Keeping your creativity alive has always been a challenge, but in the era of work from home, where the lines between work life and home life have blurred and where burnout and social disconnection are rising, creativity is at risk. We’ve asked some of the most creative folks we know for advice on how to keep one’s creativity alive.
Megan Goodman
I have been following the artist Brooke Ring for many years and recently she posted a Picasso quote that says, “inspiration finds you working.” She was speaking to having been in a creative rut before and she used this quote as encouragement to keep her head down and plow through the beginning stages of a project (painting in her case) and then inspiration or creativity will follow! Read more>>
Leia Jacoutot
I keep my creativity alive by trying to do something to feed it everyday. I go to museums, concerts, movies… I also take night walks, go see some nature or simply meet friends that also work in the arts.
For my job in particular I found it really useful to read plays or novels and try to imagine how I would interpret it as an actor. I love also just observing people in the street, it really helps to create characters after. Read more>>
Annessa Stephens
Usually, when I am having a hard time being creative, it’s coming from my brain going a million miles a minute and thinking about everything all at once. I love doing brain dumps. Everything that I am thinking, I write it down. This has been a great way for me to declutter my mind to allow fresh ideas to come in. I also like to talk about the ideas that are in my head with a friend who creates content as well. This helps me dig for ideas and stay creative. Bouncing ideas between each other always helps and keeps things fresh. Pinterest is also a very good tool. Read more>>
Alison Cordero
I let creativity find me in my everyday life. I know when I try to sit down and force an idea it usually backfires and I get frustrated. I try to do things I enjoy, spend time with people I enjoy and give myself space from my work from time to time in order to be more present. Being present allows me to gather inspiration and channel it in a way that is authentic to me. This has worked for me so far. Read more>>
Isabella Diaz
I’d say the key to keeping my creativity alive is being okay with experimenting. As a songwriter and producer, I’m always challenging myself to try new things. It’s easy to stick to what I’m used to when I’m producing a new song or composing a melody. But I’ve found that I’m the most inspired whenever I try something new. The lyrics flow more seemlessly, and the writing process always feels more meaningful. Read more>>
Justin Nguyen
As a wedding photographer, I keep my creativity alive by focusing on the unique love stories of each couple I work with. Every couple has their own way of expressing love, and I find inspiration in discovering and capturing that uniqueness. By truly connecting with them, I can understand what makes their relationship special and create images that reflect their personality and emotions. Read more>>
Maria Vasquez Boyd
My creativity comes from many sources, I’m easily inspired. Reading and looking at photographs from Smithsonian Magazine stirs my imagination much like visiting museum to see new or older works of art. Often I view local work by artists who exhibit, perform, or record new music. Besides that, when I go into the paint department at a nearby home store and I’m surrounded by color swatches, I think to myself how much I want to use this or that color in new work. My number one source of creativity is taking a walk outdoors, feel the world around me an think random thoughts. Read more>>
Slideride Funk
In my opinion, the key to keeping my creativity alive is talking to myself. I’m not talking about thinking questions in my head to myself…ACTUALLY talking out loud to myself. You learn more about yourself when doing so. You yourself is a person, and you never know you just might know the answer to your own question by just asking yourself out loud. Or if that doesn’t work, close your eyes and pray to whoever you pray to, and whatever voice comes first, you listen to it. Read more>>
Emily Gleeson
Being a hair & makeup artist in the luxury wedding space, you have to be creative and business minded. Makeup artistry, the products, the application process is constantly evolving. I know I’m never going to stop growing and learning. One gift that Covid brought to social media is the ability to learn from artists, brands, and other creatives from anywhere! I strongly believe in constantly continuing to educate yourself, this can be in person classes, online master classes, and even watching some of the industry leaders work on social media.Read more>>
Julie Yeung
I think keeping creativity alive is a balancing act of sorts. It’s a balance between curiosity and exploration, and aligning to the bigger picture and north star. Here are some ways to help keep creativity alive as an artist: 1) In sessions, I try to have the right mindset – let go of expectations, be present, be mindful of self-talk. Read more>>
Richard Little
I keep my creativity alive by always believing that the impossible is always possible. Read more>>
Roshawn Bell
Being an artist who works in arts education it’s easy to get caught up in fostering creativity in others and forget about your own artistry. After years of teaching the arts I realized I wasn’t getting any younger and I had so many stories in me that I wanted to get out. So I decided to dig through some old scripts and short stories. After pitching one of my plays to my oldest daughter, my daughter said, “that’s not a play. I can easily see that as a series on Netflix that I would watch.” The idea brought me fully back to creativity. Read more>>
Kloey Powell
I keep my creativity alive by daydreaming. Sometimes I feel like I’m lost in my own head, but I don’t always think it’s a bad thing. I find myself in worlds I create in my head, adventuring into ideas I create on the spot. My imagination keeps my creativity alive, and when I find myself in a slump or surrounded by the dullness of life, I simply start a journey into my own mind. Read more>>
Midwestmyles
It’s simple. Just the passion for creating music. Hip Hop is an art form I’m blessed to be a part of. I’ve been obsessed with music since middle school. I always wanted to create. A lot of my skills have been the development of listening and observing over 20+ years. Read more>>
Tarik Mckenzie
Great question. My creativity comes from a variety of things. The other creative/entrepreneurs I follow on instagram, anime, but mainly my childhood. There’s a famous quote: The creative adult is the child who survived after the world tried knocking them down, forcing them to grow up… Read more>>
Erika Dely
Being creative is innately part of me so I am always full of ideas, thoughts and emotions. It doesn’t take much for me to dream up a design, an event, an outfit or a photoshoot. Keeping it alive within me has hardly been a problem, and I think I owe that to my inability to settle. Unless something has soul or feeling, it doesn’t work for me. That can be anything from the space I live in, the places I work in, the relationships I allow in my life and where I travel. Although I often crave it; routine, mundane, the same ol’ is what kills my creativity. I run my business in a way where every single day is different. Read more>>
S.e. Reed
I can’t remember a time in my life where I didn’t have creativity swirling and whirling around inside me, right under the surface, ready to come out. As a child, I was the one who invented all the games to play. As a teenager, I was in drama, choir, yearbook, and played the piano and guitar. In college, I focused on my writing and was an electronic DJ, spinning records at raves. As an adult, I’ve been able to take all of those creative endeavors of my youth, and layer them into the plot lines of my novels. I’m not happy to sit back and wait for creative moments to come to me, I am always looking for the next opportunity to expand my portfolio. Read more>>
Pyae Pying
The way I maintain creativity is by collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds and fields, which brings fresh perspectives and ideas. I avoid sticking to conventional thinking, break away from traditional thought patterns, and explore new solutions. Bold imagination, along with the courage to experiment and adapt, allows me to find innovative directions through constant trial and adjustment. Read more>>
K.dyrec Butler
As a director and cinematographer, I keep my creativity alive by embracing the vivid visions I experience in my sleep, where scenes from scripts or concepts unfold as if the movie is already playing out in my mind. These dreamlike moments provide raw, uninhibited inspiration, allowing me to visualize the potential of stories before they are even fully formed. To maintain this state of creativity, I keep an open mind about the world, constantly imagining not just what is, but what could be. Read more>>
Erin Kessler
Creativity is one of the things I value most in my life. It has played a critical role since I was a child and my parents encouraged creative activities and creative thinking. But even though it’s such an integral part of me, I do find it difficult at times to keep it alive. Imposter syndrome and the pressures of everyday life sometimes hold me back from creating. Read more>>
Brandy Wheatley
Travel! I love to travel to new places as well as revisit some of my favorite places. I feel this really inspires me and it’s one of the best ways I have found to keep my creativity fresh! Finding inspiration in the lobby of a hotel, admiring the architecture of a building or patterns in fashion/interior design. While I am not a designer by trade, I find that staying current with the latest interior design trends ties into creating a cohesive wedding design .Read more>>
Dani Jack
Two of the things I am most passionate about and involved in are creative outlets: music and balloon decor. In both cases, I take inspiration from the world around me, as well as from other people, companies, and artists. When it comes to balloons, I follow a ton of other balloon companies around the world to see what they’re doing and what they’ve come up with. Sometimes it inspires me to do what they already did, but sometimes it sparks something new that I want to try. I love to take time to just walk through craft stores and look at what is available and think of ways I could incorporate what they have. I am part of a balloon network where we lean on each other for inspiration or instruction. I go to different conventions where I gain new knowledge firsthand. Read more>>
Kgosi Maleka
I keep my creativity alive by staying connected to that endless imagination I had as a kid. I’d throw myself around couches and beds, constantly creating new worlds in my head. Everything I watched—the most beautifully animated, fantastical worlds I desperately wanted to live in or the heart-wrenching, grounded, and sometimes violent films that showed me the fragility of the human condition—left a mark on me. Since then, I’ve always been on the hunt for stories and worlds I’ve never seen before. Read more>>
Mônica Lóss
One of the things I truly love about being a visual artist is the ability to imagine and create things that don’t yet exist in the world. However, contrary to popular belief, creativity isn’t something innate or a divine “inspiration” or a natural trait of artists. To me, creativity is a dynamic force that needs to be nurtured and fed. It requires disciplined practice, consistency, a great deal of attention, and, most importantly, hard work. Read more>>
Spencer Morgan
Creativity is a strange, beautiful thing. Sometimes it feels like an unstoppable force—excitement and passion pouring out of you. Other times, it’s fleeting, slipping away as quickly as it arrived. But for those of us who are driven to create, it’s more than just a passing moment; it’s a constant pull, a desire to express something uniquely our own. Read more>>
Sandy Martinez
Creativity has always been a fundamental part of who I am. It’s not just an activity for me; it’s a way of expressing myself and connecting with the world around me. I feel a natural urge to create, which keeps my creative spirit alive. Read more>>
Junrong (arving) Wu
I keep my creativity alive by consistently seeking out new experiences and embracing the unknown. I enjoy the thrill and surprise of experiencing novelty and fresh encounters, whether it’s exploring a new cuisine, discovering a favorite song, or walking down a familiar street while listening to a different tune. These seemingly small changes bring fresh perspectives and excitement that continually give me a sense of growth and continuous learning. Embracing the unfamiliar uncovers new perspectives on life—both good and bad—that inspire me to think differently. Read more>>
Alison Meaney
Travel plays a huge role in keeping my creativity alive; seeing new places and cultures fuels my imagination. Similarly, I love learning new skills as an adult, which keeps me adaptable, humble, and open to new ideas. Read more>>
Christina Wells
For me, creativity is like a vibrant tapestry—woven from countless threads of expression. I find joy in being multi-faceted; whether I’m painting, drawing, composing music, storytelling, building sets, creating events, dancing, acting, or playing the piano, each of these passions breathes life into my existence. They don’t just coexist; they intertwine and amplify one another. Read more>>
Jihwan Jeon
For me, creativity thrives when I immerse myself in the world around me, especially through fashion, street culture, and subculture. These elements constantly evolve, and they inspire me to approach design with a fresh perspective every day. I keep my creativity alive by staying connected to these influences and exploring how they intersect with graphic design. Read more>>
Rachel Haimovich
Keeping creativity alive for me is synonymous with keeping a sense of curiosity, openness and wonder at the forefront of how I approach each day. This is way easier said than done because life moves at a million miles a minute and there’s always the next to-do or distraction. Regularly connecting with others who highly value creativity is essential for me. Some of my best inspiration has come from being a part of songwriting groups and accountability challenges. Equally important for me is making sure that I’m tending to my inner world and leaving enough unscheduled/unstructured space in my schedule. Read more>>
Mandy Chen
I believe that the key to maintaining creativity is continuous learning. As a director, I need to constantly learn, stay fresh, and understand the present in order to create works that are both classic and resonant. First, I learn from the people around me, listening to their stories, understanding their experiences, and observing their work habits. However, as a new director, I can’t have access to everyone and everything. We can only learn through reading and watching films. I find that reading books and watching movies are enjoyable ways to relax. Read more>>
Itty Bitty Beats
Keeping our musical creativity alive comes naturally because we’re both creative people who are constantly inspired by the world around us, especially our children. Some of our best songs and concepts have come directly from moments spent playing and imagining with our kids. They have this amazing way of sparking joy and creativity, which keeps our music fresh and full of life. Read more>>
Em Nguyen
I chose this question because it resonates deeply with me, and I believe it’s a challenge many artists face. I’ve been a self-taught painter for 14 years, and throughout that time, I’ve constantly struggled with balancing the vision of what I want my work to look like versus the reality of what my skill and style can achieve. Early on, I often abandoned pieces because I would compare my work to others or fixate on how I wanted it to look rather than embracing where I was in my journey. Read more>>
Valory Pierce
Creativity can be found in everything we see, do and experience. From the media content we consume to just simply living life! Whenever I feel like I’m stuck in a rut I often would reach out to friends, take a break, go on an adventure if the weather is nice or I browse the channels to see what new show or movie is out. Read more>>
Soyisreal
First and foremost I am a forever student and a passionate fan before anything. I’m constantly on the hunt for new sources of inspiration whether it be thru the consumption of art and media or even just life experiences. Whenever I hit a slump or I’m feeling unmotivated, I go back to my roots and revisit the works that made me a fan of this music in the first place or I go out and get my fingers dusty at the local record shops to discover new artists that I’ve never listened to before. Those methods have worked for the last 20 years I’ve been doing this. Read more>>
Kenshin Amagi
In addition to being a senior in college, I am also a professional magician, a published author, and an artist—each role requiring a great deal of creativity. To ensure that my creative well never runs dry, one of the most important habits I’ve developed is to make at least one new “discovery” every day. Read more>>
Baoqi Ding
The secret is to be brave to step outside my comfort zone. Creativity is the capacity to grab an idea or a problem from several angles and link unconnected dots to discover feasible solutions. It’s about envisioning what could be. Step one is to find a safe space and prepare yourself with a mindset. Those will help designers feel comfortable taking risks and even failures. Then, it is time to challenge limits, discover beauty, and apply it to real scenarios. It’s more than simply trying something different; it’s about offering a unique viewpoint or method that improves an experience and solves a problem. Read more>>
Jingjing Jia
To be honest, I keep my creativity alive by diving headfirst into life. I mean, creativity isn’t something you can just schedule or force—it’s like that unexpected friend who shows up when you’re least prepared. For me, inspiration often strikes in the most random places: while I’m jamming to some electronic music, people-watching in a crowded café, or even having those deep, late-night talks where you somehow solve all the world’s problems in your head. Read more>>
Kat Von Hacke
When I was younger I was constantly drawing and creating things. It had dual purposes. 1. It kept me entertained, I didn’t have cable tv and the internet wasn’t a thing. I didn’t have tablets just books, pencils, and paper. 2. It calmed my anxiety, I used my creativity to journal in a way. Instead of a diary with written words I drew my emotions and feelings and how I saw myself. As an adult we get busy, we might use our creativity for work projects but it doesn’t come from the same place it did when we were young. It lacked the joy. So a big part of creativity for me is finding that joy that allows me to create from a happy place vs a place of necessity. Read more>>
John Yurcaba
Honestly, it’s hard to pinpoint one specific method for keeping my creativity alive, but the over all theme is really treating it like a living, breathing thing. My connection to it is genuinely a relationship. I have a deep love for it. It has been a constant companion since I can remember. I walk through life hand in hand with it, and it is the cumulation of every idea, dream, and inspiration I have ever had. At my highs and my lows it has been there to guide and support me, get me out of tight spots, and into incredible opportunities. It is emotion and desire magnified and focused by possibility and will, and the only way it works is if I treat it and respect it like the magic it is. Read more>>
Brian Kaldorf
I find that the best way for me to keep my creativity alive is to be decadently indulgent within the context of the process. My best ideas come when I ignore practicality and logistics and just follow whatever passion and excitement the idea may hold. There’s plenty of time to figure out all of the tangible things later on. I like to spur creativity just by trying new ways of expression and learning what works and doesn’t work for me. Read more>>
Bankole Kumolu-johnson
I keep my creativity alive by continuously seeking new experiences and maintaining a sense of curiosity. Whether through reading, attending workshops, or exploring different industries, I find inspiration that allows me to cross-pollinate ideas. I also prioritize time for reflection and brainstorming, often stepping away from tasks to create space for fresh thoughts. Collaborating with others, especially those outside my typical sphere, introduces new perspectives that push my thinking. Embracing a growth mindset helps me view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for innovation and improvement. Read more>>
