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.
Max, Sophia
We keep our and our members’ creativity alive by always trying to see things from different perspectives and not limiting ourselves to just one way of thinking. For us, creativity often comes from connecting ideas that don’t normally go together, whether it’s designing a unique volunteering project, brainstorming activities for our club, or finding a fresh approach to a class assignment. We often encourage our officers and members to generate many possibilities for community outreach before settling on one, because the process of exploring different options usually leads us to develop our club in a more inclusive, impactful, and collaborative way. Read More>>
Dani Weitman
I have always found creativity to be an extension of the season of my life that I am currently in. Creativity has also been more present in my life through the surrendering to my spirit’s authenticity. It has found me amidst challenges and pain, the peaceful stillness of nature, inspiring communities of safety and support, and has been a beautiful means of expansion during periods of deep healing. Read More>>
Lorena Sosine
As a crafty mom and business owner, keeping my creativity alive is both a joy and a necessity. I find inspiration in the little moments with my children—their curiosity, energy, and imagination fuel my ideas. I also set aside dedicated “creative time” for myself, experimenting with new materials, designs, and techniques to keep my work fresh and exciting. Collaborating with customers and hearing their stories gives me new perspectives and challenges me to think outside the box. Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship pushes me to be resourceful, organized, and intentional with my creativity, ensuring that both my family and my business benefit from my passion. Read More>>
Brandon McKay
This is a great question. For me I think on a wedding day I don’t need to really be creative though. I need to see what is actually happening and capture that. I think when we try to be really creative as wedding professionals it’s putting our bias on the wedding and the couple might not see it like that. Now I’m all for capturing things in different ways, different angles, and playing around but that’s also why I have a second shooter! Read More>>
Alex Velazquez-Brightbill
I keep my creativity alive by connecting with other artists, learning from different mediums and backgrounds, and always staying a student, working to improve my skills. Social media has been a big help- I love learning about artists’ processes and what inspires them. A lot of my creativity also comes from my own life, especially my journey as a mother and an immigrant. Recently, I’ve been inspired by writing and creating artist books that tell stories. That interest grew out of the time I spend reading children’s books with my son, which has become a huge source of inspiration in my art. Read More>>
Ashley King
Listening to my favorite songs and artist like- Anita Baker, India Shawn, Babyface, and more, spending time away from music and just enjoying life and moments with the people I love, as well as putting myself in the studio and creating music. Read More>>
Piano Lilium
The answer to this question lies in my vivid imagination and my love for dreaming. It’s something that has been with me since childhood and something I continue to nurture to this day. I live in two parallel realms: the reality of the day, and the dream world I enter at the end of the day. In that dreamy world, I create—and it’s there that my music is born. Read More>>
Sarahi McKeever
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, photographer, and interior design enthusiast. But most importantly, I am a mother to an extremely curious, wild-hearted two-year-old little girl. With mom and wife being my number one roles, my creativity is no longer something I schedule but something I weave into the fabric of what my everyday life looks like. The day begins with a whispered “Mama.” There’s art in that, too, in the little pitter-patter of her feet following me around, milk-stained pjs, her endless supply of toys stretching through every room. Beauty hides in the mess, and I’ve learned to see it. Read More>>
Tray Griffith
I keep my creativity alive by staying connected to the culture. With Flydown, I draw from music, street style, and real conversations to keep things authentic. I’m always experimenting with new ideas and pushing boundaries, while staying true to the roots of streetwear. For me, creativity isn’t just about making clothes — it’s about building a movement that keeps Flydown relevant and on track to become one of the biggest streetwear brands of all time Read More>>
Sam Salman
Love, hope, and self-esteem. Love for both myself and the work I create. The hope that the work I create both during and in between gigs are seen by many. Seen testaments to my skills and journey, showcasing a chronological portfolio into Sam Salman – The Designer. And finally, the self-esteem to believe in myself. Esteem enough to know that I am never alone in a crowded room. Read More>>
Jingyi ZHENG
I keep my creativity alive by continuously engaging with spaces and life forms that exist at the margins of our cities. During my residency in Chengdu, for example, I chose an abandoned real estate sales center as my site of research. What fascinated me was not its human history, but how wild plants had quietly transformed the space into a miniature forest. Observing these plants—how they adapt, root, and survive in overlooked places—expanded my understanding of creativity itself. Read More>>
Rosalia Peña
I keep my creativity alive by dedicating 20-30 minutes each day to working on something I love. In my case, that would be art. It could be something as small as sketching or writing down my ideas, journaling, or working on my to-do lists that makes my creativity grow, evolve, and expand into bigger things. Simply 20 minutes that can change my life if I keep creating, and most importantly, 20 minutes that remind me who I want to become. Just like a lot can happen in one year, a lot can also occur in 20 minutes. Read More>>
Rex Hausmann
Your creativity is in every day.
There is a very interesting term: quotidian.
The definition of quotidian is of or occurring every day; daily.
Simply put: read, study, go to school and trust the process. If education is in your path, attain the highest level of education that you can and apply for scholarships and grants. Read More>>
Kristina Corbett
I keep my creativity alive by intentionally seeking out inspiration both within and outside of weddings. I love participating in creative styled shoots with other talented vendors—these collaborations give me the freedom to experiment, try new techniques, and push my storytelling in fresh directions. Shooting film alongside digital also helps me slow down and see things differently, which keeps my work aligned with my true-to-color, candid, and timeless style. Read More>>
Rae’Shun Okafor
by bringing my own curiosity, openness, and intention to
conversations. My creativity is based on my visions that I have for certain things. I like to think outside the box and try things others may be afraid to try. Read More>>
Samhita
I seek new experiences when I am bored – new music, reading articles on ancient wisdom, writing poetry, talking to a stranger, or watching something mindbending: a movie based on quantum physics, or classified content on extraterrestral intelligences, UFO sightings, and so on. This kind of engagement automatically generates a whirlwind of thoughts to build on, and creative ideas. I get the adrenaline rush, and I am in awe of the infinite wonders that exist. Read More>>
MaxiMo Mace
Being creative is what makes us human. To keep my creativity alive, I am continuously changing my life. Nothing grows from the stagnant. I push myself a lot into new situations. I challenge myself to meet new people, to expand my horizons, and go places I have never been. These changes, some huge some small, keep me on my toes. The new experiences keep my mind going and from there I get the ability to keep creating. It is fun, it is scary, it is really the only way I know how to live. Read More>>
Caitlin And Kathleen Curtis
We’re both naturally playful, so creativity is something we tap into almost every day—whether through work or just for fun. We love bringing whimsy and lightheartedness into our spaces, which often sparks little creative projects. It might be adding scalloped molding in the laundry room or painting a bedroom in an unexpected color—we both enjoy experimenting and seeing where it takes us. Inspiration also comes from the world around us. A shop display, for example, might spark the idea for a new greeting card or even a stuffed animal design. We try to stay open to whatever the world presents, using those moments as fuel for our next creative endeavor. Read More>>
Cole Soileau
I don’t, it keeps me alive. Read More>>
Ramiro De Loza
For me, creativity means making something I can’t stop looking at, something that stirs an emotion and feels like it has that (as funny as it sounds) “sauce.” I keep my creativity alive by constantly searching for inspiration. Sometimes I’ll find something online that pushes me to reinterpret it in my own way, and other times I come across work that feels far beyond my current abilities, which excites me and motivates me to keep growing. I also love pulling ideas from books and magazines- not only just video but textures, architecture, and even music. Read More>>
Erica Norwood
I keep my creativity alive by continually feeding my inner child. I allow myself the freedom to explore and the opportunity to make mistakes without feeling bad about it. 90% of learning how to create skillfully, comes from learning what not to do and adjusting for that on future projects. One of my most recent watercolor paintings warped because I used too much acrylic paint on the final layer. I tried everything to fix it, and eventually had to sit with the reality that it wasn’t salvageable. Read More>>
Lin Cheng
To be honest, I don’t always feel that my creativity is alive. But I try to nurture it by living fully and seeking new experiences.
After graduating from Tisch School of the Arts (NYU), I felt lost. I was unsure of where to go next, who to work with, or even what I wanted to pursue. Without the structure of school—classes, events, and communities—it felt as if I had been dropped into an infinite ocean with no direction. To move forward, I became more proactive: finding new communities, reconnecting with old friends, and building new relationships. Read More>>
Sarah Bertochi
Since the opening of our first retail location, finding time for creative play has been one of my biggest challenges. As a solopreneur I am responsible for every aspect of managing the shop. I am the chief financial officer, marketing and social media manager, order and shipping coordinator, production manager, screen printer, lead sewer, head buyer and so on… finally somewhere at the end of my “list” is artist. Wearing “all the hats” unfortunately does not allow much time for creative exploration. Read More>>
Lauren Schroeder
I stay creative by working in many different mediums and technologies. In virtual reality, the tools and hardware are evolving fast. New WebXR platforms and tools appear regularly, and game engines have regular updates with new features. Even within a single platform, there’s room to explore. For example, Unreal Engine’s Metasounds system opened up new possibilities for bringing generative music into interactive experiences. I was able to use it to generate rhythms and waveforms real-time. Read More>>
Ju Kim
For me, creativity is rooted in exploration, seeking out new experiences, movement patterns, and perspectives that spark both mind and body. I’m a big believer in stimulating neurogenesis through novelty, whether that’s learning a new skill, trying a different form of movement, or exposing myself to unfamiliar ideas. Read More>>
