How to Be a Creative Who Gets Things Done by Mark Oppenheimer

Creativity and productivity are often seen as opposites in the public imagination. On one hand, there’s the archetype of the wild, chaotic artist—tireless, tormented, bursting with ideas but never quite able to finish anything. On the other hand, there’s the productivity guru, rising at 5 a.m., bullet-journaling, and churning out projects with relentless efficiency. But must it be either/or?

As a philosopher, advocate, and the co-host of the philosophy podcast Brain in a Vat, I’ve spent years navigating both sides of this divide. Over time, I’ve developed a model of what it takes to be a productive creative—not by following rigid routines, but by understanding yourself, building systems that work for you, and embracing the right kind of failure.

This article distils my experience and insights into a practical framework for creatives who want to get things done.

Know Thyself

The foundation of productive creativity is self-awareness. Not all personalities are built the same. Some thrive in routine; others wither.

I often recommend people explore personality frameworks like Myers-Briggs (MBTI), the Enneagram, or the Big Five. These are not infallible, but they offer useful language to understand yourself. For example:

• Judging types (Js) prefer structure, rules, and regularity.

• Perceiving types (Ps) value spontaneity, freedom, and bursts of energy.

If you're a J-type, you might thrive with morning routines, daily word-count targets, and editorial calendars. If you're more of a P-type (like me), trying to force yourself into a rigid structure may backfire, leaving you demotivated and resentful.

The goal isn’t to adopt someone else’s habits—it’s to build your own creative ecosystem. You can only do that if you understand what kind of mind you have.

Ditch the Myths of Routine

One of the great modern myths is that creativity depends on a rigid morning routine. Wake up at 5 a.m., meditate, journal, juice kale, and paint a masterpiece by 7. If that works for you—brilliant. But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy or broken.

My podcast has released a weekly episode for five years. But behind the scenes, there’s no routine. My co-host and I keep erratic schedules. Some weeks we record three episodes, some none. We rely on accountability, not regimentation. Consistency in output doesn’t require uniformity in process.

Build the Right Systems

Productivity isn’t about strict scheduling—it’s about systems. For some, that might mean batching tasks. For others, it might mean working in short, intense creative bursts followed by fallow periods.

A few things that help:

• Accountability partners. Having someone else who expects you to show up increases your follow-through.

• Pre-commitment. Scheduling a recording with a guest or a public talk creates built-in deadlines.

• Low-friction rituals. You don’t need a perfect desk or mood lighting. You just need to lower the activation energy between you and the work.

Systems should serve your temperament. If they don’t, they’re not good systems.

Rest Like You Mean It

Rest isn’t the absence of work—it’s an essential part of the creative cycle. Here's my creative process:

1. Inspiration: A seed of an idea arrives.

2. Rest: Go for a walk. Watch a film. Let the idea germinate.

3. Creation: Let the idea pour out, unedited.

4. More rest: Step away from the work.

5. Evaluation: Come back with a cool head. Be critical now—not at the start.

Stephen King famously locks away a draft for six weeks before reading it again. That space allows him to edit ruthlessly, like it’s someone else’s work.

When rest is intentional and immersive—watching a film without multitasking, walking without a podcast—it refuels creativity. And it prevents burnout.

Treat Failure as a Muscle

Most creatives don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they fear failing publicly. They are perfectionists, and so they don’t start—or they never finish.

The solution? Fail fast and fail often—on purpose. I once made a music album using an AI tool called Suno. Was it as good as a professionally produced album? No. But I learned about music structure, genre, and production. I handed out physical copies knowing full well it was flawed. The goal wasn’t perfection—it was learning.

Train yourself on low-stakes projects. Try new mediums. Let go of the need to impress. Creativity is a muscle, and so is failure.

Surround Yourself Strategically

The myth of the lone genius is dangerous. Creative work thrives in community. Not just for feedback, but for accountability, idea generation, and perspective.

But not any community will do. You want:

• People who can give honest, useful critique—not blind praise or unnecessary cruelty.

• Friends who pop your ego balloon when needed—but still believe in you.

• Collaborators who push you to finish, not just dream.

  
  

I have a friend who wrote 15 novels in four years. His secret? He had a writing buddy and a rule: Finish, publish, learn, repeat. His friend—too scared to fail—never finished one.

Redefine Success (or Choose Your Victory Conditions)

What counts as a win?

For some, it’s money. For others, impact. For others still, it's a private sense of growth. I call these victory conditions—and it’s essential to define your own.

If your goal is to move one person deeply, and you do, that’s a win—even if the gallery says no. If your goal is to make a living from your art, then clarity about what the market rewards matters too.

But never adopt someone else’s definition of success uncritically. It may lead you somewhere hollow.

Balance Specialisation and Cross-Training

There’s a tension between becoming a master of one thing and exploring many creative outlets. I think the best creatives do both.

Like tennis champion Roger Federer or chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, the best specialists often have broad foundations. Cross-training builds resilience and insight. I’ve dabbled in photography, AI art, music, writing—and each new skill sharpens the others.

Just make sure you finish some things. Don’t get trapped in the sandbox forever.

Honor the Lull

Not all creative seasons are productive. Some are quiet. Honor that.

Just like farmers rotate crops and let soil lie fallow, your mind needs time to replenish. That doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It means you’re human.

You’ll feel the seed return. You’ll know it. And when it does, you’ll be ready.

Intentionality Over Intensity

If I had to boil everything down to one idea, it’s this: Be intentional.

Intentional about how you work. About how you rest. About who you surround yourself with. About what you’re aiming at. About what you’re willing to fail for.

And alongside that intentionality, you need courage—the courage to keep going, to finish things, to put your work into the world even when it’s imperfect.

Being a productive creative isn’t about being a machine. It’s about being fully, consciously alive—and finishing what matters.

Mark Oppenheimer is a South African advocate and co-host of the philosophy podcast "Brain in a Vat." He believes that creativity, like law and philosophy, thrives on clear thinking, good company, and a healthy disregard for routine.