There are rhythms in life that must be learned and respected. Focus is fleeting. Inspiration is fleeting. When these things present themselves, you need to be prepared. That's what the hours of practice are for. Doing all of the work so that you have a larger capacity to create and make connections. Know what allows you to get the work done. It seems contradictory, but by developing a systematic life, setting up forcing functions and structure, you create more freedom. With a more structured approach, your constraints allow for better output. An example is the process of writing. Removing barriers, making it simple. By committing to sharing writing once per week, I can be consistent with the practice. By having a busy schedule, I'm forced to think deeply about the writing process. With limited time available, if I can develop a method to get in the mindset, a simplified way of doing things, I can be much more effective.
It's about maximizing those periods of focused work, certain that all the practice will pay off when it's time to apply it.