Why Creative Constraints Make Us Better Leaders (and Artists)
When “Total Freedom” Leads to a Creative Rut
Lately I’ve been thinking about how to get myself out of a creative rut in my art studio. I have shelves of supplies, drawers of materials, and a love for making things in every medium. And yet, when I sit down at my work table, I hit the classic blank page syndrome.
I don’t know what to start. I don’t know what to make. And within minutes, I remember the 10,000 other things I “should” be doing. Nothing gets made. The next time I try, the same loop repeats.
The Power of a Simple Creative Constraint
At the start of this year, I set a clear intention: show up in my studio more often. But I also knew I needed a constraint to break the cycle. So I chose one medium—collage—mostly because my collage scraps were taking over a closet, two drawers, and several hidey holes. It was time to use them or lose them.
I grabbed an old pizza box, cut out two templates (5×5 and 5×7), and started a new ritual:
Trace the template onto the sketchbook page
Only collage inside the box
Choose 3 neutral pieces, 3 colorful pieces, and 3 random pieces
Make something—anything—within those boundaries
This doesn’t have to be a work of grand art
I don’t have to post it on Instagram if I don’t want to
And it worked. I’m creating regularly again. My sketchbook is filling with finished pieces instead of half‑used pages. While the method of 3-3-3 in collage isn’t new, it was a method I hadn’t tried before. And I found out that the constraint didn’t limit me. It freed me.
Creativity ≠ Total Freedom
So what does this have to do with leadership, writing, or professional clarity?
We often assume creativity requires wide‑open space, no rules, and endless possibilities. But too much openness can lead to spinning, not clarity. Leaders get stuck in loops. Teams lose focus. Ideas stay fuzzy.
Creative constraints sharpen thinking.
They give your brain something to push against. They force decisions. They create momentum.
What Creative Constraints Look Like in Leadership
Just like my 5×5 and 5×7 templates, leaders can use constraints to:
Narrow the scope
Clarify priorities
Accelerate decision‑making
Reduce overwhelm
Spark more innovative problem‑solving
Imagine a professional development session where the facilitator says:
“You have 10 minutes to redesign this process using only three steps.”
Suddenly, the room shifts. People stop overthinking and start building. The constraint becomes a catalyst.
A Constraint-Based Approach to Writing a Book
Let’s say you want to write a book. You know you have a book in you—maybe several—because you have an MA in instructional design, an EdD, a reading specialist certificate, and a library of stories from your work with students.
But that’s the problem. You could write about anything.
Try a constraint-based approach:
Write every possible idea on sticky notes. Design-thinking style—get it all out.
Pick one idea. Not the perfect one. Just one.
Give yourself one hour. Write everything you know about that idea. Stop when the timer ends.
Identify your audience. Who do you want to read this book?
Cross out anything that doesn’t serve that audience. Be ruthless. This is where clarity emerges.
Find the singular message. The heartbeat of the book.
Suddenly, you’re not writing “a book someday.”
You’re writing this book, for this reader, with this message.
That’s the power of a constraint.
Constraints Are Catalysts
Creative constraints don’t box you in—they open things up.
If you’re feeling stuck in your art, your writing, or your leadership:
Limit the scope
Shorten the timeline
Choose one audience
Pick one message
Give yourself something to push against, and watch what opens up.
Where You Can Find Me In‑Person This Year
If you’ll be at any of these events, I’d love to connect, and if you see me, please say hi! I’m always excited to meet educators, creators, and leaders doing meaningful work.
You can also book an in‑person discovery call with me during any of these conferences. Just reach out and we’ll find a time that works. https://www.jacquiegardy.com/contact
📍 SXSW EDU 2026, Austin, TX, March 2026
📍 ACES: The Society for Editing 2026, Atlanta, GA, April 2026
📍 ISTE Live 2026, Orlando, FL, June 2026
Additional Events Later in 2026
I’m planning to add more conferences to my calendar this year. These are the ones high on my list.
Games for Change Festival
MassCUE
TETC (Tennessee Educational Technology Association)
Pax Unplugged (Penny Arcade Expo)
NYSCATE (New York Association for Computers and Technologies)
NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)
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