Instructions for Becoming a Witness, February 15
Published on September 6, 2025
In the realm of creative work, the author has found a unique path, one that can be described as Kleonizedβa nod to Austin Kleon's influential book, "Steal Like an Artist," first published in 2012. This path values a more feminine vision of creation, leading to a state of flow or even inner unity during deep work sessions.
The author's approach to work is a symphony of ideas, influenced by Cal Newport, Austin Kleon, Maria Montessori, and CΓ©line Alvarez. Cal Newport, in particular, emphasizes the difficulty in leaving the phase of distraction not as a lack of willpower or a moral weakness, but as the result of deep neurological conditioning.
Newport recommends ritualizing the entry into deep work, eliminating distractions at the root, not rewarding oneself with a distraction after an effort, and training to stay in the "void" between two tasks. The author has adopted these principles, finding comfort in the "journalistic mode" of deep work as described by Newport.
When the author reaches their limits, they activate other neural circuits. These can take various forms such as writing, creating infographics, painting, moving their body by going for a walk or doing yoga, taking a short nap, a good night's sleep, and more. Each interruption, even brief, leaves a cognitive trace that fragments attention capacity and makes it more difficult to regain mental momentum.
Maintaining a free creative practice helps keep the author's "inner flame" alive. This parallel creative life, a concept advocated by Austin Kleon, allows the author to explore different avenues of creativity, renewing their inner fire and avoiding exhaustion.
The author does not rely on specific trigger elements to enter a deep work state, but the simple fact of starting a planned deep work session can serve as a trigger. Saturation points occur at different times for each person and depending on the projects. It's important to know oneself to identify one's limits, move on elsewhere, and ride the flow.
The author's work style is comfortable with spontaneous opportunities for deep work, which can take their mind out of its usual dynamic. From Austin Kleon, the author is a fan of creative permission and the ability to see potential in what is there, even if it's not perfect. The richness of having multiple centers of interest and the importance of moving from one to another to avoid exhausting one's inner fire, and even renewing it, are principles the author holds dear.
Lastly, the author retains from Cal Newport the idea of taking back control of one's mental processes and inhabiting deep work as much as the moments without stimulation. The benefit of being bored, as Newport suggests, allows for the absence of stimulation, observing what presents itself, reflexive cognitive escape, capacity to remain in the discomfort of an unresolved problem, reprogramming one's attention capacity, returning to a slower, steadier, more autonomous mental rhythm, and relearning to inhabit moments without stimulation.
In a world where distractions abound, the author's journey serves as a testament to the power of deep work and the importance of self-awareness in navigating the creative landscape.
