Whether you’re a web developer, game designer, copywriter, or 3D animation specialist, as a creative you know how important it is to stay productive while maintaining a high level of creativity. Creatives might as well be called creators, because that’s what we do – we invent, innovate, and imagine new solutions and approaches to existing problems and topics.
Unfortunately, being a creator is hard work in today’s fast-paced world, with project deadlines and client specifications creating a constant sense of expectation, both of which can hinder creativity if you’re not mature or prepared enough to handle the pressure. Below we’ll share four tips to help you streamline your work during the creative process:
1. Use a Note Taking App
The problem that many hyper-creative people have is not that they’re unable to formulate new ideas, it’s that they’re constantly conceptualizing too many new ideas to keep track of. If you’re not taking notes when a light bulb goes off in your mind, you could be disregarding valuable resources that will help guide you through the project and improve the overall quality of the finished product. While many people jump for the industry favourite Evernote in this department, it might be wiser to compare the top note taking apps first to see which one best suits your needs and preferences.
2. Learn Creativity Boosting Techniques
For creatives, productivity and creativity are practically one and the same; the more creative you are, the more you’ll create, and therefore the more you’ll be able to achieve in a set time frame. With that said, here are a few creativity boosting tips to get you started:
- Practice meditation for at least 20 minutes per day
- Read, read, and read some more
- Set strict boundaries and time limits
- Keep a positive attitude
- Keep the client/customer/end-user experience in mind
While the above techniques alone can work wonders when practiced on a regular basis, it is advisable to continue researching ways to boost creativity.
3. Free up Your Hands by Using a Device Enclosure
Many creatives enjoy using tablets and other mobile devices because it gives us the freedom to move around without leaving our work. However, there are times when you just want to sit still at the desk while using your tablet, and the hassle of connecting a peripheral monitor is a waste of time and defeats the purpose of the touchscreen in many cases. Thus, the best way to turn your tablet into a stationary hands-free device is to use a tablet holder to mount it. The tablet enclosure can securely hold your device, and the cable control ensures you needn’t worry about cables and charging. You can find examples of tablet holders at www.imageholders.com.
4. Outsource Tedious Tasks
Finally, your job should primarily involve coming up with new ideas and putting them to action. With that said, if you don’t have anyone to help you with the more tedious tasks required during project development, you’ll find yourself wasting an inordinate amount of time working on tasks that are merely facilitating existing ideas, which takes time away from being able to focus purely on coming up with new ideas that can advance the project at a more advanced level.
Strive to Learn as Much as You Strive to Create
Spend your time finding ways to become more creative and you’ll notice a direct improvement in productivity within a matter of days. The above tips offer a great starting point, but remember that to reach your potential you should keep researching and reading on a daily basis.