Creating every day sounds intimidating. How can someone have so many ideas? How can they be motivated every day? I used to feel the same in the initial days. I didn’t show up consistently, and that was the problem. Later, I understood why creating every day is necessary, and how it can be done.
Successful creators have a secret: they don’t rely on motivation. They aren’t waiting for inspiration. Instead, they take action. Conversely, unsuccessful creators wait for inspiration. They promise themselves they’ll start “tomorrow.” They complain they don’t have everything.
The difference: people who create every day, even when they don’t “feel” like it, win. They know that consistency is built on systems, not moods. So, they follow a schedule, not their emotions.
Let’s look at some reasons you don’t feel like creating.
- Mental resistance: The human brain prefers comfort and certainty. Creating means thinking, which requires effort and the acceptance of risk and the possibility of failure.
- Emotional friction: Fear of judgment, not being good enough, and wasting time.
- Decision fatigue: You have too many choices. For example, “What should I write about?”, “Is this good enough?”, or “Should I post today?”
- Energy mismanagement: Lack of sleep, poor routines, and overconsumption (scrolling > creating).
The problem isn’t creativity; it’s friction.
Stop relying on motivation.
The number one problem with most people is that they rely on motivation. Motivation is inconsistent. Some days, you are highly motivated, and most days, you aren’t. If you followed this pattern, you would only create on “some days,” which you don’t want.
F*ck motivation! You need discipline — action that actually gives you motivation to keep going.
Action isn’t just the effect of motivation, but also the cause of it…Your actions create further emotional reactions and inspirations and move on to motivate your future actions. — Mark Manson
Reframe creativity as a habit, not a feeling. Do you wait for inspiration to brush your teeth? No, because that’s a habit, not something you do only when you “feel” like it.
Think of creativity the same way (as a habit) and observe how your daily actions and outcomes change. Become a person who creates daily. That way, you refer to creativity as an identity-based habit.
Lower the bar (so you actually show up)
This can be a game-changer, especially if you rely too much on motivation or don’t have many ideas to create something.
Don’t see the creative process as something big. It’s not. You don’t have to write 5,000 words a day. You don’t have to paint a masterpiece in a single sitting. You don’t need to compose a Grammy-winner.
You just need to get the ball rolling.
Here’s what you should do if you are clueless: use the 5-minute rule. Create for just 5 minutes. That’s it. Once you build something in this time, you’ll feel good about it. And you’ll start engaging more in it.
Also, reduce your expectations. Start with one paragraph, one idea, or one rough draft. Focus on starting, not finishing. That’ll take the pressure off you.
Remember, momentum > perfection.
Most days, I don’t “feel” like writing an essay. So, I write 100–200 words. I post it on LinkedIn or keep it in my draft. But those 200 words make me feel good because I created something instead of doing nothing.
Build a system that automates creation.
System equals freedom. The more you make the creative process automatic, the easier it becomes. Also, you’ll generate more output.
Here’s how you can begin:
- Fixed time and place: Create every day at the same time, in the same place. This reduces decision-making and saves you time and energy.
- Idea bank: Keep a log of ideas — a swipe file or notes list. Capture ideas daily. This makes it easier for you to access ideas while creating.
- Create before you consume: Ensure that you do not use social media before you create something. This also protects your mental clarity.
- Track the streak: This helps you focus on consistency over quality. It ensures you are on the right path.
Creating vs publishing
Whenever I wrote something in the past, I always thought I had to publish it. It made me more anxious. I thought my piece wasn’t good enough. So, I stopped writing because of this fear.
Later, I understood that there is a difference between creating and publishing. Most importantly, you do not have to publish everything you create. Read that again!
Yes, not everything has to go public. You can create privately if needed, to keep the momentum going. It will help you learn, improve, and build consistency. Doing things privately will remove performance pressure.
You can create a draft first, and later, if you think it’s good enough, you can refine the piece for public viewing.
The benefits of daily creation
Once you get into the habit of creating something every day, you begin to notice real change. It might take days, weeks, or even months to observe the results. However, things will fall into place if you are consistently following your system.
Here are some benefits of daily creation:
- Ideas flow more easily: Creating daily helps attract more ideas. Remember to fill your idea bank with them.
- Resistance weakens: You can feel more confident about your ability to create.
- Skills sharpen: Daily creation leads to more learning and growth.
- Opportunities increase: (Only if you share your work) More people will see your work and want to connect with you for mutual benefits.
- You trust yourself more and aren’t afraid to show your work. Your confidence in yourself also grows.
Remember, the goal is to become unstoppable. It’s not just to feel inspired.
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Hi, I’m Biliz.
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