The official Mole Mode logo.
Working and living a digital lifestyle has many benefits, but it also has it’s risks as well. It’s way too easy through our willing acceptance of prevailing trends, and new technology to let the noise of it all permeate our work flow to such a degree that it leaves the realm of asset, and quickly becomes debilitating to our productivity and ability to properly focus.
When this happens I go into what I call ‘Mole Mode.’
The disturbing effects of digital noise.
An essential for any creative is the ability to focus our creative energy and get work done efficiently. This is hard enough to do in context of real-world deadlines and demanding clients, but when you compound it with the onslaught of digital noise from a multitude of sources vying for our immediate attention it can be down right unbearable at times.
Other than the metaphoric name I’ve given it, my method for time management isn’t anything distinctly unique as far as I’m concerned. I call it Mole Mode because a mole digs deep and buries himself in his work. He’s fully immersed in the task of digging through the dirt looking for tasty insects to consume.
BTW, the latin in the logo above means dig deep.
When I go into Mole Mode I do the following:
- Shut Down Email
- Turn Off Cell Phone
- Unplug Land Lines
- Logout of Twitter
- Logout of Facebook
- Close My Studio Door
- Put on Noise Canceling Headphones
- Listen to Music or an Audio Book
- Do the Full-Tilt Creative Boogie
(If you’re self employed you may have other noise creators I didn’t list like a TV for example.)
Learn to dig deep and avoid the noise.
Don’t get me wrong, I love technology and I thoroughly enjoy all the new social media venues that have come along with it. That said it’s vital for me to have a strategy in place so when I start to feel that level of noise reach a crescendo, and I begin to be pulled in multiple directions not being able to adequately focus on my task at hand I can adequately deal with it and implement Mole Mode.
When I’m in Mole Mode I dig deep and all the digital noise just goes on by. This allows me to optimize my productivity and allows me to get into that creative zone that facilitates great ideas. This of course is far more important when I have project requirements that demand focused attention free from distraction, so I’ve made it an essential part of my work flow.
I encourage you to know your limits, have a plan of action figured out ahead of time, and when necessary embrace Mole Mode! Download the official Mole Mode print so you can let others know when you dig deep.
So the next time you see me post on Twitter that I’m in Mole Mode you’ll know what I mean.
The Original and Official 100% Authentic Mole Mode T-Shirt
- Mole Mode T-Shirt • View / Purchase Here.
PS: Two informational resources to help you.
FREE eBook
For even more pragmatic approaches regarding the managing of your creative time, download the FREE eBook by Mark McGuinness called “Time Management for Creative People.”
Creativity Article
The methods I talk about with Mole Mode are demonstrated effectively within a group of people utilizing creativity in a diverse range of disciplines and documented in an article titled “The Habits of Creative People.”
Keywords: Commentary, Rants, Mole Mode, Digital Noise, Time Management
Great post – and great design, VG!
Love the talk – and it resonates so well with what Chris Brogan had to say over the weekend about obsessing over distractions versus achieving your objectives.
Keep up the awe and the great inspirations you kick out on Freelance Radio.
Amen.
Truth.
Great advice! I needed this pep talk. Thanks.
What a fantsatic article! I’ve only recently gone freelance and things are going really well but I seem to be having less quality time to be truly creative. Thank you for this. I shall be entering Mole Mode on a wonderfully regular basis.
I know what you’re sayin’ brother – been there, done that – the “Mole Mode” approach is great advice.
[...] Connelly is one of my favorite authors) To really crank on my productivity I have to go into mole mode [...]
Very interesting topic , thankyou for posting . “Stranger in a strange country.” by Sophocles.
I wanted to write down a small message to be able to thank you for some of the amazing pointers you are sharing here. My time consuming internet search has at the end been compensated with professional facts and strategies to write about with my great friends. I ‘d say that we visitors are quite blessed to exist in a decent community with many brilliant professionals with beneficial concepts. I feel very blessed to have discovered your weblog and look forward to tons of more awesome times reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.
[...] Mole Mode :: Drawsigner: An illustrative design blog showcasing the creative work of Von Glitschka. Like this:Like Loading… This entry was posted in graphic design blog. Bookmark the permalink. [...]