It's a battle as old as time. You've been assigned to an important project with a tight deadline, but your inspiration's running dry. The clock is the ultimate enemy, bringing a new bout of anxiety with every passing minute, yet you're not sure where to begin.
How can you possibly be creative when the pressure is mounting?
In even the most free-spirited of offices (like those with table tennis and ice cream machines), sometimes creativity has a deadline: It's the nature of the work.
Though it seems impossible, working around time, budget, vision, and technology restrictions is doable.
So finish your cone and put down the paddles, and check out these four tips to help your creativity shine while on deadline.
1. Step away from the computer
No matter how hard you try, staring blankly at the computer won't make writer's block disappear. So when you're feeling drained, hit "shut down" and allow your mind to wander.
A glowing screen can often stifle how you process information, so it's important to not confine your imagination. I'm a big believer in sketching things out, literally. Change up the medium by picking up a pencil and paper. Allow yourself to doodle, letting your wrist move freely from your elbow—doing so creates a more natural and relaxed flow. Scribbling serves as an important foundation to creativity because it's the first sign of an idea coming from head to hand... and we've been able to do it since pre-school.
Stepping away from the screen allows you to get ideas out quickly, without distraction.
Still craving some form of structure? Try creating a mind map on a whiteboard. Mind maps are a visual thinking tool that help structure information, allowing you to better analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas. Like sketching, mind-mapping allows ideas to unravel before your eyes, revealing connections that weren't obvious before—and inspiring action.
2. Surround yourself with complementary personalities
Whenever your motivation is running on empty, refuel by regrouping with creative—and not-so-creative—teams. Huddle up with folks from different disciplines—i.e., not the same kind of thinkers. Scooby and the gang doesn't work if they all overthink like Velma. What if everyone on Seinfeld thought like Kramer? And the Avengers fail if they're all a Hulk.
There is strength and resolve in the ensemble, so gather your George, Elaine, Kramer, and maybe even Puddy. Get out of the office and hit up your local diner or go for a walk in the park: Presenting the problem to fresh minds may introduce a solution that was initially overlooked. And embracing a new environment may deliver some outside-the-box ideas.
Not able to leave the office? Spend a few minutes thinking of the end user and role-play with your team. As a group, try putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Challenge each other to really listen and draw from different ideas and experiences. Have each person write down a word that best describes the intended target, and then read the list to see commonalities. As a group, work to personify your target audience: What do they like? What drives them?
