Sometimes you don’t feel creative.

Other times the ideas just flow and flow.

If your job requires you to write or create new things, you need to be able to be creative even when you don’t feel like it.

Today, I want to share several of my top tips to drive your creativity when you don’t feel productive.

Secrets of Creating

If you are just starting out as an online entrepreneur or blogger, one of your biggest challenges is probably creating quality content.

In fact, one of the top questions I get is how I write so many articles on time management and productivity.

One of my biggest secrets is that I write even when I am not in the mood. I write when I don’t have a solid topic in mind. I write when I am tired. I just write.

And that leads to new ideas. Some great, and as any creative person knows, some not so great.

Being Creative Even When You’re Not Feeling It

How do you create when you are not in the mood?

And how can you create when you don’t feel that “creative spark?”

The answer is that you must just do. Even when you don’t feel like it. Or when you feel like you don’t know what you are doing. Even when you don’t know the final direction you are headed.

“Being creative is more about the discipline of doing, than it is the original idea.”

Tweet This

In his book On Writing, Stephen King compares creative writing to archaeology. You dust off this part and that… and soon you discover something you didn’t even know existed.

Here are 5 Tips to Help You Be Creative When You Don’t Have the Creative Spark:

1. Allocate More Time – You can’t force new ideas. As Brian Tracy says, It’s not about “quality time,” rather it’s about “quantity time.” Creativity doesn’t just happen… it needs time. Highly creative people know that they need to allocate plenty of time to being creative.
2. Just Do It… Whatever It Is – It doesn’t matter what “it” is. Do it. Write. Draw. Draft. Start. Write a rough draft. Getting yourself into motion builds momentum which will in turn spark your creativity.
3. Start Even If You Aren’t Ready – You may be telling yourself that you aren’t ready. Go ahead anyway. When it comes to creativity, the other pieces will fall into place later. In fact, starting without all the information can actually lead to new and creative ideas.
4. Always Be Capturing Ideas – New ideas hit at all times of the day and night. It could be in the shower, during your commute, or even at the gym. Always be ready to capture new ideas when they occur.
5. Take a Quick Break – Clear your head. Get some fresh air. Walk around the building. Or even do some quick cardio. Taking a quick break clears your head and gets your body and mind flowing.

Keep in mind, many of these tips apply to productivity in general, not just doing creative work.

Creativity as a Habit

More than just a skill, being creative is a habit.

Even when you aren’t in the mood, you can drive your creativity. You have to put in the time, you have to start, and you have to do.

Before you know it, you will be generating new ideas that you didn’t even know you had.

Question: How do you drive your creativity when you aren’t in a creative mood? You can leave a comment by clicking here.