How to Boost Your Creative Productivity in an Undeniable Way

Inside: Would you like to increase your creative output? Learn how to improve your creative productivity in this comprehensive guide.

“What’s so civil ‘bout war anyway?” crooned Axl Rose rhetorically as his song “Civil War” faded away on the car radio. 

Back as a teenager, Guns N’ Roses introduced me to the concept of an oxymoron. I mentally added the term civil war to a list of perplexing oxymorons such as giant shrimp, plastic silverware—and bittersweet chocolate. 

In the world of creativity, there exists another (seeming) oxymoron: creative productivity. The unstructured nature of creativity and the efficient demands of productivity seem contradictory, but they’re not. If you do creative work, learning how to increase both will be to your advantage.

What Is Creative Productivity?

Creative productivity involves making intentional lifestyle choices to increase your creative output. These typically involve your focus, energy, and time.

When you hone in on your creative productivity, your innovative ideas increase, making you more prolific. Both the quantity—and quality—of your work go up. And creativity becomes more of a way of life (rather than an if-I-get-lucky occurrence every blue moon).

Why Does Creative Productivity Matter?

God cares about how productive we are with the gifts He’s given us. In the Parable of the Talents, a master gives three servants differing amounts of money before going away (Matthew 25:14–30). Upon his return, the master commends the first two men who “put his money to work” and multiplied it (NIV).

The master says to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (25:21). But to the third man who buried his money out of fear, he says, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (25:26).

Our creativity makes a difference to those around us. Christian creativity brings good to others, beauty to the world, enrichment to our lives, and glory to God.

As theologian Wayne Grudem once said, “When we create something, productivity creates value in the world that didn’t exist before. Therefore, productivity imitates God in his creativity…” 

God has entrusted us with differing creative abilities to be “put to work.” He wants you to develop those skills so that you, too, will hear Him say one day, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” 

Here are some ways you can increase your creative productivity. 

How To Be More Creatively Productive

1. Start with your walk with God.

We create because we were made in the image of a creative God. He gave us our gifts and abilities to glorify Him. We won’t be able to reach our fullest potential if we’re disconnected from Him. 

John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” 

Psalms 127:1 reminds us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” 

The closer we walk with God, the more our creativity will flow. The more we pray, the more in tune we’ll be with God’s heart. Ultimately, success and favor come from the hand of God. 

2. Figure out your optimal creativity time.

You may be a morning person and turn into a pumpkin at 7 p.m. Or, you might be a clandestine zombie who only comes alive when the sun goes down. 

In his book At Your Best, Carey Nieuwhof describes our three productivity zones. During the Green Zone, you’re most productive with optimal energy and focus. During the Red Zone, your energy bottoms out, and you might have trouble keeping your eyes open.

Your Yellow Zone is somewhere in between. You can get a decent amount done here, but it’s not your best work. Which zone are you in right now?

3. Prioritize deep work.

Most of our work can be divided into primarily two types. Deep work involves cognitively challenging tasks that require intense focus and problem-solving. Shallow work, on the other hand, consists of smaller, less demanding tasks that don’t require as much concentration.

When possible, schedule deep work during your Green Zone. Leave shallow work for your Yellow Zone or Red Zone. 

Sometimes, we spend too much time on shallow work because it’s easier. But deep work is where we do the most meaningful work. So be sure to distinguish between the two.

4. Batch life admin.                 

You’ve got four phone messages to return, 34 unread notifications—and your refrigerator ice maker is leaking again. Don’t let your day be interrupted by constant drips of life admin. These tasks will break your ability to concentrate if you let them.

Doing similar tasks together decreases multitasking and context switching (changing between unrelated tasks). You’ll become more focused and efficient. And you’ll feel less stressed and overwhelmed. 

Designate a daily or weekly admin time when you knock out similar to-dos. Whenever these tasks distract you during a creative session, jot them down. Remind yourself that you have a plan to tackle them later. 

5. Strengthen your focus muscles. 

But having a cleared-out schedule won’t help if your mind jumps around like a hyperactive kid in a bounce house. Your ability to focus is a muscle that can be strengthened—or become woefully flabby.

If your focus muscles are out of shape, grab a timer. Start by concentrating on your work for 5 minutes without distractions. Then gradually increase the time. 

Everyone is unique, and your ideal length of creative time should feel slightly challenging. It shouldn’t be exhausting or burn you out. As a creative, it should also be long enough to allow you to get into a state of flow.

Be sure to take breaks in between. Finding a sustainable rhythm will help you maintain creative productivity.

6. Develop a creative routine.

The human brain thrives on habit. When we have a predictable routine, we increase our capacity for creativity. 

A routine simplifies decision-making, giving you more mental space. The habit helps your brain to focus faster. And the discipline trains you to make progress, regardless of your motivation level. 

Consider adding a ritual like lighting a scented candle, making your favorite Starbucks copycat drink—or using a fancy mug that inspires your inner rock star. Over time, these rituals will signal to your brain that it’s time to get to work.

7. Prime your environment.

Your external environment matters, too. Scott Belsky once said, “Your surroundings affect your ability to focus and perhaps your propensity to think creatively.” 

Pick a location that both minimizes external distractions and stimulates your creative juices. Gather all your supplies in one place. Get rid of unrelated clutter. 

Make sure your lighting and chair are comfortable. Consider using headphones to block out outside noise. Add some unique touches that bring you inspiration and joy.

8. Tame your digital life.

Is your online life more out of control than your neighbor’s unruly dog down the street? Now that your workspace is set up, eliminate digital distractions wherever possible. 

Don’t rely on your willpower to resist your notifications. Use the Do Not Disturb mode on your phone. Keep your phone out of reach (or chuck it onto the roof). 

Close all those unnecessary browser tabs. Yes, all 47 of them. Use one browser for creative work and another for leisure. Or go all out and use an app to block access to the internet during deep work.

Do whatever it takes to tame your digital life so it doesn’t rule over you.

9. Seek out novelty.

Yet too much routine can stifle innovation and leave you in a creative rut. Novelty is essential because it stimulates our brains and boosts our capacity to generate new ideas.

Once you have a routine, switching it up from time to time will prevent you from becoming bored, stagnant, or complacent. Experiment with your process and switch the order in which you do things. Rearrange your space or change the location where you work. Incorporate a different ritual altogether.

Apart from your routine, seek out first-time experiences. Check out a new restaurant for your next date night. Sign up for a weekend hobby class that piques your interest. Or visit a new country for the next family trip. The novelty will jumpstart your creativity.

10. Set aside time to think (or not think).

We cannot create well without taking the time to think. Creativity is not always about being in production mode. So dedicate time to map out your current project, outline your next steps, or brainstorm innovative ideas. Envision an upcoming story or flesh out a new character.

You might also give your brain some downtime. Let your mind wander and allow your subconscious to work. Studies show that boredom relaxes the brain and leads to creative breakthroughs.

So skip the podcast the next time you do the dishes. Switch off the news during your commute. Or allow your mind to decompress the next time you take a shower. Embrace some boredom—your creative self will thank you.

RELATED: How You Can Use Creative Rest to Restore Your Creativity

11. Pick up a pen and paper. 

When brainstorming, try using pen and paper. Handwriting (as opposed to typing) can increase creativity because it uses complex brain regions involved with language, thinking, and memory. Your creative juices are more likely to flow because your brain is getting a workout.

In addition, writing by hand slows you down, giving you more time for contemplation and experimentation with thoughts.  

12. Aim for quantity over quality.

Our best ideas will arise when we have a wide variety of them. According to James Clear, Professor Jerry Uelsmann once divided his photography students into two groups. One group would be graded on the quantity of photos, while the second group would be graded on the quality of a single photo. 

In the end, the first group took the best pictures because they’d experimented with dozens of photos rather than trying to capture a single perfect one.

The quantity-over-quality approach allows us to improve our craft. We learn to correct our mistakes over time, and it keeps us in the habit of creating consistently. Plus, focusing on quantity lessens the pressure in the creative process, which is great news if you’re a perfectionist.

So aim to be prolific rather than perfect. Showing up is more important than the result, especially when starting out. Over time, quantity will lead to quality.

13. Boost your health and mood.

Creativity is an uphill battle when you’re sleep-deprived, bummed out, or burned out. You might as well be Sisyphus, that man in Greek mythology condemned to push a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll down again. 

A roundabout way of increasing creative productivity is to improve your physical and mental health. Studies show that both a positive mood and adequate sleep boost creativity.

So don’t skimp on food or sleep. Exercise regularly. Keep enough margin in your schedule to decrease stress and overwhelm. Do what you can to maintain a good mood. 

Because it’s difficult to maintain a creative mindset as Oscar the Grouch.

The True Source of Creative Productivity

Let’s not forget that God is the true source of creative productivity. Bob Hostetler once prayed, “Lord, today give me focus beyond my ability, creativity beyond my facility, and productivity beyond my capacity.” 

We have a God who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). May He grant you more creative productivity than you could ever hope for.

What’s the one thing you can do today to improve your creative productivity?

For more on this topic:

How to Understand and Harness the Power of Your Creativity Cycle

How You Can Use Creative Rest to Restore Your Creativity

13 Things to Do When You Hit a Creative Slump (Or Burnout)

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