
LIFE BY DESIGN

Natalya Berdikyan
3 Jun 2025
Creativity and productivity aren’t just talents—they’re daily choices and cultivated habits. No matter the challenge, you can unlock your best ideas and get things done by blending discipline, practical strategies, and a supportive environment. Drawing from Atomic Habits, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, wellbeing science, Western and Eastern best practices, Life by Design Academy, here are 25 tips to help you thrive—plus inspiring quotes to keep you moving forward.
'You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems' - James Clear 'Atomic Habits'
1. Make Creativity a Choice
Decide each day to engage with your work creatively and productively. Creativity is a choice, not a coincidence.
2. Frame the Problem Clearly
Take time to define and clarify the challenge you’re working on—clarity sparks better solutions.
3. Build Daily Discipline
Show up every day, practice your craft, and let go of perfectionism. “Just do it, no judgment, no attachment to the outcome.”
4. Structure Your Process
Set up routines and frameworks that support consistent output, making creativity a natural part of your day.
5. Practice Empathy
Understand your audience, clients, or collaborators—creativity thrives on connection and seeing from other perspectives.
6. Brainstorm and Use Design Thinking
Generate lots of ideas, then refine the best ones. Use open-ended questions and creative exercises.
7. Play Devil’s Advocate
Challenge your assumptions and invite tough questions to strengthen your ideas.
8. Simplify Tasks
Break big projects into simple, engaging steps to avoid overwhelm and encourage progress.
9. Surround Yourself with Creative People
Observe, learn from, and collaborate with those who inspire you. Creativity is contagious.
10. Overcome Blocks with Perseverance
When stuck, just keep doing it. As Charlie Chaplin said, “Perseverance to the height of madness.” New solutions emerge through repetition and preparation.
11. Step Away When Needed
Disconnect, do something else you enjoy, or sleep on it. Fresh insights often come when you least expect them.
12. Journal and Capture Ideas
Keep a notebook or digital journal handy to jot down flashes of inspiration anytime.
13. Copy, Adapt, and Learn from the Best
Study what works, consider how someone great at this would do it, and make it your own.
14. Create Space for New Perspectives
Physically and mentally declutter your environment to invite fresh ideas and inspiration.
15. Prioritize Movement
Stand up, walk, or stretch—physical movement stimulates the brain and sparks creativity.
16. Listen to Uplifting Music
Happy tunes can boost your mood and help new ideas flow.
17. Build Positive Habits and Rituals
Good sleep, regular exercise, time in nature, daydreaming, and positive social connections all fuel creativity and productivity.
18. Eat & Hydrate Well
Nutrition matters—feed your body and mind with quality fuel for sustained energy and focus.
19. Practice Mindfulness
Pause, breathe, and be present. Mindfulness opens space for insights and reduces stress.
20. Reflect and Celebrate Progress
Acknowledge your wins, however small, and reflect on what you’ve learned to keep motivation high.
21. Use the 2-Minute Rule
If a task feels daunting, start with just two minutes. Action breeds momentum.
22. Habit Stack for Consistency
Pair a new creative habit with an existing routine to make it stick.
23. Sharpen the Saw
Regularly renew yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually (Covey’s Habit 7).
24. Stay Flexible and Adaptable
Be willing to pivot and adjust as circumstances change. Resilience is key to ongoing creativity and productivity.
25. Connect and Share
Share your work, seek feedback, and build a creative community. Collaboration and connection fuel growth.
“Creativity & productivity are two sides of the same coin. Creativity is a choice.”— Kandarp Mehta, Phd, Professor of Creativity and Entrepreneurship, IESE
Ready to Let Your Creativity Shine?
At Life by Design Academy, we believe you can design a life and workstyle that energizes, fulfills, and inspires—no matter what. If you’re ready to move forward, connect with us for personalized coaching, team retreats, or leadership training. Let’s unlock your next level together!
Book a session or explore our programs today!
“When our team worked with Life by Design, it opened our eyes to the fact that we can change our organization’s energy, by changing our own.”
Let’s make this your most creative and productive season yet!