Welcome to Issue #45 of Dave’s Productivity Newsletter where I share 1 Big Idea & 3 Little Updates to help you work with more focus and intention.
What comes to mind when you think of someone who’s “creative?”
Maybe they’re a free-spirit, and a brightly-lit studio, exploring where their interests take them at any given moment.
It’s a nice vision, but the reality is often far different.
For whatever reason, we tend to think systems – routines, structure, repetitive actions – as inherently uncreative.
Actually, they are.
Systems don’t create creativity, but they do set the stage for creative work to take place.
I’ve been working with more creative agencies lately, and I've seen how the balance—or imbalance—between systems and open-ended creative exploration can impact businesses.
This made me want to explore whether structured systems, like those implemented in Notion, stifle or support creativity, drawing parallels to how efficiency intersects with invention.
I dive into this topic in more detail here, but here are a few quick recommendations for building work systems that foster creativity:
Build Systems that are Flexible
Why it’s Important: Rigid systems limit opportunities for random discoveries and unconventional approaches. By staying flexible, you gain the benefits of consistency, while leaving room to grow.
How to Implement: The best example is setting up project or task templates in Notion. These may set up 80% - 90% of projects, freeing up time for the deep, creative work.
Establish Routine while Encouraging Exploration
Why it’s Important: While routines streamline processes and reduce decision fatigue, exploration is essential for innovation. Balancing the two ensures that systems support creative work without getting overbearing.
How to Implement: Set aside specific times for brainstorming and creative exploration within the workweek. If you’re using Notion Calendar, you can set task start and end times to work as time blocks.
Implement 'Buffer Time' in Schedules
Why it’s Important: Don’t try to account for every minute. Buffer time accounts for the unpredictable nature of creative work and provides the necessary space to refine ideas or pivot directions on projects. This flexibility is crucial for accommodating the creative process, which is hardly ever linear.
How to Implement: Leave a block at the end of your schedule that’s unplanned. If you’re on a team, schedule regular intervals where team members can step back from their routine tasks. During this time, they can reflect on their work, explore new ideas, or simply recharge.
Regular Reviews and Adjustments
Why it’s Important: Systems and processes must evolve alongside the creative needs of the business and its employees. Monthly or quarterly reviews help identify areas where systems might be limiting creativity and allow for necessary adjustments.
How to Implement: Set up periodic review sessions to assess the effectiveness of current systems. Get feedback from all team members, and be willing to make changes to support better creative outcomes.
Encourage Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Why it’s Important: Exposure to different perspectives and expertise can spark new ideas and innovative solutions that wouldn’t have emerged in isolation.
How to Implement: Explore different models of work. Maybe it’s using the Eisenhower Matrix of the PARA method. You likely won’t adopt every detail, but this exploration could help optimize your own systems.
For teams, Organize check-ins where team members from different areas of the business can collaborate on projects or share insights. Use Notion to facilitate collaboration by sharing documents and project updates in a central location.
If you want to dive deeper on the topic, you can read the full post here! :)
NOTION UPDATES
🎨 Did you know you can crop images in Notion?
Okay, I missed when this rolled out (Notion’s been on a role lately with updates). For images you drag and drop into Notion, you can now crop – also in several different shapes.
This can be a huge time-saver, avoiding having to make quick edits elsewhere.
A welcome update! 👍🏼
NOTION RESOURCES
📚 Taking Notion’s Advanced Badge Exam?
This is your go-to resource!
Are you aiming to become a Notion Certified Consultant? The first steps to get there are passing Notion’s series of exams. The final exam – The Advanced Badge Exam – is definitely the hardest (much harder than when I had to take it a few years back!).
Luckily, Steve Patrizi (Notion Consulting Bootcamp alum) made a fantastic resource to help you get there!
His Advanced Badge Companion (ABC) is designed to help you pass on your first try. It features over 80 real exam questions and offers three distinct modes to enhance your learning: Quiz Mode for instant feedback, Study Mode for focused revision, and Exam Mode to simulate the actual test environment.
And word is he’s launching an interactive community; stay tuned for that!
ps: I’m not an affiliate, just a big fan of this resource! 😉
NOTION TUTORIALS
🔘 Want to create custom icons for your Notion workspace?
Here’s how I do it!
Every once in a while, I’ll get questions about where I got these icons. Even though they’re from Streamline (by far my favorite place for icons), I did spend probably too much time customizing them. 😅
In this video, I walk through creating color palettes, customizing icons, and organizing them in a Notion database.
Beware: you may go down a rabbit-hole for hours. You’ve been warned!
🙌🏼 That’s it for this week!
I’d love to hear what you think. What content resonates? What do you want to see more or less of? Just hit reply to let me know!
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