While creative folks are often more known for their right-brain thinking than left-brain drive, that doesn’t mean they aren’t among some of the most productive people out there when the inspiration strikes. So, if you are a to-do lister, put the pen and paper down and pull some productivity and creativity tips from your creative cousins, as presented by 11 Productivity Tips that Creative Types Already Know.
1. Everything is a creative opportunity. Inspiration is everywhere — on your commute, at the breakfast table, at the gym and even just in everyday conversations. You are not just getting work done at work; you can draw creativity from your life outside your office, as well.
If something really isn’t working — not just isn’t going well — but in your gut, you know it isn’t working, be honest about it to yourself and your team
Keith Sawyer, research psychologist and author of Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity, suggests taking this one step further. Actively seeking out ways to play can let your mind wander, letting your subconscious work. Try learning a new hobby, like hula hooping or juggling, or playing with children’s toys to encourage new connections in your brain.
2. Be obsessed. “Know your art and your science. Immerse yourself in the cultures you love and work in. Read industry news, the teachings of spiritual masters and successful entrepreneurs, listen to what the people you serve are longing for, asking for and leaning toward,” says article author Danielle LaPorte.
You can also become an expert yourself, suggests the article 25 Ways to be More Creative. Get a mentor, listen to TED Talks and fully immerse yourself in a subject to really learn more about your industry and favorite subjects. It will boost both your creativity and productivity when you can infuse your work with what you know.
3. Create an inspiration box. LaPorte suggests filling it with things you love or remind you of the projects that inspire you; reach in and grab something for a stroke of genius when you are struggling for new ideas.
4. Hangout with a new crowd. What better way to get in the mind of people you want to reach than talking to those people themselves? Are you creating a new marketing project? Why not talk to people in the targeted demographic? Simply stuck for new ideas? Why not ask someone outside of your usual circles for a fresh take?
“We hang out with people who are like us, and while doing so may be comforting, it’s not stretching. Also try imagining yourself as someone else, such as a chef, a foreign student, a building inspector. How would such people see the world?” says Christina Desmarais, in 25 Ways to be More Creative (read here).
5. Express your feelings. If something really isn’t working — not just isn’t going well — but in your gut, you know it isn’t working, be honest about it to yourself and your team. This doesn’t mean you trash it, but you might be able to come up with a better solution
6. There is no such thing as waste. So a campaign didn’t turn out quite right, or a project needs to be reworked, the process is still useful.
“I trash stuff and start from scratch often. Sometimes, especially in terms of web development, you start knowing that you’ll have to scrap half of what you build down the road — starting over is never really starting over. It’s life,” says LaPorte.