Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life by Matthew Dicks Summary

1. Replace “someday” with daily micro-actions to unlock lifelong creative momentum.
2. Track time in 86,400-second daily increments to eliminate procrastination and decision fatigue.
3. Practice “criminal creativity” by bending rules that stifle productivity and innovation.
4. Build a “rotten people list” to minimize energy drains and protect creative focus.
5. Leverage unexpected minutes for progress instead of waiting for perfect conditions.
6. Adopt Picasso’s urgency principle: Only delay tasks you’d die unfinished.
7. Systematize mundane tasks to conserve mental energy for essential creative work.
8. Reframe failure as mandatory training for eventual breakthrough success.
9. Automate “yes” responses to new opportunities for three days before rejecting.
10. Conduct weekly time audits to eliminate hidden productivity vampires.
11. Use parking-lot productivity bursts to prove perfect environments are myths.
12. Apply storytelling principles to transform personal challenges into motivational fuel.

About the Author of Someday Is Today

Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life and a renowned storytelling expert, educator, and productivity advocate. A Connecticut-based author and elementary school teacher since 1997, Dicks combines practical creativity strategies with insights honed through his decades of teaching and prolific writing career.

His nonfiction work builds on themes from his earlier book Storyworthy (a guide to impactful storytelling) and aligns with his popular Speak Up Storytelling podcast and Slate magazine’s “Ask a Teacher” column.

Dicks’ methods have been adopted by Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Salesforce, and LEGO, and he’s taught storytelling at Harvard, Yale, and MIT. His innovative “Homework for Life” productivity system, featured in Someday Is Today, reflects his trademark blend of humor and actionable advice. The author of nine translated books spanning fiction and nonfiction—including Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend and The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs—Dicks’ works have reached global audiences through 26 language translations.

FAQs About Someday Is Today

What is Someday Is Today by Matthew Dicks about?

Someday Is Today offers 22 practical strategies to overcome procrastination and unlock creativity, blending productivity advice with storytelling insights. The book emphasizes actionable tactics like "microproductivity" (breaking tasks into tiny steps) and leveraging "creative inevitability" to transform ideas into habits. Dicks draws from his experience as a novelist, teacher, and storyteller to provide tools for prioritizing goals and maximizing daily productivity.

Who should read Someday Is Today?

This book is ideal for aspiring writers, entrepreneurs, and anyone struggling with procrastination or creative blocks. It’s particularly valuable for multitaskers seeking time-management frameworks and individuals craving structured yet flexible methods to balance creativity with daily responsibilities. Dicks’ humor and relatable anecdotes make it accessible for both professionals and casual readers.

Is Someday Is Today worth reading?

Yes—it’s a standout productivity guide for its focus on sustainable habits over hustle culture. Unlike generic advice, Dicks provides specific tools like “reverse engineering goals” and “embracing constraints,” backed by his success in writing, teaching, and storytelling. The mix of personal stories and step-by-step frameworks makes it actionable and engaging.

What are the key concepts in Someday Is Today?

Key ideas include:

• Microproductivity: Completing tasks in 5-minute increments.
• Creative inevitability: Designing environments that force progress.
• The “Why Not Now?” principle: Addressing obstacles immediately.
• Constraint-driven innovation: Using limitations to fuel creativity. Dicks argues that small, consistent actions outperform grand plans.

How does Someday Is Today differ from other productivity books?

Unlike Atomic Habits or The 4-Hour Workweek, Dicks prioritizes artistic fulfillment alongside efficiency. His strategies integrate storytelling techniques (e.g., “finding stakes in mundane tasks”) and reject rigid systems. The book also addresses emotional barriers like perfectionism, offering psychological reframes alongside practical steps.

What is “microproductivity” in Someday Is Today?

Microproductivity involves breaking projects into sub-5-minute tasks (e.g., writing one paragraph or researching a single statistic). Dicks suggests this reduces procrastination by making progress feel achievable daily. He cites writing novels during school recesses as real-world proof.

What is a memorable quote from Someday Is Today?

“Small steps consistently taken will always outpace sporadic leaps.” This encapsulates Dicks’ rejection of “all-or-nothing” thinking. He illustrates this with examples like drafting his novel Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend in 10-minute daily sessions.

How does Matthew Dicks’ background influence Someday Is Today?

As a teacher, bestselling author, and 56-time Moth StorySLAM champion, Dicks blends pedagogical clarity with narrative flair. The book reflects his multitasking success—writing during brief pockets of time while teaching full-time—making his advice tested and relatable.

Can Someday Is Today help with work-life balance?

Yes. Strategies like “timeboxing distractions” and “treating commitments like appointments” help compartmentalize tasks. Dicks advocates for “inevitability design,” such as scheduling creative work during unavoidable gaps (e.g., commutes) to ensure steady progress without burnout.

What are criticisms of Someday Is Today?

Some readers may find the 22 strategies overwhelming despite Dicks’ emphasis on simplicity. The focus on self-driven discipline also downplays systemic barriers to productivity. However, the book acknowledges these limits and offers adaptable frameworks.

Why is Someday Is Today relevant in 2025?

Its emphasis on AI-era adaptability—like repurposing technology for microproductivity—resonates amid distractions from generative AI and shorter attention spans. Dicks’ anti-perfectionism message also counters the pressure of curated digital success.

How does Someday Is Today compare to Dicks’ other books?

Unlike his novels (Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend) or storytelling guide (Storyworthy), this is his most tactical nonfiction work. It expands on productivity themes hinted at in his blogs and podcasts, offering structured systems versus anecdotal advice.