In every issue, I dig into 1 big idea around a high level theme that I’m currently exploring. Every big idea has 2 real-world examples, 3 practical strategies and 5 related trending topics and ideas for you to explore on your own.

The theme I’m currently exploring is the beauty of boundaries as they apply to creative work. In this week’s issue, I’ll dig deeper into how embracing constraints enables creativity and focus.

In the first issue of this series on the beauty of boundaries, we’ll explore how embracing constraints enables creativity and focus.

It’s a surprising idea that adding constraints can allow you to be more creative but it happens all the time.

Finding the right constraints for working an idea creates a space for focus and focus enables you to move forward intentionally.

I call this the ABCs of constraints: applied boundaries for creativity.

In this issue, you'll learn:

• 2 Real-world Examples

  • The Pomodoro Technique

  • Whose Line Is It Anyways?

• 3 Practical Strategies

  • Set specific limits on resources

  • Define a stupidly small scope for a project

  • Pick a game to riff off of

• 5 Trending Topics and Ideas

  • Minimalism in design and art.

  • Timeboxing for productivity.

  • Microlearning for focused skill development.

  • Rapid prototyping in product development.

  • Constraint-based writing prompts.

So let’s dive into embracing constraints for enhanced creativity and focus…where the rules are made up and the points don't matter!

2 Real-world Examples

One of my favorite shows to watch as a teenager (even now I'll watch old clips on YouTube) was Whose Line Is It Anyways?

Whose Line Is It Anyways?

If you've never seen "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" before, you're in for a treat.

It's a fast, funny, and unpredictable show that'll keep you wondering how these performers can come up with such creative and entertaining stuff on the spot.

The whole idea is that a bunch of performers come together and play these made-up games with rules thrown at them by the host or the audience.

The best part? Nothing's scripted, and they have to think on their feet to make it all up as they go along.

Contestants have to embrace an incredibly narrow constraint.

A great example of this is the game “Party Quirks”.

In “Party Quirks” one of the performers takes on the role of a party host, and they've got no clue who their guests are going to be.

The other performers each get assigned a quirky character or behavior by the host, and they have to stay in character as they join the party.

It could be anything from a celebrity to an object or even an odd personality trait – you never know what to expect!

The party host's mission is to guess who or what each guest is supposed to be, all while playing along and keeping the party going.

It's a blast to watch the performers try to drop hints and get into their roles, while the host tries to figure it all out.

When you think about how many constraints exist in this game (there's a party, there's a host, each participant has a quirky trait, the host has to guess), you'll realize that having so many constraints allows participants to have fun and focus on their role without a lot of effort.

These constraints (or rules) give the contestants permission to not focus on anything except for the game and to let their creativity shine by exploring what comes to mind in the moment!

The Pomodoro Technique

Rules can be a great constraint, but often require their own creative sessions to establish. So what can you do when you don’t have room to explore creative rules?

Our second example, the Pomodoro Technique is a great real-world example because it's a proven strategy for focus and creativity that constrains something we all have: time.

Created in the 1980s by a guy named Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a simple but powerful limitation: break your work up into 25-minute intervals with a 5-minute break.

What makes the Pomodoro Technique so effective? You can only do the task that you set out to do in that 25-minutes. You limit yourself to be singularly focused on the single task.

I’ve used this technique for many tasks where I needed an easy way to focus, including writing newsletter issues!. It’s a proven example of when just two limitations, deadline and only one task, can help you focus.

3 Practical Strategies

So, how can you harness the power of limitations in your own projects?

We can use some pointers from the Pomodoro Technique and Whose Line Is It Anyways? Here are three practical strategies to try:

1. Set specific limits on resources.

2. Define a stupidly small scope for a project.

3. Pick a game to riff off of.

Set specific limits on resources

The easiest way to get started with constraints for creativity is to limit your time, budget, or materials.

These are things you already have and if you have them in small amounts, all you have to do to constraint yourself is to start smaller than what you have!

Setting limitations on resources will force you to make conscious decisions about what's truly essential.

If you limit yourself to 3 - 20 minute writing sessions for a newsletter issue about embracing constraints for endless creativity, for example, you find that you have to focus and do the work and that you need to find some rules to help you not ramble.

Define a Stupidly Small Scope For a Project

“Start stupidly small” is one of my philosophies because every time I do it, it works.

By concentrating on one area, finding the absolute smallest version of what to create in that area, you'll be able to go deeper and uncover new insights.

Starting stupidly small with a creative goal also has the added benefit of giving you a dopamine hit when you reach the end and leaves you extra energy to make your goal a little bigger when it’s done.

Pick an Improv Game to Riff Off Of

If you've been reading my writing for any period of time, you'll probably notice some patterns:

• I like to pick increasing numbers for topics (1-7 for a theme and 7 big ideas, 1-2-3-5 for my newsletter big idea)

• ABC (or other variations of 3 chronological letters in the alphabet)

• Alliteration (when you use the same letter or sound to create phrases, such as “start stupidly small”)

These are just a few of the improv games I play with myself when I'm doing creative work.

They’re Applied Boundaries for Creativity!

Finding these constraints for yourself has a few added benefits:

• They're fun to discover and play with, just exploring what constraints you want to try on can be a playful experience

• They define your style and other people notice

• You can create combined constraints to catalyze even greater focus and creativity

You're welcome to try any of mine (share yours if you have some, I'd love to experiment with them!) and if they're not a good fit, you can find a list of other improv games that you can explore in this list on teambuilding.com.

5 Related Trends or Ideas

Now that you've had an introduction to real-world examples and practical strategies for constraints for creativity, here are some trends that you could research on your own:

1. Improv as a way to practice constraints based play.

2. Timeboxing for productivity.

3. Microlearning for focused skill development.

4. Rapid prototyping in product development.

5. Constraint-based writing prompts.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these topics, let me know in the comments or send me a message on Twitter. You can also join me on Patreon and I’d be happy to riff on any of these trends and ideas with you!

Constraints For Creativity

I hope you found that the constraints I shared here help you catalyze your curiosity for constraining your creativity.

I talked about how self-imposed constraints can enhance your focus and creativity but sometimes constraints are imposed on us.

How can you reinterpret the way you frame constraints that are imposed on you through work, nature or relationships?

In next week’s issue, we'll talk about just that starting with how the Apollo 13 crew and ground control had to embrace their constraints to creatively use limited resources to solve life-threatening problems.

Captivated by Curiosity,

Chase

P.S Want to join the waitlist for my Notion course on being effective? Come sign up!