The Young Man’s Guide to Creativity: 10 Daily Habits to Improve Your Creative Mind

When I was 22 years old, I became a Top Writer on Medium.

It’s not an easy path. I lived in the Philippines and had never received a penny after writing over 100 digital articles. But I treated it like practice. If I couldn’t get other people to read my work for free, why would they trust me?

After reading dozens of articles and books about creativity, here are 10 daily habits you can put into practice right now to improve your creativity:

1. Walk for 30 Minutes Every Morning

Exercise will improve your mood and give you more energy.

For example, Bobby Fischer loved to exercise because it improved his health. He famously said, “Your body has to be in top condition. Your chess deteriorates as your body does. You can’t separate body from mind.” The best exercise improves your stamina.

Creative people need an exercise routine to improve their mental health.

2. Read Classic Literature

Ernest Hemingway was a legendary writer. When he was alive, he gave a lot of book recommendations to new writers. He loved to read Huxley, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. Most writers start as readers, and the best stories come from personal life experiences.

Reading classic literature will improve your vocabulary and storytelling skills.

3. Write 10 Ideas Every Single Day

This exercise comes from James Altucher.

Your ideas don’t need to be good or bad. What matters is consistency. For example, journalists write 20–30 variations of headlines before choosing the right one for their article. You need to practice your craft every single day if you want to become a professional writer.

Great ideas can change the world.

4. Focus on the Things You Can Control

You can control how many words you write every single day, but you cannot control how people react to your writing.

You should focus on making a difference rather than pleasing other people. Successful people are driven by their mission. They are not afraid of criticism or failure.

Here are some things you can control:

• How you spend your time
• How many books you read
• How you look
• How much money you spend every single day

You cannot control the rain, but you can control your emotions in difficult situations.

5. Practice Positive Affirmations

Want to become successful? Believe in yourself.

I learned the value of positive affirmations after reading Think and Grow Rich. You need to act like you’re successful before you achieve success. After practicing your craft, you will generate results. These results will give you confidence.

Avoid negative self-talk if you want to improve your confidence.

6. Have a Journal

Writing in a journal gives you clarity.

Clarity comes from knowing what you want and having a plan for the future. Writers love journals because they provide new ideas.

Here are some things you can write in your journal:

• Your observations
• Your mistakes in life
• Your passions

A journal is a great tool for understanding yourself.

7. Schedule Your Activities in Advance

If you don’t schedule your most important tasks, you will spend most of your time on the least important ones.

Procrastination is the enemy of productivity. If you submit your work on time, people will value your work ethic. Successful people don’t want to waste their time.

Four Reasons to Schedule Your Most Important Tasks:

1. You will know your priorities.
2. You will know which tasks to delegate.
3. You will save a lot of time.
4. You will have free time for your family.

Managing your priorities comes from knowing your values.

Learning new skills will accelerate your career.

Proven Steps for Learning New Skills:

1. Read books about your chosen skill. If you want to learn how to write, buy five books about writing.
2. Create a project to practice what you learn. After reading, apply what you’ve learned to your own work.
3. Embrace failure. You will know your strengths and weaknesses through consistent practice.
4. Strive for mastery. Mastery comes after dedicating 10,000 hours to your craft.

Technology is a great tool for researchers who want to discover new information.

9. Talk to Smart People for New Ideas

Successful people have mentors.

• George Orwell was a former student of Aldous Huxley.
• Warren Buffett mentored Bill Gates.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were friends.

Benefits of Having a Mentor:

• Your mentors will point out your weaknesses.
• Your mentors will give you valuable feedback.
• Your mentors will offer more opportunities if you listen to them.

Smart people love to mentor young people.

10. Have Time for Yourself

No matter how busy you are, never forget to take time for yourself.

Activities to Do in Your Free Time:

• Read a novel once a month.
• Travel to a new place for fun.
• Write online to build an audience.
• Take an art class.
• Play video games to connect with others.

Always remember: Your time is your greatest asset.