Building a Daily Routine for Creativity

The science of habits and routines has gained immense popularity lately, thanks to its proven effectiveness. By incorporating just two rules into your life, you can significantly enhance your efficiency, and your craft.

Rule one: Do it everyday. If you want to be a writer, write everyday. If you want to be a designer, design every day. If you want to be a film maker, film everyday. Even if you can only spare 10 minutes, make it a habit to…say it with me…do it every day.

Rule two: Do it today. Tomorrow is fiction; only today matters.

Seems easy enough, right? Wrong. I’ll share some background on why these rules are most important and then share some insight on smaller, actionable steps you can start today.

Show up, no matter what

It’s not the act of creating that is hard, but simply starting. Sitting down each day to write is more difficult than the writing. The worst thing you could tell yourself is not “I am never going to write my book.” The worst thing you could tell yourself is “I am going to write my book, I’m just going to start tomorrow.”

The days you feel like skipping, are the most important days that you get up and get to it. Push through the mundane, push through the resistance, push through boredom. The days you feel motivated and most creative, are easy days. The days you don’t, are the days that showing up matters most. Skip no days, or the habit shrivels. Starting is everything.

The tortoise, not the hare

Creativity requires commitment, not just inspiration. A routine makes space for ideas to grow. Creative ideas are often a part of a larger and longer campaign. This can take time, and patience and you may not be rewarded for weeks, or even years. Embracing delayed gratification is the secret weapon. We must water our sprouting ideas daily. A great idea means nothing without the commitment to sustain it.

“The professional steels himself at the start of a project, reminding himself it is the Iditarod, not the sixty yard dash.” — Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

The less your brain works, the more your brain works

It seems contradictory, but structure provokes creativity. Simply having a consistent routine lets your brain run on autopilot for daily tasks, freeing mental energy for creative work. With solid rituals in place, you won’t waste mental effort deciding what to do next or trying to convince yourself to get to work. The routine takes care of basic tasks so your mind can focus on bigger goals. Establish a framework, then let your imagination fill the gaps. Structure gives freedom.

Building the habit of showing up every day is not easy, and it won’t happen over night. Hell, I still struggle. So while, I am saying do it everyday and start today, I really mean that, but it’s probably going to take some practice. Here are a few actionable steps you can start right now.

Start small.

Committing to writing a whole book can feel daunting. Instead, try setting a small, specific daily goal like “I will write for 10 minutes each morning before work.” This manageable task builds momentum and reinforces the writing habit.

When I started, my goal was just 30 minutes of poetry each morning. Some days I brainstormed ideas, some days drafted new poems, and some days edited existing ones. Meeting this goal without overcommitting reduced stress. But sticking to the routine — same time, same place, every day — was key. After nearly a year of baby steps, that 30 minutes bloomed into a 2-hour writing session each morning! Begin with baby steps to build lifelong habits.

Put it right in front of your face.

To make a habit stick, reduce the effort needed to start. If your goal is reading more on AI, set your browser homepage to your favorite science publication. The articles will be right there when you open your computer, eliminating extra steps.

Similarly, keep a book by your bed to read during natural wind-down periods. I keep an open Google Doc to collect drafts and scattered thoughts. Setting it as my homepage meant my notebook was visible every time I opened my browser, making it easy to pick up where I left off or jot a new idea.

The biggest hurdle is simply beginning. By placing cues and materials directly in your path, you remove decision points and friction from starting a beneficial habit. Convenience sustains motivation.

Do it first.

The morning routine tends to be the most consistent part of people’s days. If mornings don’t work for you, identify the most reliable time you have and schedule your habit then.

I always carve out extra morning time to write, knowing I’ve already accomplished my top goal for the day. After my regular routine, I sit down at my desk before work and write for at least one hour by 9am.

If you’re a busy parent, evenings may be easier. Make a plan like “After I put the baby to bed, I will paint for 30 minutes.” Linking the habit to an existing part of your routine — the child’s bedtime — associates that time of day with making progress on your goal.

Attach your new habit to a consistent anchor point in your day. Ritualizing the habit makes it easier to stay motivated.

Establishing rules and rituals unlocks creativity over time. Small, consistent actions compound into remarkable results. While these tips provide an introduction, there is always more to learn about fostering creative discipline. Books like Atomic Habits offer deeper insights into turning aspirations into daily realities. With the right framework in place, your creative capacity can flourish.