Unlocking Your Creative Flow: Practical Hacks
I'm tired. All. The. Time. But as creative professionals, we don’t have the luxury of taking it easy on the old brain...
Transitioning from one project to another often means juggling very different tasks in quick succession. With meetings, emails, and deadlines, finding the time to sit down and produce high-quality creative work can feel overwhelming at times, and a luxury at others.
The good news? You don’t have to rely on your exceptional talent alone. There are strategies that can help you trigger ideas and stay creative every day.
The Creativity Myth
Let me share something I have learned after years of working in design and start-ups:
Creativity is a habit, not a talent.
Over the last 20 years, I have developed several tactics. Some might feel obvious, but for others, hopefully they trigger an aha moment.
The Power of Constraints and Deadlines
“A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”
— Robert Herjavec (Apparently Shark Tank is having an influence on me.)
One thing I truly believe is that limitations, increase creativity.
Unlimited freedom is the enemy of creativity. When faced with infinite options, we freeze up. Constraints help by forcing focus.
Deadlines work the same way. If I tell myself, "I have all day to figure this out," I often end the day with nothing. But if I say, "I have 40 minutes to generate three concepts, before presenting on zoom" the pressure creates focus.
One way to improve your work, while also ensuring focus is to ask questions about the who, what, whys of the project.
The key is to ask the right questions before you start:
? Who is the target audience?
? What problem are we solving?
? Where will this be used?
? When is it needed?
? Are there existing alternatives?
? Why might people avoid those alternatives?
These questions are very much like defining your positioning in marketing. But, by building out a picture of who will actually see or use the work, you will get good ideas, much faster.
Example: If you are designing a presentation, ask:
"Will it be presented in person or over Zoom?"
"Will it ever be sent as a PDF?"
"Does the audience need extra context to understand it?"
"Does the presenter feel comfortable using builds and animations?"
"Is this industry specific?"
"Are there other materials being used as part of the sales process that this should align with?"
This approach removes guesswork and leads to much stronger creative decisions.
Defendable Design
When I create, I always imagine the target customer asking annoying questions:
"Why is that font different to that one?"
"Why are you using this color?"
"Why is this on the right?"
"Why are you using that photo?"
If I cannot confidently answer these questions, it means I need to continue refining the design. Every choice should be intentional and justifiable, forcing you to think through the design in-depth. It also prepares you very well for pitching/presenting work and handling feedback. Most people, when provided a reason why something is the way it is, will accept your direction, establishing you as the expert.
Focus Time
My days are mostly running from fire-drill to anxiety attack, then back to fires. That's just how I work. BUT, when I know I have a hard problem to solve, or conceptualizing an idea fully, I find the time in the day (or evening) to be able to set a 40-minute timer. That time is it - my lot. I check my emails and slack before hand, make sure I'm not supposed to be joining a meeting, and then, turn EVERYTHING off.
I have a problem, where if I am really focused on deep work, I can have hours go by without realizing it. Leading me to miss scheduled events or other obligations like picking my kids up form school -- (only happened once!!)
So that's why a timer or setting an alarm is so important. The hardest part though is finding the 40 minutes and sticking to it. Plan for it so you know without a doubt you can focus.
No checking emails.
No worrying about missing a meeting.
No second-guessing myself, oh I really should be doing XYZ.
Also, no podcasts/YouTube in the background. Mindless music like some generic drum and bass is perfect. (this is my go to playlist.)
When I first started doing this, knowing I have a block of time without the panic of "am I missing a a call right now" or "was I meant to be picking up the kids early today"
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The relief was immediate.
Why did this work? When you eliminate distractions, your brain can finally focus. This is now my secret weapon for tackling creative blocks.
Trust me. Try it: Clear an hour on your cal. Set a 40-minute timer, turn everything else off, and focus on one problem. You might be surprised by how much you can get done in just 40 minutes.
Shower Sessions: Where Water Meets Inspiration
I swear, my best thinking happens in the shower. There's a reason. There is science as to why this happens...
I don't know science, but I'm sure there is. Maybe its the impact of the water on your head waking up those tired little brain cells. Who knows. What I do know is it works. Step away from what your doing, and blast some of your favorite music while taking a shower. If you don't work from home, this advice is less advisable.
Location Resets: The Magic of Moving
This is similar to the above, but less water needed. I am not going to tell you to keep a perfectly clean workspace—who has time for that? But I have discovered the power of location resets.
My home office has three work areas:
I personally find it very satisfying, when a task is completed, to move to a different space and do a mental reset before starting the next.
Moodboards: More References, More Inspiration
A mistake I see often is being too selective with ideas and sources of inspiration. Instead of only saving perfect examples of what you're thinking of doing, I double the amount of reference material. Even if you're in love with the idea and what you found, keep going. (Also, try not to fall in love with one idea... topic for another day)
Moodboards are just the best for ideation. As I've preached about before, nothing is truly original. The best creatives make new and interesting things by combining multiple other things in a unique way. So, pull together as much as you can and find more varied sources. One I love is Cargo. It's a website design and hosting solution, targeting artists. But their community section is amazing. Just a stream of super interesting art, un-curated, just all kinds of things. Spend a few minutes scrolling and you're sure to find something that triggers an idea.
Capture Everything
Ideas can come from anyone at anytime. Develop a good system for capturing ideas as they happen. Nots app on your phone, voice memos, send yourself an email, whatever is the quickest way to capture and save an idea. The every so often review and try to group them. This is a long-term, months to years type approach. You just never know when something might click.
I personally have been using a Remarkable tablet. Like a sketch book with unlimited pages. Or if I'm walking or in the car, voice memos. but whatever works for you.
8 Steps to Boost Creativity
? Force Constraints – Narrow your focus to force innovation.
? Embrace Diverse Inputs – Get inspiration from outside your industry.
? Set a Timer – Use a 40-minute block for brainstorming.
? Use Movement & Water – Take a walk or shower to reset your mind.
? Change Your Work Area – Rotate between workstations for fresh ideas.
? Double Your Moodboards – Collect twice the reference material.
? Capture Everything – Use voice memos or quick sketches to save ideas.
? Collaborate – Even a 15-minute session with a colleague can unlock ideas.
Common Objections (And My Replies)
"I'm not naturally creative."
So wat? Creativity is built through curiosity and practice.
"I don't have time for creativity."
Yes, you do. It is about prioritizing it and making it a habit, just like any other important task.
"Creativity can't be forced."
I think it 100% can be. A deadline will force creativity whether you like it or not.
"I've tried this before, and it didn’t work."
Keep trying. It is not about a magic breakthrough—it is about consistent effort.
From Sporadic Inspiration to Consistent Creation
The biggest benefit of treating creativity as a habit is consistency. You become reliable—to yourself, your clients, and your team.
The next time you feel stuck, remember: creativity is not about having more time or talent. It is about creating structure within the life you actually live.
Let me know if anything here helps in the comments!
This is part of a series. Follow me to get more.
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