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.
Chelsea Babin
People often equate photography with pure creativity. But what happens when that creative spark flickers and fades during a shoot? It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of sessions – families, couples, weddings, branding, events – and suddenly find your creative well running dry. This is where burnout creeps in. Read More>>
Yi-Lun Chien
There is a lot more than just being creative when talking about what a costume designer’s job is. My experience working as a set costumer brings me a complete understanding of how a production works, how to communicate with the team, and how to predict problems. Read More>>
María Emilia Hendreich
Watching movies, listening to music, going for a 1.5-hour walk every day while listening to bands I like is what keeps my creativity alive. Also, checking out art exhibitions and studying different artists whose style I love. Read More>>
Ann O’Dell
I keep my creativity alive by being open and listening to my Inner Wisdom and all. the exciting new ideas it gives me. Read More>>
Ramón Bonilla
I keep my creativity alive in part by listening to instrumental music from different genres because it allows me to experience the creative output of others without the interference of lyrics and ideas conveyed vocally that compete with my track of thought specially while I am working in my studio. This allows me to enhance my working experience and focus while I am working. Read More>>
Nancy Hillis
I keep my creativity alive through creative conversations and by exploring different modalities of creativity, including writing novels, writing non-fiction, performing music (cello), reading extensively in a range of topics including medical advances, conversations about science/art/math, conversations in psychotherapy, going to musical performances and art exhibits, and via physical activity (swimming and hiking). Read More>>
Polly Seip
That’s a good question! For me, I think the key factor in keeping my ‘creativity alive’ is to play and have side projects that allow me to do something different from the usual grind. I’ve been an oil painter with a primary focus of maritime art for a majority of my career. Read More>>
Dinah Rankin
Drinking coffee, listening to music, and talking to gay people. Read more>>
Sarah Maverick
I keep it alive by allowing myself to continually fall in love with people and their stories, and by creating work that holds real meaning for them. When I slow down, stay present, and lead with connection, creativity comes naturally. Read More>>
Serkan Aktaş
I treat creativity like a living muscle—it needs daily movement, daily nourishment. I read every day, because reading feeds my inner world. I watch films every day, not passively, but actively—studying rhythm, framing, silence, and emotion. I write every day, even when I’m tired, because writing keeps my mind honest and sharp. Read More>>
Xinyuan Zhan
My creative trajectory has always been deeply shaped by mythology and fantasy. This kind of unrestrained imagination originates first and foremost from a genuine personal fascination—it feels almost like an inner necessity rather than a conscious choice. Read More>>
Cecilia Odalys Mendoza
I’ve found this routine of creating many small sketches before diving into a project incredibly important to staying creative. Before I begin a painting, if I don’t have a clear image of what the final piece will be, I’ll create multiple thumbnail sketches to increase my creativity and experiment with compositions. Read More>>
Alex – Airbrush Luna
I keep creativity alive by staying close to the process rather than the outcome. Working with my hands – airbrushing in real time with real people – keeps me present and engaged. Each request is different, and that unpredictability forces me to respond creatively instead of relying on repetition. I also enjoy incorporating technology and AI when it feels appropriate. Read More>>
Kate Kuc
Collecting paper scraps for my travel scrapbook and using my watercolor set on the go keeps my creativity alive when I am not working on larger painting projects. A traditional record of interest and experience nurtures my daily and long-term creativity. Reflection feels most natural when transcribed through colorful forms, allowing for fluidity of processing where all is true at once in hidden language. Read More>>
Camille Imperial
I really try to nurture my creativity and treat it with care so it stays alive and doesn’t burn out. If I have an idea that comes up in my head, I allow it to come out how it needs to. Some of my work needs careful, meticulous planning while other projects require spontaneity and come out very naturally. Read More>>
Kat Lane
My soul craves creativity. I’ve been creative since the day I first held a marker. It’s like an itch I can’t ignore; until I make something, the sting lingers. Read More>>
Alexandra Bustamante Ayala
Keeping creativity alive, for me, is a conscious and disciplined process; I don’t leave it to chance. I combine inspiration with organization, because I firmly believe that creativity thrives when there is structure and clear direction. I stay in constant observation of trends, styles, and experiences—not only within the events industry, but also in areas such as design, fashion, art, and customer behavior. Read More>>
Thuy (Twee) Dinh
I’m a corporate girly working a 9 to 5, so creativity doesn’t always come naturally during my workday. After hours of meetings, screens, and routines, I’ve learned that I need something that feels completely different to stay inspired. That’s why I make space for creative hobbies that let me slow down and reconnect with myself. Read More>>
Molly Vaillancourt
Well, being an Aquarius, I feel like my creativity never really burns out—okay, half joking. In reality, I think it’s completely normal for creativity to burn out at times, especially in an industry built on rejection. Sometimes I’m shocked when casting even takes the time to tell you that you didn’t get the role—since when do they have the time? Read More>>
Eric April
My name is Eric April. I am 27 years old and was born in France, near Paris. I am an actor, writer, and poet with Mason Ewing Corporation. I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist, though primarily an actor. To be completely honest, I don’t have a miracle formula for nurturing my creativity, simply because I don’t fully know how it appears. Read More>>
David
In this industry, staying creative can feel daunting, especially in such a fast paced environment. I’ve spent years trying to develop the best habits that can sustain the challenges of deadlines, artist block, and creative personalities. Finding ways to keep my creativity alive has always taken precedence, especially since the creative process has always been the most fulfilling aspect of the film industry. Read More>>
Ann Michelle
Creativity isn’t linear. It comes and goes. Some days it feels as natural as breathing, and other days it feels completely lost. What I have learned is that creativity is not a gift given randomly or a privilege for a few. Everyone is creative. Humans are thinkers, observers, inventors, storytellers. We all create in different ways, with different languages and forms. Read More>>
Mcrk Bammo
By surrounding myself with likeminded people who keeps your creativity alive. Read More>>
Nancy Tupper Ling
As an author, I keep my creativity alive by jotting down my ideas for stories and poems wherever I go.Read More>>
Valérie BURNAND GRIMALDI
I have so much creativity that it actually becomes a challenge. I’m joking—but what I mean is that I don’t have to keep my creativity alive: it IS, and it lives a life of its own! It’s a natural state—probably the one that defines me best. I don’t try to be creative. Read More>>
Vanessa Orlando
Most, if not all of my creativity comes from listening to music. As simple as it sounds, finding admiration and inspiration from those who found success from the simple pleasures in life makes it almost effortless. Read More>>
Molly Maher
By always being curious, I’m able to keep my creativity alive. This can manifest in various ways, such as listening to entirely different genres of music, exploring words in different languages, or appreciating diverse rhythms. Read More>>
Jinistar
I don’t exactly know how to explain it, but there’s always a second vision in my head…kind of like multiple windows open on a computer desktop. When I first see ti, the images are blurry. I can make out a basic outline but no details. Read More>>
