Developing a Creative Mindset in an Age of Distractions

(updated, feb 2026 at 13:01)

Introduction

I’ve become obsessed with productivity and creativity books lately, mostly because I want to grow as a designer. My goal is simple: spend more time creating and less time consuming. Since we’re all fighting "brain rot" daily, I thought sharing some lessons from these books might help.

I find this subject fascinating because it pulls back the curtain on how creative minds actually work. The biases we face, the pitfalls we hit, and how to climb out of them. We all struggle with motivation and procrastination, myself included. Plus, let's face it: we're often a neurodivergent crowd.

I’ll use some personal examples here, but this isn't just about my own hurdles. Just a heads-up: I’m opinionated, and I might add some drama to emphasize a point.

Just Start

It’s annoying advice. The reason you’re reading a self-help book or watching a tutorial is likely because you haven’t started. But clichés are usually true: creativity is a muscle you have to exercise.

• One bad idea leads to a better one.
• Stop trying to get it right on the first try.
• Done is better than perfect. Started is better than stuck.

Accept this in your design work. Maybe the third iteration will be the winner, but you have to work through the first two to learn anything. Those initial tries aren't about the result; they’re about breaking the initial hurdle.

Challenge Yourself

Flow Theory

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of "Flow" is about finding the right level of challenge. If a task is too easy, you get bored and look for distractions. If it’s too hard, you get overwhelmed and quit.

So try to find and refelect where that sweet spot is for you.

Remove Distractions

Distractions are distracting (hehe). Experts recommend rituals like checking messages only twice a day. The consensus is clear: distractions throw a big wrench in your creative process. You have to actively structure your environment to protect your head-space.

The best thing for me is using diffrent locations for diffrent types of tasks.

Let yourself cook

Give yourself the space and time. Learning new stuff is hard, so scheduling breaks is vital. A break can be a short form content binge.. but eeh... try to be bored because the research is not looking pretty on this one.

The actual science about brain rot

Add Friction

Most tech is designed for efficiency, which is great, but it has side effects on our mental health and dopamine levels. We've removed all the "friction" from life:

Reading is boring; talking is awkward; moving is tiring; leaving the house is daunting. Thinking is hard. Interacting with strangers is scary. Risking an unexpected reaction from someone isn’t worth it. Speaking at all overrated. Dating is hard. These are all frictions that we can now eliminate, easily, and we do.

Let me tell you, there isn't an app for that, accept the struggle, hug a friend.

And.. yes, Social Media Is Destroying Civilization

Be Intentional and Love the Process

Being a designer feels result-oriented: "Look at my finished logo!" But in the era of AI-generated content, we have to start appreciating the effort and learning it takes to get there.

Atomic Habits

This is where Atomic Habits comes in. Become someone who enjoys drawing for its own sake. Find pleasure in experimenting with code just for fun. Running a 5K once won't change your life, but running every week will change who you are.

"Character is what you do when no one is watching."

Focus on how your work shapes you as a person rather than just the final outcome.

You already knew this

I see a lot of self-sabotage in design students who criticize their work before they've even started. My drawing teacher told me: "There is a time for playing and a time for judging. Now is the time for play."

But lets be honest here, I am not telling a new story here. This isn't knowing is half the battle.

It's not, it's practice.

So go out there break some cycles, remove bad habits, enjoy some friction.