Although I think it’s hyperbolic to say someone is either a creator or a consumer, there is a creating:consuming ratio for nearly everyone at any given time, and, if you are aware of your own ratio, it can offer some valuable insight.

For example, for writers one valuable area is screen time (which I think has its own physical limits).

Specifically, it’s helpful for writers to ask themselves this question:

What percentage of time do you spend on your individual devices (smart phone, iPad, computer) generating your own fresh content versus consuming someone else’s?

I go through various phases, but typically for me it’s roughly 20% creating versus 80% consuming—especially if I am considering video watching on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

At first glance this is quite depressing, but there is an upside: I have a lot of potential for writing productivity gains!