Five reasons you MUST have constraints to be creative

Clayton J. Hester
2 min readJan 20, 2023
Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash

Constraints, such as tight deadlines, limited resources, and budget constraints, are often seen as obstacles to creativity. However, the truth is that constraints can actually be the key to unlocking your full creative potential.

Here’s why:

  1. Constraints force you to think outside the box When you have too many options, it can be difficult to decide what to do. Constraints force you to focus on what’s important and to come up with creative solutions.
  2. Constraints lead to innovation When you’re forced to work within certain parameters, you’re forced to think differently. This can lead to new and innovative ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
  3. Constraints help you prioritize When you have limited resources or a tight deadline, you’re forced to prioritize what’s important. This can help you to focus on what’s essential and to let go of what’s not important.
  4. Constraints lead to simplicity When you’re working within constraints, you’re forced to simplify. This can lead to a more elegant and efficient solution.
  5. Constraints lead to a sense of urgency When you have a tight deadline, you’re forced to take action. This sense of urgency can help you to focus and to be more productive.

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Clayton J. Hester

Country boy. Explorer of the creative process & life, the arts, storytelling, innovation and history of ideas. Omnia in gloriam Dei facite — claytonjhester.com