Incorporate strategies into your creative system

Instructions

Identify a creative project you need to complete.
Begin by selecting one major creative project you need to finish. Write it down and break it into smaller, manageable tasks. This helps you understand the full scope of your work and makes it easier to apply creative systems.
Establish a minimum creative dose for each task.
Determine the smallest action you can take to make progress on each task. This could be jotting down a few ideas, sketching a quick outline, or writing a single paragraph. The goal is to keep the creative process moving without overwhelming yourself. For example, if your project is to write a book, your minimum creative dose could be writing just one sentence a day.
Leave tasks partially completed.
Leave some tasks intentionally unfinished. This engages your subconscious mind to continue working on them in the background. For example, stop writing mid-sentence or leave a sketch incomplete.
Set creative constraints to standardize parts of your process.
Define specific limitations or standards for your creative work to streamline the process. For example, if you are creating videos, set a standard format for your intros and outros. This standardization frees up mental energy, allowing you to focus more on the creative aspects without getting bogged down by repetitive decisions.
Batch similar tasks to increase efficiency.
Instead of working on one piece at a time, group similar tasks together and complete them in one go. This method saves time and ensures consistent quality. For example, record multiple podcast episodes in one session rather than one per week.
Develop Sloppy Operating Procedures (sops) for your processes.
Create flexible, evolving documents that guide you through your creative process. These SOPs should include notes, questions, and steps you can follow and refine over time.
Pilot test new processes or formats.
Experiment with small, test versions of new processes or formats to see what works best. This allows you to make adjustments before fully committing. For instance, try a new format for your newsletter for a few weeks and evaluate its performance.