One of the most challenging aspects of creative work is keeping your creativity alive. If only it was as easy as taking a nap or giving your creative muscles some rest, but as countless creatives have shared with us, keeping one’s creativity alive is something that requires effort and intention. Below, we’ve shared some of those perspectives, stories and advice.
Bossy CandyBarz
By never letting the childhood in me die Read More>>
Faith LeMone
I keep my creativity alive by being curious. I question why things are the way they are and how they came to be. I consume art that inspires me. I draw comparisons between the unrelated. I give myself times of silence where I can really listen to myself. And lastly I try my best to keep an open mind. Read More>>
Caroline Don 
Creativity is so vital to Fairy Tails Entertainment, and it takes a lot of work to keep things fresh. I’ve always been an artist, and when turning that into work, I sometimes struggled to find balance between personal art and artistic work. Read More>>
Alejandra Carvajal
Oh wow, thanks for asking! I don’t know that I have the answer, but what keeps my creativity going is definitely connection. It sounds cheesy, but I genuinely think the greatest fuel for an original idea is humility and love. The humility to know you don’t have all the answers, and the love to seek out different perspectives. Read More>>
Naje Fields
Honestly, I keep my creativity alive by living it every day. I don’t force it — I move through life observing, feeling, and creating from real moments. Everything I do — from designing rugs to curating art shows — is tied to something I’ve experienced or felt deeply. Community keeps me inspired. Read More>>
Augustin Huffman
It’s boring to say, but I think it comes from inspiration I get in movies, music, and art. I love when I see or hear something that challenges me and gets me to think about the creative endeavor in different ways. Much of my creativity is also stimulated just by collaborating with others. Read More>>
Jason McGathey
I think it’s important to have more projects going than you can ever actually finish. Or at least, that works for me, anyway. Finishing things should be your primary consideration, of course – that whole ‘real artists ship’ comment by Steve Jobs comes to mind – but you can’t overlook the process for getting there, and how you stay inspired. Read More>>
Linoy Boutique
I keep my creativity alive by surrounding myself with beauty and inspiration every day. My candle studio is a place where art, scent, and emotion come together. I pour each candle by hand, play with colors, textures, and natural elements. I also find inspiration in nature and in my past career as an event planner by creating experiences that bring people joy. Read More>>
Zhengyang Du
As a documentary cinematographer, I have spent the past three years striving to transition into narrative filmmaking. Looking back, I realize how far I’ve come without noticing—each frame, each story, has quietly carried me away from where I started. The transition was anything but easy. Yet I have never regretted beginning my journey in documentary film. Read More>>
Britton ‘Lou’ Friedman
Creativity is like a muscle, use it or lose it. And it’s also like an emotional cousin of love, intangible yet there. To keep it alive, you must feed it. I try to keep both mind and body moving. Stagnation is a killer. Read More>>
Briano King
Honestly, it’s creativity that keeps me going! I really believe that as humans, we need to create in order to feel fulfilled and balanced. For me, that creative outlet has always been music – especially since my day job is pretty analytical. Having music as a way to express myself helps me keep that balance in my life. Read More>>
Diane Button
I keep my creativity alive by paying attention to my surroundings, actively listening to people’s stories, and genuinely staying curious about the world around me. For many years, maybe even decades I was running through life as fast as I could, always rushing from one event to the next, from one appointment to the next. Read More>>
Cooper Warner
Creativity lives in curiosity and play. Creativity dies in doubt. I am my most generative– whether that be with words, art, or ideas–when I allow myself the space to be playful and follow whatever I am curious about. Creativity is abundant. The more you make, the more you make. The key is to not allow your inner critic to keep you from making things. Read More>>
Viking Joe
I keep it alive by continuing to nurture it. Creativity is like a fire, it can start with just a spark. I think everyone is born with creativity, the hard part is keeping it going, adding fuel to the fire, and keeping the world from snuffing it out. Read More>>
Megan Kelley
I didn’t find my purpose all at once; it revealed itself little by little, through seasons of curiosity, challenge, and surrender. For most of my life, I thought purpose would arrive as a grand revelation. Instead, it came quietly, through the things that lit me up and the moments that broke me down. Photography started as a creative outlet, something I did for joy. Read More>>
Utong Aoieong
I keep my creativity alive by constantly asking questions and trying to find answers. It’s also important for me not to feel frustrated when I don’t feel creative. I remind myself that creativity always comes back when the right moment arrives. Sometimes I just trust myself, do what I enjoy, and think about why I like it later. Read More>>
Danae Marks
I do the things that inspire me: listening to music, reading, and watching others art. I have always believed that art inspires art, so when I am in creative spaces (art galleries, film festivals, etc.) I can feel my creativity flowing. Read More>>
Heather Jude
I think as creatives we are fed the false narrative that we can drain or run out of creativity. When in fact, our creativity cannot be separated from who we are. It’s as much a part of us as our personality or our smile. I think certain environments can impede our ability to tap into that creativity, for sure. Read More>>
Alexys Meneses
I’ve learned that my creativity thrives when I give myself space to explore and play. Whether it’s discovering a new café, walking through a local farmers or flea market, or even just walking down a busy street in my city, I love soaking in new experiences, and they often spark ideas for new projects along the way. Read More>>
Melissa Galbraith
I love to pull inspiration from where ever I can. The most mundane or simplistic things can spark an idea. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come up with an idea for an embroidery pattern while walking my dogs around my neighborhood. One such idea came to life last summer. Read More>>
Annemarie Roggow
I keep my creativity alive by seeking out new opportunities for myself. I went to school for fashion, got my Bachelor’s in Apparel Merchandising and Advertising and my Master’s in Fashion Marketing. I’ve loved art and have been creative since I was a child, so to learn more about the fashion industry was a no brainer. Read More>>
Pickle N’ Tequila
Our team consists of 3 key players: Camille (founder), myself (photography & OC lead), and Erik (head of operations). Pickle N’ Tequila has always been a creative outlet for us. It’s important to continue evolving, which includes experimenting with new ideas and seeing what sticks. Mixing consistent brand pillars with unexpected twists, such as themed events, quirky collabs, or seasonal remixes. Read More>>
Marc Tarczali
I watch a lot of 80’s and 90’s commercials on Youtube. Back then, marketing teams focused on bringing some level of happiness/joy to consumers, they weren’t trying to stress the people out or push political propoganda. Even ads for products like AA batteries or home phone plans had the tonality of a John Hughes holiday movie. Read More>>
Xxmorrison
I tend to keep my creativity alive by pacing myself and not over-extending my output. I recently took my longest break ever since starting this venture to step back, think about upcoming projects, and let my creativity recharge naturally. Read More>>
Franceasca Seiden
Creativity, for me, is a form of survival, a ritual disguised as routine. It’s devotion dressed as curiosity. I keep it alive by feeding it truth, not trends; by treating it like a conversation between spirit, art, and the everyday. Some days it’s journaling before dawn; some days it’s automatic writing when the words start whispering first. Read More>>
Infinity Brooks
Honestly, I think creativity is like a muscle, you have to keep using it to make it stronger. I keep my creativity alive by always surrounding myself with inspiration — whether it’s exploring new venues, scrolling through Pinterest or just people-watching at a café. I can honestly find inspiration anywhere. Read More>>
Trish Lanns
I keep my creativity alive by exploring different creative mediums that invite me to learn, play, and stay curious. Whether I’m watercolouring, writing, or simply observing, I try to approach each process with openness and presence. The sensations and discoveries that come through these moments often inspire how I hold space for others. Read More>>
Marika Simon
I keep my creativity alive by constantly surrounding myself with stories — whether that’s through travel, music, or exploring the unknown. I find inspiration in places with history and energy; every location has a story waiting to be told if you’re open to feeling it. Music also plays a big role in how I create — it helps me tap into emotion and imagination. Read More>>
Andy Li
My creativity is driven by curiosity and collaboration. This year, that curiosity led me to expand beyond live performance design into content creation—directing music videos, producing photoshoots, and crafting visual stories for artists. Every project feels like a new conversation between sound and image. What’s been especially inspiring is the diversity of work we’ve done through iANDY Studio. Read More>>
Brittny Ryan
The biggest thing I’ve noticed about creativity, it’s always flowing. I get blocked occasionally, but at the end of the day there’s inspiration everywhere. The most important thing is keeping an open mind and being capable of accepting new creative outlets to fuel you. When I first started cosmetology school, it was all about learning the basics. Read More>>
David Cabral
Creativity is a lot of things when you come to think of it. For me I always liked messing around with different styles or trying new things to bring out my creative side! Every weekend I like to explore the state and look for cool or interesting things to do. I also like to journal my ideas and test it out. Read More>>
Asia Hamm
I keep my creativity alive by remembering I am an inspiration to people! Even if its 1 or 100 someone looks forward to my art and that keeps me going. Read More>>
Kendra Griffen
To keep creativity sharp and alive for me, it’s always a matter of pushing myself to learn different and new skills that I might not be as in tune with, which comes in handy for cosplay, as certain costumes might require unique skills that you may have never used before, such as working with servos, lights, and wiring, leatherworking, etc. Read More>>
Marlene Wallace
I learned early on that joy was a big factor in my creativity. The joy came from me expressing myself fully, and I knew that if I was having fun that the audience would have fun. Read More>>
Jen Meyers
This is such a great question because we can all get stuck, feel like we’ve run out of ideas, or just get tired of doing the same thing. For me, I find that doing lots of different creative things (pottery, writing, drawing, knitting, baking) keeps my creative juices flowing. One creative thing feeds another. Read More>>
D.Santos n/a
I always do things that I enjoy doing such as going for walks, listening to music, being with my family. Taking a good self-care is the key for me to create. If I’m not in alignment with the given moment, place, and circumstances, my brain won’t let me unblock the creative block. Read More>>
Jacy Peck
Being creative is not a skill I developed over night. It is a daily decision, a daily nurtured choice, and something I believe everyone has the ability to master. It’s not simple and It’s not a one and done chore. Creativity comes with rejection, fear and critique; however creative output does not have to always be for the world, it can be just for you. Read More>>
LIN HU
My name is Lin, and I am an architectural designer. Throughout my journey, one idea has continually fueled my creativity – a design philosophy I call “Thinking in Future Archaeology.” Architecture, as a discipline, is in constant evolution. From ancient agricultural cottages to contemporary superstructures, our built environment has always mirrored the pulse of human civilization. Read More>>
Dee Bailey
I have learned over the years that anything I don’t feed or give my attention to will die and this includes my creativity. It’s tempting to confuse scrolling through other’s Instagram feeds with finding ‘inspiration’ when really it only fuels their dreams, not mine. Read More>>
Patricia Marin Miranda
Creativity can emerge at any moment—sometimes in just a matter of seconds. I’m always tuned in to my surroundings, my thoughts, and the emotions that move through me. For me, creativity begins in the soul and the mind. When I create, I feel a deep sense of happiness and joy in that specific moment. Read More>>
Alexah Gomez
Being in a creative groove feels like magic! All the ideas work, the numbers are growing, engagement is high. But keeping a creative mind 24/7 is impossible! Taking self care breaks often to reset my mind and allow new ideas to flow is how I manage a balance. Massages, deep breathing, phone/screen breaks & time outside all work together to make the magic happen. Read More>>
Quindarius Johnson
The way I keep my creativity alive is by always pulling inspiration from my real life. One of my key brand components is honesty , being able to be true to who you are good, bad, and ugly. When I use real life experiences and events to feed my creativity it constantly gives me ideas and concepts to write about. Read More>>
