Discontinuity

The habits that are continuous happen out of necessity: eating, sleeping, working, waking up, etc. But the ones we’d like to be continuous, such as our pursuits, can often be discontinuous, despite our best efforts to keep them consistent. For me, that can be writing or reading daily, and for someone else, it can be painting, drawing, composing music, etc.

That discontinuity can happen for a number of reasons: losing interest, a change in schedule, pursuing/learning a new skill, etc. It can also be the result of burn out, exhaustion, or simply needing rest. But without that discontinuity, a pursuit can end up being dull and humdrum rather than one that stems from excitement or curiosity.

It’s why we can look forward to the weekend after a long week of work, or want to take a vacation after months of work, or learn/try something new. Continuity is good for honing talents and skills, but without discontinuity, our pursuit can end up being unexciting and mechanical in a way in which it’s no longer creative or exciting. It’s like taking a break from a novel/story after writing it for weeks or months. Once a writer returns to it, they see it again anew.