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.

Absalon White Jr.

I’ve always been a creative person. I think I get that from my mom. Growing up, she found ways to make our childhood fun, even when we didn’t have much. Watching her turn limitations into imagination really stuck with me.

For me, staying inspired comes naturally. I fuel my imagination through anime, superhero movies, TV shows, books, music, and just observing the world around me. There’s inspiration in everything if you’re paying attention. Read More>>

Haley Bullington

Keeping creativity alive suggests that there is a possibility for her to die. Creating and making art does not require creativity, but rather the action of creating. keep creativity alive comes by working even when I feel uninspired, allowing the act of making to lead and not judging her quality.
 I find that mindfulness in the mundane rhythms of life creates space for creativity to return. Through creating, eventually, comes creativity. Sometimes, the most alive ideas emerge from these quiet, liminal moments. Read More>>

Yitong Chen

Great question! I keep my creativity alive through what I like to call a tug-and-pull process. On one side, I’m always learning and practicing as I try to expose myself to new ideas and keep improving my craft, especially in music production. On the other side, I make space to completely disengage: to relax, hang out with friends, or spend time with my family. Strangely enough, this constant back-and-forth between discipline and rest actually helps me stay creative. Read More>>

Carisa Laine

Honestly—by not suffocating it.

Some days, it flows in effortlessly—like catching green lights all the way home. Other days, it’s more like waiting on a text from someone who definitely meant to reply three days ago. It’s coming… just fashionably late.

My framing business isn’t just a side hustle—it’s my creative playground. I never force it. I let it come naturally, like a good hair day or a lucky penny shining heads-up. I keep it rooted in joy, which means it will never come before my family or friends.  Read More>>

Michael LeGrand

Creativity is something that everyone has, but the challenge is to innovate new and fresh ideas to keep the audience engaged with your passion. From my perspective, I see it as a challenge that can help improve my act of entertainment.

My first love for creativity began with storytelling. I’ve been writing stories since I was 9. During school, I always loved English because you can visually see the story being played out. This is when I realized that I loved being creative and always wanted to create. Read More>>

Margaret Hill

I keep my creativity alive as a photographer by constantly seeking new perspectives and allowing myself the freedom to experiment. Whether it’s exploring unfamiliar locations, trying out different lighting setups, or shooting in a new genre, I find that stepping outside my comfort zone helps spark fresh ideas. I also draw inspiration from other art forms like music, film, and painting, which often influence the mood and storytelling in my work. Read More>>

Beth Donohue

Creativity has always been at the center of how I live and work. For over 30 years, I’ve worked as an actor, director, and teaching artist, but creativity isn’t just something I do. It’s how I think. It’s how I understand the world and how I connect with people in it. Read More>>

Stuti Sukhani

I have found that looking outside of my work and immersing myself in other life experiences keeps my creativity alive the most. It’s easy to get lost when you are heads down, fully immersed on any kind of project

In finding this creative inspiration, I look at my life as a series of collecting one sensory experience after the other. Some of these experiences include scuba diving, singing, mood-based playlist making, list writing, analog printing, cooking and collaging. Read More>>

Joonsoo Lee

It’s a struggle for all artists to maintain creativity, and it’s definitely one that I’ve been through. For me, creativity comes from inspiration, and I make it a point to study my role models whenever I feel burnt out. Guitarists like Mateus Asato, John Mayer, and Derek Trucks always give me an instant boost in creative motivation, and it’s my goal to be able to provide that same inspiration for other aspiring guitarists. Read More>>

Gobi Cheung

For me, creativity doesn’t stop when the work ends. I’m constantly feeding it, whether that’s through watching films and TV shows, listening to music, or just observing the world around me. Even when I’m not actively producing, I’m drawing: sometimes it’s whatever’s in front of me while I’m watching a movie, other times it’s a bit more abstract. I also go on walks daily (or as I like to call it, “photosynthesising”) because stepping outside helps reset my brain and sharpens my perspective. It’s often in those small, quiet moments where new ideas start to form. Read More>>

Shakai Levine

For me, creativity stays alive by staying curious. I’m always looking for inspiration in unexpected places — whether it’s a conversation with someone new, a walk through a different neighborhood, or diving into art forms outside my usual scope. I switch things up often. If I’m acting a lot, I might write or sketch just to keep my brain in a creative flow. I also try to protect my inner child — the part of me that asks “what if?” and isn’t afraid to play or make mistakes.  Read More>>

Lalit Sritara

As a kid, I was that child – the one pulling pranks and coming up with weird theatrical schemes that probably gave my parents a headache. But somewhere between high school anxiety and undergrad perfectionism, that delightfully chaotic side of myself went very, very low-key.

But last year I took Kirsten Childs’ “Embracing Absurdity” class at NYU, and something wonderful happened – I reconnected with that playful part of myself I’d been missing. It felt like coming home after years of being pretty tense. Read More>>

Ida Zhou

Back in China, the topic that I am most passionate in, sexuality, is highly taboo. I have been playing around with censorship, gender, and eroticism on my own. Through exploration of my own body and bodies around me, reading stories about bodies, I base my work and creativity on my frustration and thoughts. In the United States, learning about theories on sexuality, my creativity began to incorporate theoratical thoughts and personal emotions.  Read More>>

Ally Vang

Creativity is deeply personal, and everyone expresses it differently based on who they are. For me, staying creative means showing up as my full, authentic self. I believe that when you’re truly being you, your creativity becomes something no one else can replicate. Other things that may enhance it include avoiding being overly creative and having time to socialize, enjoy nature, and pursue other hobbies. This can give my creative brain a break to start fresh on ideas. Read More>>

Esther Aoga To

By surrounding myself with likeminded people. By trying new things like new foods, new drinks. Listening to music and watching musicals. Read More>>

Cherish Timm

Honestly, I don’t have some deep, magical routine to stay inspired, creativity has just always been something I turn to when life feels heavy. I started with resin crafts while working a full-time job I absolutely hated. Making things with my hands became a way to manage my anxiety. It was fun, calming, and gave me something that felt like mine. Read More>>

Barlyssa Lopez

Over the last 4 years in business, we’ve learned the importance of scheduling creative projects, outside of our client workload, solely for the sake of expression and curiosity,

Our most recent endeavor was participating in this year’s Tablescapes for Hope annual fundraiser hosted in Rochester, NY by Home Start Hope, a local organization whose mission is to provided brand new, essential household items to women and their children transitioning to independent living from emergency shelters. Every year designers are provided a theme and gather at this amazing event to raise money for the organization. Read More>>

Amrutha Rao

I follow creators whose work speaks to me. Photographers and videographers with a strong sense of story, emotion, and detail. Their ability to capture beauty in everyday moments inspires me. I study their techniques closely, paying attention to how they frame a shot, use light, or create rhythm through editing. Then I take what I’ve observed and adapt it to my own style, building on what I know and continue to learn. Read More>>

Andrea Diaz

There’s nothing like standing in the photo pit, camera in hand, waiting for the lights to hit and the music to explode. As a concert photographer and writer, I live for those moments where sounds and story collide, where one image or one sentence can capture a whole feeling.

That creative drive follows me into everything I do. As Marketing Coordinator at Big Oak Tree Media, I get to build campaigns that speak to real people and uplift our communities. I’m always asking myself: How can we say this differently? How can we show this better? Read More>>

Brannon Rice

Finding inspiration in my craft can be difficult at times. Throughout my journey as a musician i have experienced the extraordinary highs and treacherous lows that surround what is creative freedom. In my experience of keeping creativity alive I have to be willing to go through the peeks and valleys that come with the territory and also be willing to see them through to that next truly inspirational moment. In music, creativity can come from anywhere, inspiration can be drawn from a new idea or an old one that is revisited at just the right time. It can come from others as well. Read More>>

Keming Chang

I keep my creativity alive by staying curious and constantly connecting ideas across different areas of life. One habit that keeps me connected to my creative self is writing down fragmented thoughts or observations in memos—whether it’s a phrase that sparks something, a sensory moment, an observation, or a random idea I don’t want to lose. These quick notes become a way to remind myself of what I’m interested in, what moves me, and what I want to revisit later. Read More>> 

Antavio Johnson

I learned long ago that every moment belongs to itself. It can never be duplicated. Many of us don’t realize the beauty and the power of a moment until it’s a memory. Read More>>

Rian Moneypenny

Reading! I think above all else, when I find myself in a creative slump, reading has helped me to find inspiration again. Be it fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose—whatever—finding a new book, a fresh story, and a unique voice does wonders for boosting creativity. It serves as a constant reminder that there is always so much more out there to learn, to experience, to broaden the mind. Read More>> 

Daniel Stoner

As a group, we keep our creativity alive by feeding off each other’s energy and experiences. Each member brings a different perspective and talent to the table—whether it’s lyrically, musically, or emotionally. We stay inspired by real-life situations, staying grounded in our roots, and pushing each other to keep evolving. Jamming live with our band, experimenting with new sounds, and always being open to collaboration keeps the creative flow going.  Read More>>

Trae Brown

I Keep My Creativity Alive By Overthinking. I Know It Sounds Cliche, But It Actually Helps. For Instance If Im In The Process Of Coming Up With A Design For A TShirt, I Know Creating Something Simple Would Be Easily Done But I Overthink It To Bring Out The Creative Process. What I Mean Is The Design Could Be Divine Timing. I Would Overthink The Words “Divine” & “Timing” And Find Synonyms and Definitions To The Word To Define A One Direction Meaning To The Word. Read More>>