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.
Carol Ward
Creativity I like to think of like any muscle in my body – I need to exercise it and flex it often to keep it alive, kicking and invigorated to develop new ideas and concepts both personally and professionally. Read more>>
Prince Nii Engmann
I have the amazing privilege of getting to travel for work. Dance has taken me all over the world and I find so much inspiration in culture. Whether it be in the obvious representations of culture or in the little details there’s always something new to find. That what really keeps my creativity alive. Read more>>
Mansi Shah
The biggest thing I did to keep my creativity going is to leave my longtime career as a corporate lawyer and make the leap to writing fiction full-time. It is a scary thing to leave the comfort of something that is stable and familiar, but since doing that in 2022, my creativity has really flowed, and I can structure my day around my writing as opposed to squeezing writing into my breaks from my legal career. Read more>>
Olamide Laosebikan
As a photographer, keeping creativity alive is essential for producing fresh and captivating work. Some strategies I employ to maintain my creative edge is that I actively seek out new subjects to photograph. Exploring different ways and Exploring various subjects to keep my mind engaged and prevents creative stagnation. Read more>>
Rose Nava
Ever since I was a child, creativity has been a cornerstone of my life. I vividly remember spending hours drawing, coloring and writing, completely absorbed in the world of my imagination. These early artistic endeavors were not just pastimes; they were the beginning of a journey to find my true passion. Read more>>
Tahina Fiaferana
It’s been a lot of trial and error trying to figure out how to keep myself feeling creative, and I won’t lie – there are still moments when I hit a wall. But one very important thing I’ve realized for myself is that I have to take breaks. As a guitarist, music surrounds me daily, and it can often be hard to step away from it – even for just a couple of days. Read more>>
Tungz Twisted
I regularly bookmark new curiosities and frequent new youtube streams to learn new skills. I also get OUT THERE and meet people. Your network is your net worth. If you want to learn more about the creative world around you, and/or feed your own creative engine, then you must break the stagnation of ‘good enough’ and keep your creativity alive by striving to be greater than great ! Read more>>
Suzie Barber
The best way to keep my creativity alive is through learning and exploring new concepts to apply to my business. The photography industry constantly evolves with technology and trends, and it can be challenging to keep up with new advances and creatively implement them into your work. It’s overwhelming sometimes! Read more>>
Phil Peerman (DJ Phil Anthony)
I’ve never really struggled with losing creativity. What I continually struggle with is time management and prioritization. It’s not that I’m unorganized but rather, I have a tendency to find too many things interesting. Layer on top of that all those pesky adult responsibilities, and my bandwidth becomes scarce. I become overwhelmed, and my creative output struggles as a result. Here are some things I’ve personally done to manage this dilemma: Read more>>
Zipeng Zhu
As a creative myself, to keep my creativity alive is not only is important for my mental healthy but it’s also crucial for keeping me alive literally since it’s my only source of income. I personally do these following few things to help keeping my creativity alive. 1. Know when to take breaks – creativity is not 24/7 television marathon, it’s not meant to be on all the time, knowing when to pause and take a break can keep you from burnt out. Read more>>
Nate Libby
As artists, musicians, and creatives, I think this is one of the most challenging areas to dive into. We will try a re-branding. We focus on climbing the so-called ladder instead of doing what we love, and we all feverishly read “The Artist’s Way” from cover to cover, year after year. Read more>>
Lava Wu
Many people have succumbed to mediocrity in the trivialities of daily life, forsaking their ability to discover beauty and abandoning their attitude of continuous learning and reading. Inspiration often arises from those fleeting moments when beauty is discovered. Read more>>
Raye Wolfe
Inspiration breathes life into the embers of creativity, turning spark to flame. For me, a source of inspiration is foundational to my creativity. The source could be a piece of media, nature, theme, or a concept. Recently, I’ve found myself in a creative Renaissance and the subject of my artistic creations is my muse. Read more>>
Jordan Majdalani
Nurturing my creativity has been essential, and two key elements have been instrumental for me. Firstly, traveling has always been a source of inspiration, allowing me to break out of routine and immerse myself in new experiences and cultures. Another way I keep my creativity alive is through conscious connected breathwork. Read more>>
Haiyang Sun
When I was breaking into the entertainment industry, I felt burnout and my creativity was expended from developing portfolio pieces. Thankfully I found it important to keep learning and updating my design knowledge. I took classes from CDA taught by entertainment industry veteran Kevin Chen. I learned different design processes and had a great time drawing and up-leveling my work. Read more>>
Michael “Mike” Harriel
My creativity thrives because I constantly expose myself to something new and diverse. Venturing outside of our box or comfort zone can be intimidating, but it is necessary to grow. My creativity took flight when I extended my wings and jumped out of the nest of familiarity. Read more>>
Micah Amaro
I feel like being a creative person it’s always hard to keep finding the inspiration to create. I’ve had so many moments of not creating anything because I just don’t know what to do. What usually helps me is taking a step back and doing something else. Like reading, catching up on shows I haven’t watched yet, going outside and keeping my mind off of ‘I have to create something’. Read more>>
Mariett Monfort
I find inspiration from the vibrant and diverse environment of New York City. Being immersed in the city’s unique atmosphere, attending exhibitions, cultural events, and museums, as well as tuning into radio and music, all play a crucial role in keeping my creativity alive. Read more>>
Meike Legler
I like to accumulate materials that I find randomly and that I could make something out of with the result yet unknown. Often, things like shoe laces, old fringe curtains, brooches, lace scraps and wood can spark an idea for a new piece. Read more>>
Olivia Ezinga
Creativity is second nature to me. I’d also say it is intertwined with my gratefulness for simply being alive and happy. There’s context to that which stems from being a depressed teen experiencing suicidal ideation, when all I wanted in life was to thrive and not just survive. I walked through hell and came out the other side not only with a diagnosis for bi polar disorder but also gratitude, inspiration, and the will to live. Read more>>
Lamia Labban
Inspiration is crucial for creative people. As a visual artist I value creativity and work hard to cultivate it. My creative juices flow when I see nostalgic pictures from the past. Those images and almost at risk stories from the past entice me. I find it so challenging to transfer all those black and white memories on to canvas but in festive colors. Read more>>
Nina Sweeney
I learned an ideation trick from other entrepreneurs in my life: introduce limits to the problem you’re working on to help your brain think outside the box. As an example, if you’re putting together an event with a budget of $1000, you’d ask – how would I execute this if my budget was $10? $100,000? You’d be surprised by the brilliance that can emerge when the circumstances change. Read more>>
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I believe the key to sustaining creativity lies in maintaining an open-minded approach to all kinds of information. I embrace diverse perspectives and ideas, allowing them to fuel my creative process. Additionally, I prioritize self-analysis, which enables me to discern which artistic knowledge and skills align best with my creative vision. Read more>>
Lars Stadig
As an entertainer, I’m always striving to produce the best work possible. However, I’ve come to realize that forcing new ideas isn’t the most effective approach. Instead, I’ve learned to cultivate creativity by nurturing ideas and allowing them to develop naturally. Read more>>
Marn Jensen
I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by like-minded, creative people all my life. I come from a family of creative people and was always encouraged to share my talents. I my 35-year career as a Creative, I was immersed in an environment that was brimming with talent and creativity and was inspired every day by my peers. Read more>>
Tianhui Ye
To keep my creativity alive, I engage in daily observations of the world around me and jot down interesting details in a notebook. This practice allows me to capture diverse inspirations from my surroundings and incorporate these fragmented thoughts into my design work. Read more>>
Tomide Bamigboye
I keep my creativity alive through a diverse range of activities. I immerse myself in the world of literature by reading books that challenge my perspectives and inspire new ideas. Exploring art museums allows me to witness different forms of expression and craftsmanship, sparking my imagination. Read more>>
Floyd Bocox
Creativity has been my passion for many years. If you want to make changes in your life going through levels that you cannot control. This how I made myself create new begging’s staying focused and staying on that path until your goal’s has succeeded. Read more>>
Steve Becker
I’m a big believer in creativity. I’ve always considered myself to be creative–whether it’s coming up with a new idea, discovering a new solution to a problem, or annoying friends with a bad pun (the louder the groan, the better!). I love wordplay–words are like toys for me and being in that playground is a fun, healthy outlet and keeps my mind sharp. Read more>>
Brandon Kruel
Knowing that individuality is a key component in your difference that makes a difference. A lot of times we as people assume we require approval from others to continue, but that is not the case. As creatives we have to learn to leave our ego’s to the side and just simple be proud of who we are and our efforts. I feel like creativity thrives when you create on the means of enjoyment and not acceptance. Read more>>
Jennifer Wai
I hold a strong belief that all human beings are inherently powerful creators. Whether we create art, objects, systems, ideas, or even how we set spaces energetically, we are all born to express and share our unique and whole essence. It’s because of this belief, that I pay special attention to what either fills, or depletes my cup. Read more>>
Clifford Nicgorski
My experience has been that I don’t encounter a lack of creativity if I am always being honest and open minded about my perception of myself, reality and my view of the world around me. If you hold on too tight to the things that you believe or your perception of “the way it should be/the way things are” you are restricted in what you have the ability to access creatively. Read more>>
Jackie Mena
I keep my creativity alive by seeking inspiration in the small moments of everyday life. I continuously observe what others are doing, while also dedicating myself to honing my craft. Inspiration is abundant for those who actively seek it. Read more>>
Kimberly Dedyne
Creativity is part of the fuel that keeps me going! I can remember growing up at home and having white walls in my room. One day I got inspired and went and asked my parents if I could paint a huge mural of a butterfly on my wall. I also wanted to paint my ceiling to look like the sky. Read more>>
