How do you keep your creativity alive?

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.

Jenn Chen

Jenn Chen

That’s an interesting question – when I got into photography it was all for the creativity and it never occurred to me that keeping the creativity alive was something I’d even have to consider! My favorite way is to collaborate with other local photographers or other creatives! I recently had been wanting to do this maternity session up on this dreamy hill top swing. I found a mom who was excited to model for me using some of my client closet dresses. Then I invited another photographer friend of mine along! Read more>>

Josefina Sola

I give my self breaks to travel and experience new things in order to take from those experiences and implement them into my craft as well as to give my self mental breaks. Read more>>

Lucy Lee

I keep my creativity alive by practicing during my downtime, which keeps my skills sharp and ready for the next event. Teaching my workshops is another big part of it—it’s amazing how much I learn and get inspired by sharing knowledge with others. And of course, reading and studying keep me constantly fueled with new ideas and perspectives. It’s a fun and fulfilling cycle that keeps the creative sparks flying! Read more>>

Pavel Bukengolts

Creativity is a muscle that needs constant exercise. I’ve found that stepping outside of my usual design work into hobbies like off-roading or cooking is the best way to keep it alive and thriving. I’m constantly challenged to think on my feet when I’m out on the trail with my Jeep. Sometimes, the unpredictability of the terrain demands quick decision-making and creative problem-solving. Each trail is like a design project—no two are the same, and both require adaptability and innovative thinking. This experience feeds directly into my approach to design leadership, where I need to navigate complex challenges and find the best path forward. Read more>>

Sammi Rivera

Music has always been an Intercal part of my life. I’m pretty sure I started singing and dancing as a toddler and it doesn’t really matter the genre of music I can find beauty and almost every different style. I have a very eclectic taste in music, I love everything from Chopin to punk rock, techno to Whitney Houston and everything in between. I sleep with music on, I wake up and have music playing music all throughout the day it really sets the tone for how my day will progress. Music is in the very center of my vibrational core. Read more>>

Madison Williams

One thing that I believe fuels my creativity is my love for new and unique experiences. I love all things unconventional and overall “different”. I have a note labeled “Creativity Jar,” in my Notes app and when I’m in these different or unconventional spaces, I write down anything that resonates with me because it could be used as an idea in a script, a feature, or a comedy set. This could be anything from a funny tag line that my mom said or how my boss fell asleep in one of our team meetings. Read more>>

Gregory Didyoung

My artwork is always evolving. Every piece I create, whether it’s a mural or sculpture, is better than the previous. I strive to keep honing my skill set so that each new work of art is better than the last. Repetition will lead to precision but I value innovation over perfection. My little birds made from cutlery are a perfect example. Each one builds upon the previous technique with the form and finish slightly improved.  Read more>>

Comfy Stennis

Creativity for me is a form of art therapy. I believe we all need therapeutic practices to help sustain and strengthened our mental health. Often times clinical professionals or therapists will tell us to do things that can be considered creative, like writing, journaling, drawing or painting. Creativity is visualizing something and putting it into fruition. Creatives are open-minded individuals who can find inspiration from multiple sources. To keep and save their creativity, one must set aside time to practice and become well versed in said skillset. Read more>>

Rami Kalla

I make it a habit to take the first 1 – 2 hours, every weekday morning to be creative. Whether it is researching what other companies in our space are doing, or exploring some new ideas for our studio. I also keep my creative juices flowing by watching the latest series or film. Lastly, I surround myself with other creatives, and I am always reaching out to see the latest thing that they are working on! Read more>>

Carlos Apitz

Maybe you, who are reading this answer, go to the gym frequently, do some weight lifting or other types of exercises, and over time your body sees the results: You are at a good weight or toned and you feel full of energy. Is that so, right? Creativity is like a muscle and needs exercise every day, sometimes with a daily routine, discipline and above all a lot of variety that stimulates your mind and imagination. Thomas Edison said that a good idea is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Read more>>

Alison Chace

Creativity is like dancing with inspiration—sometimes you’re waltzing through a masterpiece, and other times you’re just waiting for that next burst of energy. So, how do you keep the creative groove going? Let’s break it down: Follow Your Curiosity: Dive into whatever tickles your fancy! Elizabeth Gilbert in Big Magic says, “You don’t have to be a genius, you just have to be willing.” Let your curiosity be the spark that lights up your creative fireworks! Read more>>

Bere Alvarez-caballero

Creating artwork is an important way for me to express my feelings. To keep my creativity alive, I find it helpful to do daily meditation and carry a small sketchbook with me at all times. This allows me to do small sketches without feeling pressured to be perfect or spend too much time on it. I also find inspiration on Pinterest by looking through various forms of art. Read more>>

Kara Mshinda

My creativity is sustained by a curious mind, tenacity, dreaming, and an endearing obsession with understanding lived experience. For me, creativity is a source that is ever present; however, stress, disconnection, and the perpetual threat of imbalance caused by living in an evolving and techcentric world can hinder us from seeing the beauty that surrounds us. I have developed two techniques over the years that I use to keep creativity alive.  Read more>>

Kristy Hyde

I keep my creativity alive by continuing my education every chance I’m afforded. A wise man once told me, “Never stop learning, the day you stop learning is the day you stop growing” Read more>>

Nova Sparks

I keep my creativity alive in a variety of ways. The first way is by incorporating new techniques in every cosplay I make. Whether it’s a brand new skill, a new technique, or a new way of completing a skill, there is always something new you can learn. I find that this allows me to challenge myself and keeps me engaged in the project as I try to learn something new. Read more>>https://boldjourney.com/meet-nova-sparks. Read more>>

Kayla Jenae

I keep my creativity alive by taking breaks when I feel uninspired. Sometimes it’s beneficial for me to step away from my craft and experience life. This way I return with more intention and purpose. Read more>>

D Trickta

Part of keeping my creativity alive is gathering inspiration from other artists and trading my artwork all over the world. Living in Chicago in 2013, I was interning at an art gallery that had a focus on street art. Part of my job was to photograph street art and identify the artists, so I became quite knowledgeable about the local street art scene. What I stumbled upon through this role was sticker graffiti.  Read more>>

Gko

Creativity is nurtured. It’s not something you can turn on or off. Creativity is the state of flow in which your mind, spirit, soul, and heart are intertwined to create, whether it be something beautiful, intrusive, or mediocre. The result is not what matters: the practice and process of being engaged in a craft is what counts. However, how do we enter this state of creativity? How do we stay in it and keep it breathing? For me, the only consistent way of keeping creativity alive is through inspiration. Read more>>

Lynette Mccarthy

Operating a Wedding Venue and Christmas Tree Farm offers me so many opportunities to be creative. From the design of the Wedding Venue during the build to the addition of new features, I never stop thinking about design elements. For the Wedding Venue, staging the venue for scheduled tours and photo shoots allows me to be creative with flowers, centerpieces, table settings, and linen colors. There are decorations we include with each wedding as part of our packages. I am always reviewing how these things look either in person or photos taken at our venue to ensure things show well and stay fresh. Read more>>

Charles Wright

I keep my creativity alive by staying true to creating real music. I’m always staying authentic to my sound while pushing boundaries. That helps me maintain my artistic vision and keeps the music fresh. Read more>>

Yesenia Benavidez

Photography has always been a way for me to channel my creativity, alongside painting and writing. When it comes to photography, I draw inspiration from other photographers whose work I admire, but I always adapt it to fit my own minimalist style. Staying true to myself is key. Read more>>

Future Mailmen

Our band started as a group of friends trying out some musical ideas in a basement. We were gathering just to hang out, and workshop each other’s original music. The three horn players in our group (Andrew, Jesse and Michael), came to Portland in 2022 after spending some years in Boston together. They had been gigging and teaching around Boston, but had some holes in their life, particularly a draught of original music and places to perform it.  Read more>>

Wynette Mcphee

My creativity is constantly fueled by the unique love stories of my clients, the vibrant colors and patterns of my environment, and the myriad of life experiences that shape and inspire me. Ultimately, my clients serve as my guiding light- the North Star , always leading me in the direction of creating something truly special and meaningful. Read more>>

Lucia Desimone

I think creativity can be found anywhere if you let it come to you. But it’s also very important for me to try to live as many different experiences as possible while letting none of them define me. That’s how I create art that inspires me without getting too attached to the final result. Read more>>

Karen Castellanos

Having creativity is such a wonderful feeling, but it can be tough at times to ignite it once it’s burned out. I used to struggle so much with this, so much so that there was a time where I considered quitting. I did stop painting for a while but then I realized that creativity comes from all around us. I would go on walks and see certain colors or shapes, and that was enough to boost my creativity. In the end, I noticed I just had to take a step back and get in tune with nature, relax my mind, and most importantly , always carry a notebook with me because you never know when and where an idea might pop into your mind. Read more>>

Surabhi Khare

I challenge myself with new or different things that expose me to new ideas and perspectives. I think taking breaks can improve creativity and give you a momentum to start something again with the same spark. Read more>>

Eva Carizza

Being creative is one of my favorite things, no matter what I do. When I perform with the violin, compose, sing, conduct, teach… whatever I do, I like to do it in a creative way. When I was 12, I developed a neuro-immune condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After a medical mismanagement of the condition, I was bedridden for six years and used wheelchairs for nine, until recently. After the initial three years of being in bed, I found my own way to play the violin and keyboard while lying down. I love being creative and finding solutions to the problems that arise. Read more>>

Jojo Buddy

Since I was a small girl I have always felt there is so much joy in the world and wanted to have the opportunity to bring love and laughter to others. Through my Instagram posts with my two rescue dogs JoJo and Buddy I have the opportunity to reach people from all over the word. I love being able to see their posts as well and how their dogs have changed their lives for the better. Dogs are so free spirited and caring. They light up the room with their infectious joy and are always ready for a new adventure. Read more>>

Heather Shaw

I keep my creativity alive by connecting with the things I have loved since childhood – being in nature, reading, daydreaming, movement, and exploring new places. In recent years, I have learned the importance of slowing down, allowing the brain time to wander and the body to find equilibrium. From that place is where creativity flourishes for me. Read more>>

Justin Makalii

My creativity is an interesting case that even I am still trying to figure how it works. My art is mainly visual through photo and video, so I can look at something at wonder how it would look as a picture, maybe there’s something happening around me and I internally visualize how it would look as a scene out of a movie or show. I’m a writer as well so attaching a story to things no matter the significance is something that comes naturally. Read more>>

Keslie Nelson

I’ve always considered myself a creative person, but I’ve noticed that maintaining creativity becomes more challenging as I’ve grown older. With the increasing responsibilities that come with maturity, finding time to be creative can be difficult. Many people, myself included, often feel drained after daily tasks, leading to a tendency to relax rather than actively engage in creative activities. Read more>>

Chloe Owen

Funny as it may seem, as a graphic designer, I tend to keep my creativity alive by working with mediums outside of the digital realm and honestly, taking a break from work! From a young age, I have always had the desire to draw or paint and to this day, I think that is what takes me back to my creative roots. (literally, I guess?) I still find so much joy in painting and drawing on physical canvas/paper, clothing, etc. even if it’s not what I am best at, I find that the time spent off of my iPad/computer is what has helped my creativity stay alive. Read more>>

Cause For Concern

We don’t keep our creativity alive. We sustain it; it’s a living breathing thing. Everyone has creativity, but it’s about fostering an environment where you feel comfortable enough to be creative. A lot of that comes with trust in each other. Not only do we trust in each other as musicians, but as friends and brothers. We enable each other’s creativity in way that’s not positive or negative. We focus on the art and creative process more then the outcome. Read more>>

Marcus Spencer

It’s not difficult for Marcus & Derod to thrive within their creative abilities. Simply put; the love for 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 2000 cartoon genres helped propel our creative ideas. Being connoisseur of these type of cartoons/anime, given us insight on how to develop intricate and compelling stories. The art stylings from all these different genres gives life to their respective story lines, intern gave us a handbook on how to create our term “Strain Genre” (meaning a story that has multiple genres entangled with its plot). Read more>>

Raven Anderson

Keeping my creativity alive derives from the term “The World Is Your Oyster”. Life & everything in it acts as a fuel & inspiration for a creative flow. I am constantly inspired by the things around me whether it be a sneakers, a piece of jewelry or a song that captures my attention with its lyrics. Read more>>

Angeline Abrera

I keep my creativity alive by collaborating with other creatives, discovering new artists, and watching new movies! It’s true when people say that you can’t truly grow and create without taking risks because stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to explore other ideas, which can spark inspiration. Read more>>

Urmee Saiya

Keeping creativity alive as a filmmaker involves continuously feeding your inspiration and staying open to new ideas and experiences. Watching a diverse range of films from different genres, countries, and eras provides fresh perspectives, while reading widely—from novels and short stories to poetry and non-fiction—broadens the narrative toolkit. Engaging in collaboration with other filmmakers, writers, and artists fosters the exchange of ideas and innovation.  Read more>>

Aarushi And Amishi Rohaj

Music has always been the way I keep my creativity alive. Whether it’s listening to music, singing, learning a new song on the ukulele, performing, or creating new mashups with my sister. My parents wanted my sister and I to have a connection with our Indian culture which is why we were trained in Indian classical music. As we grew up we continued to keep up our musical hobbies and began mashing our Bollywood culture with pop music. And now we continue to do that and perform our mashups at local events! Read more>>

Bar Daniel

As a recent college graduate, I’ve been actively seeking ways to bring structure and growth into my adult life while continuing to develop my artistic skills outside the academic environment. One of my favorite ways to nurture my creativity is through dance. My passion for dance emerged relatively later in life. During my freshman year of college, I attended a dance performance on campus and was captivated by the freedom of expression through movement and music that it showcased, it made me want to know how to do that too, to explore dance further. Read more>>

Martha Sanchez M

I’ve always believed that you need a lot of inspiration to be creative. It can be an inspiration for yourself or it can also be something or someone that inspires you. I’ve always seen myself as an inspiration to keep my creativity alive as I put different challenges to myself every time I can. If I ever feel I can’t work on a project or anything at all and my creativity is missing I try to take some time to myself and think, or talking to friends and explaining my mind helps give myself the space needed for creativity and inspiration. Read more>>

Alison Phelps

Creating new dessert ideas can hit at any time. I love to create fun, out of the box flavors in my desserts. I look to products that are already made (i.e pretzels, candies) that I can use and intergrade somehow into a cookie or cupcake. I’ve even make cookies mimicking my favorite ice cream. Creativity also comes from learning how to pair flavors together from fresh elements. I love to taste test combinations and find the ones that work well together. Read more>>

Prana Kishore Bommireddipalli

The Recording Academy the Grammys invited Prana Kishore Bommireddipalli in July 2024 to become their Voting Member for being very creative in his compositions and due to his extensive work as a Singer, Song Writer, Music Composer, and Music Producer.
Prana Kishore says “Keeping one’s creativity alive” is very simple and he does the following:
1 SWOT Analysis is a concept used in marketing by multinational companies for their companies and products. Read more>>