube: https://youtu.be/nIu6sYOPOZAKeep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You might like my newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. I make Keep the Flow every week that look under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://book.scottmclemore.comHow to Work Your Inspiration Muscle...- and stop taking things for grantedAs we get older, things that used to blow our minds become... unremarkable.But can we take steps to exercise our inspiration muscle and learn to notice more?I'm so glad you asked!That's exactly what I get into in this episode with 3 ways to stop taking things for granted and tune into the world again._____________________Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You might like my newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. I make Keep the Flow every week that look under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com#creativecareer #creativity #productivity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://book.scottmclemore.comStop Asking the Wrong QuestionsIn this episode of "Keep the Flow," I dive into the common struggle many creatives face: the tendency to ask ourselves the wrong questions. If you've ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and negativity, you're not alone – I've been there too. As a musician and creative professional, I understand how easy it is to fixate on perceived shortcomings, but I've learned that true growth comes from shifting our focus to the work itself. Instead of questioning why we're not better, we should be asking what we can create next or how we can approach our challenges differently.Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You might like my newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. I make Keep the Flow every week that look under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://book.scottmclemore.comWhy You Need to Make Your Story Part of Your Creative WorkWhen we tell our own story it has multiple benefits. It allows people to connect with our work. It gives us an opportunity to communicate facets of ourself that can be therapeutic and provides us with a vehicle to understand ourselves. Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You might like my newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. I make Keep the Flow every week that look under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab my new eBook, Necessarily Creative: https://book.scottmclemore.comSometimes we can forget that the work we do is important. We can also get so fixated on our original ideas that we try to force things to conform to that vision instead of allowing outside forces to naturally shape the work, whether that’s through unforeseen circumstances or our collaborators. This week on Keep the Flow, I reflect on an interview I heard with actor Gary Oldman. He talked about working with director Christofer Nolan and how the brevity he used in his minimalist direction inspired great performances. Keep the Flow is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott McLemore that looks under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You might like my newsletter called The Interval which is a weekly run-down of inspiration and updates.Join here: https://subscribe.scottmclemore.comIf you'd like to get early access to podcast episodes as well as bonus material (like a free download of my eBook)...become one of my Patreon peeps: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore😎 ABOUT ME:Hi. I'm Scott McLemore, a drummer and composer living way up north in Iceland. I make Keep the Flow every week that look under the hood of the creative process to keep our creative engines humming.You can listen to my music here: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.