Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #creative

For a More Creative Brain Follow These 5 Steps

Nearly all great ideas follow a similar creative process and this article explains how this process works. Understanding this is important because creative thinking is one of the most useful skills you can possess. Nearly every problem you face in work and in life can benefit from innovative solutions, lateral thinking, and creative ideas.

Anyone can learn to be creative by using these five steps. That’s not to say being creative is easy. Uncovering your creative genius requires courage and tons of practice. However, this five-step approach should help demystify the creative process and illuminate the path to more innovative thinking.

To explain how this process works, let me tell you a short story.

A Problem in Need of a Creative Solution

In the 1870s, newspapers and printers faced a very specific and very costly problem. Photography was a new and exciting medium at the time. Readers wanted to see more pictures, but nobody could figure out how to print images quickly and cheaply.

For example, if a newspaper wanted to print an image in the 1870s, they had to commission an engraver to etch a copy of the photograph onto a steel plate by hand. These plates were used to press the image onto the page, but they often broke after just a few uses. This process of photoengraving, you can imagine, was remarkably time-consuming and expensive.

The man who invented a solution to this problem was named Frederic Eugene Ives. He went on to become a trailblazer in the field of photography and held over 70 patents by the end of his career. His story of creativity and innovation, which I will share now, is a useful case study for understanding the 5 key steps of the creative process.

February 11, 2022
Work Smarter, Not Harder: 5 Ways to Be More Efficient

How many times have you heard the phrase, “work smarter, not harder?” I’m guessing you’ve heard this slogan dozens of times. But sometimes, working smarter seems easier said than done.

As a creative entrepreneur, I’m sure you have a lot you need to get done. So it’s easy to think you have to get it all done at once. When I first started my business, I was so excited to see my dream come to life. I found myself seeing every task as urgent. It wasn’t long before I had to return to a few of the efficiency strategies I used in my corporate life.

Fast forward to today, I have more client assignments, more tasks, and less time. Working smarter, not harder, is more critical now than ever if you’re anything like me. If you need a few tips on working smarter, not harder, here are five ways to be more efficient.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Don’t start before you plan

First things first – if I don’t make time to plan, I waste loads of time. I know a lot of people who see planning as unnecessary, especially to the creative mind who wants to flow freely. But the secret to getting things done involves planning. So if you want to get more done, try planning.

Of course, it might seem impossible to plan when creativity will strike. Don’t wait for creativity to strike. Schedule time on your calendar for writing, researching, filming, and all the other components of the content creation process. Planning will keep you on track and ensure that you meet your goal.

Work in smaller bits

The idea of tackling a big project can be overwhelming. When I talk to people about writing a book, some of them admit that the idea of writing a book from beginning to end seems complicated. The best way to get to the end of big projects is by breaking them up into smaller bits.

By breaking up my larger project into smaller bits, I can focus on one part at a time. In addition, this approach keeps me motivated to get each step done. As I check off each smaller task, I gain momentum and feel inspired to get the entire project done.

Master the art of delegation

Let’s not argue on this one. You have a lot of work to do. However, some people have the skills you need to tackle some of the tasks on your desk. For example, if you are a writer, you could consider hiring someone on Fiverr to tackle the research phase of your project. You could also hire a virtual assistant to vet clients for you before you accept projects. By leveraging the time and talent of others, you could significantly increase your productivity.

Fight the itch to multitask

Too many creatives work like circus jugglers. We create videos, write content, have a full-time job, and tackle multiple client projects simultaneously. Rather than working on one thing at a time, we try to multitask. An article by NPR exposes the myth of multitasking. We often think we are getting a lot done because we are so busy doing many things. Unfortunately, this affects efficiency. Instead, focus on one task at a time.

Using a timer to complete tasks

It’s easy to get carried away with the tasks we enjoy. But, ironically, it is also easy to spend lots of time on tasks that we don’t want. An effective way to maintain efficiency is to set a timer for tasks. For example, suppose you have scheduled one hour in the morning to respond to your community or four hours for blog writing. Set a timer on your phone that will alert you when the time is up. This approach will help to ensure that you do not spend too much time or too little time on tasks.

Becoming more efficient doesn’t happen overnight. Therefore, make sure you extend grace to yourself when you have not as productive days as you’d like. Keep working, keep creating, and keep inspiring those who are watching your story unfold.

November 18, 2021
5 Daily Habits to Help Boost Your Creative Confidence
If you had all the creative self-confidence in the world, what would you do? As creative entrepreneurs, we face a lot of obstacles, including confidence in our creative abilities.

Unfortunately, when it comes to mindset as creative entrepreneurs, we sometimes do things that limit our growth. Self-doubt, negative self-talk, and fear are some of the obstacles that block our path.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I say, ‘Enough already.’

Whether you run a full-time or part-time creative business or write, paint, blog, make music or videos, we don’t have time to let self-doubt, negative thoughts, or fear hold us back from reaching our goals.

To help me stay on track, I rely on Isaiah 41:10:

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.

In today’s post, I’m sharing five daily habits to help boost your creative confidence.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

What is a habit?

A habit is a learned behavior that becomes automatic over time. A specific setting often triggers the behavior. For example, you may automatically brush your teeth before going to bed as part of your nighttime routine.

Habits can be healthy, unhealthy, or neutral. For example, a healthy habit might be stretching for ten minutes a day or writing in your journal at the end of the day. An unhealthy habit could be biting your fingernails or texting while driving. An example of a neutral habit would be eating the same things for breakfast every morning or taking the same route to work every day.

How to break a habit?

To break a habit, especially an unhealthy habit affecting creative self-confidence, it’s important to:
- First, pay attention to the triggers that feed into the bad habit.
- Then, replace the unhealthy habit with a positive one.
- Finally, get help from friends, family, and other professionals as needed.
5 Daily habits to help boost creative confidence

Start the day with a journal

At the start of my day, I like to write in my journal or idea notebook. This has helped clear my mind before I start working on my client assignments. I like to write for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t have much time, write a few sentences. Carry your journal or notebook with you throughout the day. If you need a break or if new ideas come to mind that you don’t want to forget, write them down.

Set daily goals

Every day I like to write down the three most important tasks for the day in my productivity notebook. Each task is associated with one of my goals. When you set a goal, it’s important to review your plan for achieving that dream. You may find yourself forgetting about what was most important because life gets busy, and new things are always coming up. Setting aside time every day can help remind us of our dreams, so we don’t lose focus or motivation when faced with challenges along the way. Once I accomplish my three most important tasks for the day, I feel inspired to keep moving forward.

Use time-blocking to manage your daily schedule

Nothing kills your confidence like losing track of time. Have you ever sat down to work but had no idea where to start? I have, and it can be frustrating. However, I save a lot of mental energy by planning out what I need to work on ahead of time. I like this technique called “time blocking.” Time block everything on your list and see how much progress (in hours) might happen during each specific timeframe; don’t forget about any important deadlines or events either–they need attention too. Through time-blocking, I feel confident and in control of my day.

Set phone boundaries

Do you ever find yourself checking your phone every few minutes? While working on my second book, I fell into the habit of constantly checking my phone. I was checking email, answering text messages, or reading my USA Today app. Before I knew it, my focus and flow were shot. To get back on track to finish the book, I started to limit the time I spent on my phone by setting boundaries. First, I only looked at my emails at scheduled times throughout the day. Next, I dedicated one-hour time blocks to work on projects before taking a break. Finally, I put my phone in a separate room during work hours.

Finish the day with a review

As part of my evening routine, I review the day and plan for tomorrow using a notebook. This 5-minute process helps me to prepare for what’s ahead in an organized manner. After reviewing what I accomplished and understanding what needs to be done, I feel productive and more confident to start again the next day.

As creative entrepreneurs, it’s easy to lose confidence from time to time. But trust the process. Establish a few habits that work for you and help you stay on track. Give yourself permission to learn, make mistakes, and try again. You never know whose life your work with touch. Build your confidence day by day, and keep moving forward.
October 21, 2021
30 Writing Prompts to Calm Your Mind at the End of the Day
Writing is an essential part of being a creative entrepreneur, especially for writers who write all the time. For this reason, it is so important to unwind mentally. Therefore, I need to calm my creative mind by writing in my notebook or journal at the end of the day.

But I haven’t always operated this way.

I can remember when I never gave my creative brain the attention it needed, let alone time to unwind at the end of the day. I worked day and sometimes night writing and using my creativity to help others meet their goals or fulfill their dreams. Don’t get me wrong; I wasn’t a reluctant participant. With everything project I worked on, I was in it to win it. But, there were times when I didn’t take the time to collect my thoughts before going to bed.

Then, one day, I came across this Scripture:

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31)

This Scripture reminded me that it’s okay to relax and rest. But, it also reminds me that I can depend on the one who “does not slumber or sleep.” (Psalm 121:4).

Thankfully, things are different now. My type-A, all-in, don’t-stop-til-you-drop personality knows the importance of having a wind-down routine.

Today, as part of my beautiful, creative life, I embrace downtime. I intentionally make time to calm my creative mind at the end of the day.

So, to help any writer or creative entrepreneur in need of a wind-down routine or journal prompts, I thought I would share a few things working for me. I pray that these ideas will inspire you to look for opportunities to calm your creative mind at the end of each day.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

What is a wind-down routine?

A wind-down routine is a set of activities you perform in the same order, at the end of every workday. Wind-down routines or habits can vary and include any calming activity that helps you transition from work to relaxation, like taking a walk, cooking, reading, or journaling.

How can a wind-down routine help calm the mind?

People are creatures of habit. As with any other routine, a wind-down routine helps our brains recognize when it’s time to transition from work mode to relaxation mode. By performing the same calming activities in a set order at the end of each workday, your brain sees these steps as a signal to leave work behind. A wind-down routine doesn’t have to be complicated and can include just a few simple activities.

Why is journaling a good wind-down activity?

When left unchecked, anxious thoughts can activate our sympathetic nervous system. Have you ever noticed that you sometimes can’t get certain things out of your mind despite your best efforts? For example, I can’t tell you how many times I laid awake at night thinking about what happened earlier at work. I needed a wind-down routine that helped me tame my thoughts.

Journaling at the end of the day helps me sort out my thoughts. Most of the time, I reflect on what I accomplished. But I also jot down my thoughts on things that could have improved my business or new ideas to explore. Of course, the amount of time you spend journaling is up to you. If journaling (see also ‘What Is A Junk Journal?‘) doesn’t work for you, try writing down a to-do list or your daily goals for the next day. Knowing what you need to tackle when you return to work the next day can also help calm the mind.

30 Writing Prompts To Help Calm Your Creative Mind

Click here to download the printable version
1. What was your morning like?
2. How did you provide value to the world today?
3. What were your accomplishments today? (no matter how small).
4. What challenges did you encounter today?
5. What emotions did you experience today that you liked? Write about the feelings you didn’t like?
6. How do you feel about any problems that came up today?
7. Complete this sentence honestly – “Right now, I am …” (fill in the blank). Then finish the sentence, “Tomorrow, I want to be ….”
8. If you had to pick one word to describe your day, what would it be?
9. Ask yourself the question, “what is something I want more of in my life, and how can I get it?”
10. Remember a time when you positively impacted someone’s life and how it made you feel.
11. Have a solid heart-to-heart talk with your most prominent critic, your inner you. Then, don’t be afraid to shoot down all the criticism with your successes.
12. Write down five to ten things that you are grateful for today.
13. What are two things about your business or creative life that you love?
14. Choose two aspects of your creative life you want to improve.
15. Write a quick note (see also ‘What Are The Best Pens For Note Taking?‘) to your future self. Congratulate yourself on all your wins over the years.
16. Write about one thing that happened today that you wish you could do-over.
17. Make a list of how you would spend a day doing what makes you feel excited, happy, engaged, or fulfilled.
18. Write down everything that made you angry today, then tear up the list.
19. Write about any new ideas you want to try.
20. Make a list of things you want to do as part of your “me-time” moments.
21. Describe the perfect vacation and write a plan of action to make it happen.
22. Ask yourself how you can release fears that are holding you back from living your best creative life.
23. Write about how you overcame past challenges.
24. Think back to the best advice you have received and how you can apply it now.
25. Write about plans or things you’re looking forward to doing this year.
26. Describe in detail your ideal place for maximum relaxation.
27. Write a quick goodbye note to any fears that held you back today.
28. Write yourself a quick note of apology for anything you’re struggling to let go of.
29. Whom did you connect with today that made you feel valued, supported, or loved?
30. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
September 23, 2021
30 Ways to Help You Reset Your Creative Time, Mind and Soul

Since starting my business in 2018, I have been going nonstop. My days have been filled with client meetings, freelance assignments, speaking engagements, writing books, teaching classes, and community service. I’m grateful for everything God leads me to do. My public relations, corporate, and marketing communications background has helped me develop creative ways to grow my business. But lately, it seemed like my beautiful, creative life was moving into overdrive. By the time I reached August 2021, my creative time, mind, and soul were running on fumes.

As someone all about continuous improvement, I decided to use some of my Lean Six Sigma training. From my days in corporate America, I learned to use Lean Six Sigma to make things better. So, how was I going to improve my creative time, mind, and soul? I decided to hit the reset button (one of my favorite things to do).

While I was on a business retreat, I challenged myself to do one of three things: 1) Keep the habits I know work for me, 2) Return to the habits I stopped doing, or 3) try some new things for 30 days. This process helped me reset my creative time, mind, and soul while helping me find new sanity-saving routines.

Since I strongly believe in Hebrews 10:24:

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works.

I thought I would share some of the ideas I came up with for myself and add a few to give you 30 ways to reset your creative time, mind, and soul, too. My prayer is that these ideas will inspire you to add something different to your creative life.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Mind

Adjust your thinking every day.

The way you think can affect many things in your life, including how you work. For example, holding onto negative thoughts or replaying bad memories can put a damper on your mindset. So at the start of each day, adjust your thinking to focus on positive thoughts.

Read 5 pages each day.

Reading 5 pages a day is a great way to relax. But remember…if you don’t like to read, try audiobooks!

Exercise your brain.

Give your brain a break from work. Exercise your brain by learning a new language, playing games, and taking a cooking class.

Take a walk.

Going for a walk isn’t just good for the body; it’s also great for the mind. It can help improve your mood and let you clear your head at night after a stressful day.

Allow yourself to make changes in your day.

When you feel like something is off with your day, take a moment to reflect on what that might be. Then, whatever it is, permit yourself to change things up.

Schedule regular “me-time” moments.

You deserve to take a break from your hectic schedule. So make sure you have the time to relax and unwind every day.

Keep a self-care journal.

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I recommend keeping a journal and writing down your feelings regularly. This will help you feel better and think more clearly throughout the day.

Schedule regular breaks to unplug.

It’s important to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to help you stay focused.

Close your eyes for 30 seconds.

You should close your eyes for about thirty seconds. It’s an easy way to relax and reduce stress.

Step away from social media one day per week.

I recommend that you give yourself a break from social media every once in a while. I do it once a week, and it really helps me stay focused.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Soul

Schedule moments of silence and solitude.

One technique I use to keep balanced is creating moments of silence and solitude. Taking time out every day for focused reflection helps reduce stress, making me more productive.

Meditate on Scripture.

Scripture meditation is an excellent way to quiet your mind and rest in the presence of God.



Surround yourself with positive affirmations.

I think the best way to achieve your goals is by surrounding yourself with positive affirmations. That’s why I created a list of my own, and I hang it on my wall so that they’re always in front of me.



Find a way to encourage someone daily.

One of the best ways to nurture your creative soul is by encouraging others. So keep an eye out for opportunities to pat others on the back or make someone smile!

Help someone in need.

Consider volunteering. Not only will you be helping someone in need, but you could also make a new friend and improve your community.

Create a wind-down routine.

It’s important to set aside time each day to decompress from work. Even if you only have a few minutes, it can make a big difference in your mental health and well-being. Try doing something you enjoy, like taking a hot bath, listening to music, or reading a book.



Warm yourself with a cup of tea.

A nice cup of tea is always soothing. If you find yourself feeling stressed, try some chamomile flowers or mint leaves for a calming effect.

Record your thoughts in a gratitude journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal is important because it will help you appreciate the little things in life.



Remove clutter from your work and living spaces.

Clutter can make even the most organized person feel disorganized. Not only does it take up your space, but it could also be a distraction! However, cleaning your home and workspace is a great way to feel refreshed. You can start by purging the items you don’t need and then organize what’s left.

Dream BIG!

The best way to take care of your creative soul is by dreaming big. Make time in your day to think of all the possibilities that are out there for you. If you need an inspiring book, consider Bob Goff’s book, Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Time

Work on your most creative and fulfilling projects when your energy level is high.

I am a morning person. I wake up every day around 4 a.m. to begin my day. My problem is that I have been trying to work all day and half the night. As you can imagine, I start to lose steam by 7 or 8 p.m. So instead of spreading my creative projects over the day, I set aside a certain amount of hours each morning. I’m using my afternoons for non-creative tasks, meetings, and emails.

Focus on 3 daily goals instead of monthly goals.

Although I have a planner that outlines my monthly goals, I’ve been using daily goals to make it through each day. Using a combination of notebooks and Post-It Notes, I write out my 3 most important daily goals each morning.

Build a habit of single-tasking

In my attempt to do as much in a day as possible, I fell into the trap of multitasking. Instead of getting more done, it only left me feeling overwhelmed. So, using my PomoDone App, I switched to single-tasking by focusing on one task at a time.

Adopt the time-blocking method

Time blocking is a technique used to plan out every moment of your day in advance and dedicate specific time blocks for certain tasks or responsibilities. Once I started time blocking, I felt more control over my time and the tasks I needed to complete.

Batch email time

Nothing kills your creative time like email. Don’t get me wrong; I love email. But when I found myself reading every email as it popped into my inbox, I knew I had a problem. So, I decided to schedule the times when I would read and respond to my emails. Then, outside of my scheduled time, I turned my email off to avoid interruptions.

Start a creativity journal.

The best way to ensure that you stay inspired and creative is by journaling. The process of writing ideas down will help you keep track of the concepts, and it allows for reflection, which can serve as inspiration in future challenges.

Switch up your work environment.

To focus better, don’t be afraid to move to a different work environment. Clear out distractions like clutter and use sounds, light, plants to help guide your attention in the right direction.

Don’t let productivity kill your creativity.

Productivity is vital in any business, but don’t let that stand in your way of being creative. If a cluttered desk or work table helps you think and works for you, don’t feel the need to change. Instead, focus on surrounding yourself with the things you need to keep your creative juices flowing.

Make time to daydream.

I can remember when people would say, Get your head out of the clouds! While this statement was meant to stop people from daydreaming, the clouds may be the perfect place for creative entrepreneurs—schedule time to daydream or brainstorm new ideas or products.

Test your ideas.

As your ideas move from daydreams to actual products, make time to test your ideas. With each test, you will be inspired to make changes and keep moving forward.

How have you reset your creative mind, soul, and time?

September 9, 2021
How to Reset Your Creative Business to Keep Your Goals on Track
Do you need a business retreat? Do you use your retreat as a time to look at the goals for your creative business? I hope your answer to both questions is yes. Not only will a business retreat allow you to get away from your routine, but your time away can help you analyze your progress and reset your creative business.

I can’t resist the opportunity to reflect and reset. For my business retreat, my family and I rented an Airbnb for a few days. Not only did I take a look back at everything I had planned for this year, but I was able to see areas for improvement so I could move forward. For everything I was able to accomplish this year, I am grateful to God. During my time of reflection, I remembered James 1:17:

Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

So if you’re feeling stuck in your creative business, this blog post is for you. I’m going to share with you some tips on how to reset your creative business to keep your goals on track.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Take a break for a day, or even just an hour, from your creative work.

While I believe in business retreats, I also believe every creative entrepreneur and writer needs rest. As I mentioned in last week’s post, it’s easy to forget that we all need downtime. But if we manage our stress and take care of ourselves, it can do wonders for our productivity. So, for your business retreat, take a day or a few hours for yourself. Do you have to leave town or rent an Airbnb? No. Spend time with family or catch up on your sleep or reading at home. The most important point is to take a break for yourself.

Reassess your goals and priorities.

The mid-year point is a great time to reassess your goals and priorities. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to clarify how you want the next 6 to 12 months of your creative business to go. As you reassess your goals and priorities, this may be one of those times where it’s best to take some deep breaths and think about the goals you have planned for this year. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How many sales have I made this year?
- How much money am I spending on expenses each month?
- How much are my profits for the year?
- How much does each of my products cost?
- For each product – how many people visited the sales page?
- For each product – what is my conversion rate?
- What should I offer next? Why?
- Which products or offers should I stop focusing on? Why?
- What new products or offers should I test?
Measure and reflect on what you’ve done so far this year.

Next, gather data from any tools you use to manage your creative or writing business. For my business, I take a look at data from:

Google Analytics

My Shopping Carts (ThriveCart and SendOwl)

Email Service Provider (ConvertKit)

My Social Media Scheduler (CoSchedule)

My Pinterest Scheduler (Tailwind)

My Project Management Tool (Meistertask)

Once you gather your information, it’s time to take stock of where your business stands right now- What things are going well? Where could improvement be made? Keep in mind: any progress you have made this year should be celebrated. So take a moment to reflect by recording your thoughts in your journal.

Look at the big picture of where you want to go in the next 12 months.

Imagine what the next chapter of your business might look like. What would be some milestones you hope to achieve? How about an end goal for where you want this all to go in 12 months if success were a destination and not just a journey.
This is no small task: it’s going to take more than dreaming up ideas or brainstorming them into existence; those are the easy parts! Your roadmap entails setting goals that will guide everything from your marketing plan to how often you publish content on social media channels. It means having faith when plans hit snags and getting back out there with renewed vigor after every setback – never giving up until each milestone has been reached (and surpassed).

Create new goals and strategies that are realistic but challenging enough to keep things interesting.

Keeping things interesting is key to a successful strategy. So why not try something new and fresh? A common misconception of business leaders is that they must repeatedly do the same thing to be considered “successful.” However, this mindset can lead businesses into complacency as much as stagnation: repetition breeds boredom! But this isn’t you. You’re a creative entrepreneur unafraid to try new things. Building on past successes while thinking outside the box with innovative strategies will help your creative business reach newer heights year after year.

Time to get back to work but don’t forget to have fun along the way.

You’re a creative entrepreneur with a never-ending to-do list, and you need some encouragement. Well, don’t worry. You can have fun on the way as long as you remember these four things:

1) Learn from your mistakes because they make for great stories.

2) Keep yourself accountable by setting goals that align with your overall business strategy.

3) Put your faith in action. Trust God to help you live out the plan he has for your life.

4) And most importantly, keep believing in yourself no matter what people say or think. If we know one thing about creative entrepreneurs, they don’t like to give up until their dreams come true.

It’s time to focus and reset. Whether you need a mental break or some downtime, you must take the necessary steps for your own well-being to avoid burnout. Take a moment to rest, tell God how you feel, and ask Him to give you the strength to reset and move forward (see also ‘How To Make Time For God With A Busy Schedule‘). To help you, I created a FREE Rest and Reset Journal. I invite you to download a copy today.
August 26, 2021