Break the cycle of late-night creativity for consistent results

Do you also get a burst of energy in the evening?

Last week, I spoke to an ambitious brilliant woman building her own wellness clinic.

She understood that her burst in energy and creativity late at night is not optimal.

Those few hours that she's riding that "energy" wave after regular bedtime would only cause her to:

• Explore one good idea and a million unnecessary ones

• Feel the effects of lower energy the next day

• Go against wellness she stands for

It’s not the first time I had a conversation like that.

Nor is it an unfamiliar scenario to me personally.

That’s why, today we’ll talk about a much better way for her (and all of us) to deal with such evening creativity bursts.

The promise:

1. She will get important things done

2. Without sacrificing the next day's energy

3. Being aligned with wellness brand she's building

How?

Give me 5 minutes, and I’ll explain exactly what I mean.

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed in the past few weeks…

• In issue #50 of The Productivist, I shared 3 biggest lessons I learned from my 6-year relationship. Check it out here.

• In issue #49, you discovered my guide to developing a fitness mindset (not just physical). Check it out here.

• In issue #48, you were reminded of the top 3 lessons you learned in this newsletter in the past 6 months. Revisit them here.

Which one was your favourite? Just hit reply and let me know! 🫶

Big idea #1: Why creativity and energy spikes late in the evening

First, why does she get this burst in energy?

If we don’t know what triggers her creativity, the unknown nature of it makes it too precious to resist or to change.

So here are top 6 reasons anyone may feel energy & creativity spike late in the evenings:

1. Less distractions

If nothing distracts you from flow, you will experience one.

2. Reduced inhibitions

After a long day of decision-making, mental fatigue will lower anyone’s inhibitions and self-criticism.

What does it mean for creativity?

Overthinking and self-doubt consume a significant amount of mental energy, so when this energy is depleted, you'll find yourself more open-minded and capable of thinking outside the box.

3. Urgency

As the day comes to an end, we often feel motivated to make the most of the remaining time, which is a perfect example of Parkinson's Law in action.

4. Motivation

Multiple studies came to a conclusion that motivation can override the limitations imposed by mental fatigue, especially the ones associated with a high reward.

Here’s why it matters:

If you are engaging in activities that you find highly rewarding or stimulating (whether it is work or entertainment), it will trigger a renewed sense of energy and focus.

(For those who want to geek out on scientific papers, read this one and this one.)

5. Out-of-tune cortisol rhythm

In addition to specific health problems, if you regularly:

• stay up late

• experience stress

• are sleep-deprived

• engage in HIIT training close to bedtime

…Your cortisol and adrenaline levels will be high close to bedtime, leading to feeling of alertness.

This is an interesting article to learn more on this topic.

6. Momentum

Due to all of the above, when you continue working late into the night, you may gain momentum. And the longer you stay working, the more motivated you feel to continue.

So, if you are thinking:

“Sounds like we all should take advantage of this magical night productivity, right?”

My answer is:

“Wrong.”

Big idea #2: Why working late is a bad idea

Why choosing to stay up late to work is almost never a good idea?

Short answer:

The short- and long-term health implications are not worth it.

Long answer:

You get dumber

• If you tend to forget where you left your keys or parked your car, it’s not normal. (It is common, however.)

• Sleep deprivation negatively affects your executive functions, which are essential for making decisions, solving problems, and planning​.

• Without adequate sleep, your ability to retain and recall information plummets.

Your health takes a hit

• Getting sick too often?

• Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to serious health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and weakened immune function.

• Lack of sleep can worsen anxiety and depression, making it harder to manage stress and emotions.

Goodbye, productivity!

• You might be staying up late because you feel like you haven't accomplished enough during the day, creating a need to work more. (Feeling called out?)

• Despite feeling more productive that evening, sleep deprivation actually decreases overall productivity, and the cycle repeats.

• Working while sleep-deprived reduces both efficiency and accuracy, leading to diminishing returns.

It messes with your body clock

• Staying up late disrupts your natural sleep-wake cycle, causing long-term sleep issues and hormonal imbalances.

• Even night owls are better off going to bed before midnight.

• If you are a night owl, I highly recommend you to check this one out.

Not to mention the strain it has on your relationships due reduced ability to self-regulate and read social cues, your consistent lack of sleep is too high of a price to pay for that creativity.

Let me repeat that.

Lack of sleep is too high of a price to pay for any creative output.

That is why, I encourage you to break this cycle.

Her response:

“Ugh, it all makes sense. But I get amazing ideas close to bedtime. I can’t just ignore them…”

Do you feel the same?

Continue reading. 👇

Big idea #3: How to carry forward the night-time creativity

Got a spike in creativity at the most inconvenient time?

Like when you should be unwinding, not getting all fired up.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Set up a timer for 5 minutes.

   
   

2. Write it all down.
   

   
   

   In as much detail as possible given the time constraint.

   If I get such bursts, it typically looks like one big idea + a few underlying concepts I want to explore, and that’s what I would note down.
   
   

3. Schedule it for an appropriate time.
   
   

   In your calendar, find the time when you will give this idea your full attention to see it through. (maybe next morning or during weekend)

   
   

   Do not skip this step: This is the only way your brain will let it go and calm down. It needs to know that you will get to this idea at a specific time in the future.
   

   
   

4. Have an evening routine.

   
   

   Having a plan for your evening is the only way to guarantee you won’t work.

   Isn’t it true: when you have dinner plans, you finish work on time?

   This is the power of urgency. And that is why, your work day should end before dinner. (e.g. at 6 PM instead of 12 AM)

   
   

   (More on building a perfect evening routine here.)

   
   

5. Work on improving your productivity during the day.

   
   

   
   

   If you stay up late just because you feel like you haven't accomplished enough during the day, focus on getting important things done during the day.

   
   
   (Struggling to prioritize? Check out my guide here.)

Optimized system for evening creativity bursts + stronger boundaries + clearer priorities = higher overall energy and better mood

Thus, improving everything else:

• Your effectiveness

• Your planning

• Your attitude 

• Your focus

Remember:

The Productivist Challenge: 7 days to build your evening routine

Unpopular opinion:

Your evening routine is more important than your morning one.

Use the following guide to design an effective unwind routine that works for you.

Wish you a beautiful week ahead,

Valeriya

PS: What’s the biggest insight for you here? Let me know by hitting reply or DMing me on LinkedIn!

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