The 9-Second Version.
The feeling of being “too busy” is one of the most common barriers to creativity.
But the habit of innovation comes from learning to use the small “time crumbs” and in-stream moments that are already hidden in your busy schedule.
Discover.
"I'd love to be more creative, but who has the time? I've got deadlines."
In a world of back-to-back meetings and endless to-do lists, this is the most common refrain I hear.
It feels like every minute is accounted for, and adding “be creative” to the list seems impossible. The pressure is real, and the schedule is packed.But what if finding time for creativity wasn’t about adding another monumental task? What if it was about discovering hidden pockets of opportunity and integrating creative acts into your existing flow?
Breakthroughs don’t always require a four-hour, uninterrupted block of deep thinking. Often, they come from small, consistent habits that retrain our brains to see new possibilities.
The key is to stop treating creativity like a special event you have to schedule and start treating it like a muscle you can flex in the moments between everything else.
Instead of waiting for the perfect, quiet moment, you can practice in-stream creativity by injecting a small twist into a routine task. You can use time crumbs—those few minutes waiting for coffee or standing in line—for a quick mental exercise.
By starting small, you’ll barely notice the time commitment, but you will absolutely notice the results.
Think.
Be An Opportunist
- When you think about being creative, do you picture a long, dedicated session, or can you see it happening in the small gaps of your day?
- What is one routine task or meeting this week that could be a perfect place for a small dose of “in-stream” creativity?
- Think about your schedule yesterday. Where were the “time crumbs”—the 5-10 minute gaps between tasks—and how could they have been used differently?
Do.
Pick one of these micro-habits to try this week. The goal is to start small and build momentum.
Practice In-Stream Creativity: Find one moment in your existing workflow to inject a creative constraint. For example, challenge your team to kick off a meeting by sharing their updates in exactly six words. Or, before writing a difficult email, try drafting it as a simple haiku to clarify the core message.
Use the 15-Minute Rule: Feeling stuck on a project that requires fresh thinking? Set a timer for just 15 minutes and give it your full attention. If you’re still uninspired when the timer goes off, you can walk away guilt-free. More often than not, the friction is in starting, and you’ll find yourself in the flow by the time 15 minutes have passed.
Hunt for Time Crumbs: Identify three small, recaptured moments in your typical day (e.g., waiting for the microwave, walking to your car, waiting for a file to download). Use one of them for a quick creative exercise. For instance, redesign the object nearest to you or invent a new backstory for a person you see.
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com
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