As creatives, we thrive on ideas, inspiration, and spontaneity. But let’s be honest; without some structure, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, scattered, and stuck in an endless loop of “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” Trust me, I´ve been there. Many of my clients ask me for help with their systems and to increase productivity for creates, so here are some tips for you today.
You can stay creative AND organised. You just need the right systems and mindset. Here we go.
1. Capture Everything in One Place
Stop keeping ideas in your head, on scraps of paper, or multiple apps. Pick one tool for everything: ideas, tasks, client notes, and deadlines. Some creatives love Notion, Trello, or a simple paper planner. Google Drive is still one of my main tools. It doesn´t matter what you choose, and it is very personal. The key is consistency.
2. Prioritise Tasks, Not Just To-Do Lists
Instead of a mile-long to-do list, focus on three high-impact tasks each day. These are the tasks that move your business forward and increase productivity for you as creatives: attracting clients, completing deliverables, or marketing your offers.
3. Time-Block Your Creative Work
Creativity needs space. Schedule uninterrupted blocks for deep work and idea generation. Protect this time like a client meeting, because it is. Use an egg timer, your mobile phone alarm or any other tool, but time it. Select the hours where you feel most energetic and awake for the hardest tasks.
4. Automate and Delegate Where Possible
Repetitive tasks like invoicing, email follow-ups, or social media scheduling can be automated. Consider hiring a VA or freelancer for things that don’t need your unique creative touch. This doesn´t immediately have to break the budget, you could start with just a few hours a week.
Just think about the end result and time you save for more important work, rather than the money you spend by hiring someone. No man is an island, and no business mogul reached the top alone.
Being organised doesn’t kill creativity – it frees it. Productivity for creatives increases and flows better with the right systems in place, you can focus on what you love while growing your business.
👉 Need help creating a personalised productivity system for your creative business?