Sublime

Itzler's philosophy is to inject “new-ness” into your life with a handful of mini-adventures throughout the year. Think 1-2 day experiences, spaced out every couple of months.

These don't have to be complex; it's about experiencing something different.

A solid routine, he added, “saves you from giving up.”

Before writing this book, I called Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals, which profiles the rituals of 161 creatives like Franz Kafka and Pablo Picasso.

Proposition: Contain the Small

discovered that creativity and efficiency can be enhanced over the course of a workday when workers alternate between mindful and mindless activities.

My underlying concerns in the book are issues that I struggle with in my own life: How do you do meaningful creative work while also earning a living? Is it better to devote yourself wholly to a project or to set aside a small portion of each day?

Object lessons.