The Daily Rituals of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was a creative force and accomplished so much. She was a true renaissance woman. A few days before she died, David and I were talking about how she worked and her approach. I brought it up because I thought it was really cool.

I recently read Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey. The book compiles the daily regimes of visual artists, composers, musicians and writers and gives the reader a glimpse of how that person approached their work. Maya Angelou was one of the artists featured in the book.

Maya Angelou didn’t work at home. She would go to a hotel or motel room to write. The more anonymous the better. She tried to keep her home pretty and she couldn’t work in “pretty.” She’d start her day early having coffee with her husband and then get to work. If she wasn’t in a groove by 12:30 she would stop for the day. If things were going well, she would continue working.

Once she was finished for the day, she would go home, shower and make dinner. When Angelou’s husband returned they’d enjoy a drink and dinner. After dinner she might read what she had written earlier aloud to her husband. She wasn’t looking for a critique of the work. It was enough to hear the words aloud. Maybe reading it aloud made it real and gave her a fresh perspective.

I love her daily ritual for many reasons. She started early, rolled up her sleeves and got to it. She also recognized when she needed a fresh perspective. If she couldn’t get into a groove she knocked off. She valued taking time to share a meal with her loved ones. She wasn’t afraid to share her work early on in the process. She realized that it was important to recharge.

Several artists covered in the book were inspired by taking long walks or spending time alone in nature. The majority of artists featured also got up and started working early. One thing was clear to me as I read about the artists featured in the book. Nearly all of them worked every day. They weren’t waiting for the muse to strike. They weren’t waiting to be inspired. They just got to work - plain and simple.

Daily rituals are unique. The point is not to copy a daily ritual but rather create your own that works for you.

For me, my summer ritual means more time outside, more walks and being more deliberate about the way I work. This may mean something simple like identifying the top three things that I want to accomplish that day or limiting distractions by checking email only twice a day or blocking off time that is sacred work time.

As the seasons change, I encourage you to think about your daily ritual. What makes you effective? Where are you most creative? What makes you happy?