One of the most challenging aspects of creative work is keeping your creativity alive. If only it was as easy as taking a nap or giving your creative muscles some rest, but as countless creatives have shared with us, keeping one’s creativity alive is something that requires effort and intention. Below, we’ve shared some of those perspectives, stories and advice.
Ally Schulte
As a photographer, I prioritize the things that make me happy and inspire me to keep my creativity alive. I believe that creativity thrives when you’re genuinely connected to what you’re passionate about. For me, it’s all about finding the beauty in the little things, staying curious, and constantly challenging myself to see the world from new perspectives. For me, this can vary from carrying my camera on local hikes I’ve done many times before, to venturing to a new location. I’m always thinking about how I can capture the feelings, moments, and emotions that will tell a story for years to come. Spending time in the mountains is especially important for me—it reconnects me to the innate curiosity that first sparked my journey as a photographer and continues to fuel my creative vision! Read more>>
Coda Girvan
Growing up, I’ve always felt a persistent need to make art. My family is full of artists of varying mediums, so creating was normal to me. I don’t think I acknowledged this early on because art has always been such an important part of my culture, so I just assumed everybody created of some sort. Being raised around that environment helped me embrace the need for art and how healing it can be, and how essential it was for finding my own identity. I do struggle with feeling burnt out creatively at times, but tend to switch mediums to help keep my interest peaked. Read more>>
Gelsandra Guzman Valerie Diaz
Creativity is a well we consistently draw from, and in our industry, it can often feel like you’re giving so much of it to the clients, businesses, and brands we represent that there’s little left for yourself or even for our own projects. We are full of ideas, constantly buzzing with inspiration and innovation, but like any source of energy, creativity can deplete if not nurtured properly.
The key to keeping that spark alive, for both of us, is reflection. It’s taking the time to step away—whether alone or together—and giving ourselves permission to be still, to reset. Without moments of stillness, the ideas start to fade, and the well of creativity runs dry, leaving us feeling blocked or burnt out. Read more>>
Qais Alsindy
My creativity is deeply rooted in my personal history, especially my experiences growing up in Iraq, living through multiple wars, and eventually migrating to the U.S. The memories I carry—the sounds of sirens, the fear of airstrikes, and the devastation of conflict—are etched into my consciousness. These stories refuse to fade, and they often emerge in my work, driving me to transform pain and destruction into something that speaks universally. Read more>>
Sacoiya Johnson
I keep my creativity alive by continuing to live. All of the things that I have lived through, enjoyed, experienced, and participated in contribute to how I SEE the world around me. Through that I grasp snippets of the visions of my reality and transform them into whatever I see in my moments of creation and business brainstorming. Read more>>
Pablo Cuen
There’s no one way to do it, for me it’s all about curiosity. There’s a certain pulse or routine that we all as humans experience as we navigate through life, whether it’s going to school or going to work, everything seems to fall into a routine, and then we all experience monotony and boredom.
A way to fight against this sensation is to stay curious; that has made me more aware of people, the space that I’m in, the light of day, thoughts, etc. Everything changes every day, and sometimes the monotony in our lives makes us foresee the magic that exists in our everyday lives and the ability to be impactful toward one another. Read more>>
Mandy Scheffler
Creativity is the core of dance. It is a means of expression and has been an invaluable outlet for processing grief, exploring feelings, and expressing gratitude. At times that creativity can become overwhelmed by day to day life and the harsh realities of running a nonprofit. In those moments we return to the core reason why every dancer routinely goes to the studio: the joy of movement and the sense of home we’ve built in our dance community. Our creativity is kept alive by sharing a space with artists whose hearts are collectively ignited by the love of dance and using movement as a means to articulate feelings that words cannot. Read more>>
Joel Stevenson
I’ve always found that if you just keep working, creativity will come. My art is very process driven so if I just follow the process over and over something will happen. I was once told to act on every idea and I have found that to be a great lesson. If I don’t act on an idea, I will never know what path that idea may take me down or what new inspirations may be realized. Read more>>
Marco Mata
I like to look for inspiration in different activities, just like reading, watching movies, or just going for a walk into the woods helps me to have new fresh ideas and to try things I haven’t. Sometimes all you need is to leave your working area for a couple of hours! Read more>>
Lynette Perez
How do we keep our creativity alive? Each one of our events is created differently with its own twist. We come across my themes and sometimes they are the same. So even if we have done a specify theme once we always try to make it different. I love shopping so keeping the creativity is not a problem! I really think that the decor that we add to each of our stations is what makes us different! Not to mention the umbrellas make a huge statement. We have so many different colors and designs! Read more>>
Peili Huang
I’m always feeling inspired. I was inspired by director Michel Gondry’s music video, Shel Silverstein’s poem, the masterpiece of Maurice Sendak, music from Kraftwerk, etc. I’m curious (as well as vulnerable) about everything. I collected nature textures, hand-made prints, fabrics, ideas, beautiful verses—you name it! My life is centered around being an artist. Read more>>
Roya Siroospour
I stay inspired and creative by always mixing things up. Whether it’s coming up with new classes or creating the perfect playlist for my next one, I’m always ready to adapt and improvise. I think a big part of the secret is being kept on my toes. I’ve learned that creativity thrives when I’m willing to embrace change and fix little mistakes along the way. When I keep moving and having fun, inspiration always follows. It’s the universe’s way of rewarding me for taking the leaps and trusting the flow! Read more>>
Nicholas Chambers
My own life experiences are what keep my creativity alive. Whether that’s the joy or the pain. It’s through my creativeness I am able to express myself the most. I am also able to heal through my creativity. So as long as I’m alive my creativity will be alive. Read more>>
Hannah Carman
By creating my own content consistently. When you’re a creative person and you feel that it’s your purpose, it’s important to not get stuck in a game of waiting for work to be presented to you. You’ve got to make the work happen.When I first moved to LA when I was 18, I ended up producing, writing, starring and creating the music for my own musical short film called ‘The Five Stages’. It was an incredible experience for me that really made me realize that I wanted to be a part of the entire film production process, not just the acting. Read more>>
Anu The Deity
For me, creativity is the ultimate currency. A lot of artists find themselves in situations where their creativity is controlled, and that’s the quickest way to kill it. So, the first rule I live by is to never let anyone control my creativity. It’s important to protect that. Read more>>
Jose Hernandez
I keep my creative alive by watching different types of videos from other cultures. I like to be innovative and do things that are not as common and you don’t see every day. I also watched a lot of movies and try to come up with things from my imagination based upon n an idea from a scene I’ve watched or things I see on a daily basis. Read more>>
Baleiba Hill
Keeping my creativity alive is something I am continuously doing. My creativity is kept alive by practicing self care, rather that’s exploring a new hobby, moving my body, enjoying my solitude with a new face mask, or simply staying offline. I didn’t always take my creativity seriously but once I figured out it’s what keeps my fire burning I changed that, now it’s a non negotiable for myself. I set time apart for my self to create and how that looks will be different every time. I romanticize my life to keep my creativity alive. Read more>>
Srishti Arora
Being a graphic designer, creative block is totally normal. With so much competition out there, staying creative and evolving is key to standing out. To keep my creative juices flowing, I make an effort to continually learn from the design community and follow designers, artists, or creators I admire, and let their work inspire me. Read more>>
Clayton Guiltner
Maintaining a constant state of creativity is both challenging and, at times, counterproductive. Creativity thrives not by forcing ideas but by giving them the space to evolve naturally. For me, creativity is not something I can simply turn on or off—it’s an organic process that weaves itself into my daily life. Read more>>
Karina Khan
I’m not sure if it’s just me, but there are times when I either feel like I’m doing what’s been done before or doing the same thing myself again and again. I am quite fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to travel and be a model in several cities and states. I think this really creates a blank slate for me to reintroduce myself in the community. I try to explore what other creatives are doing and put myself into it. In essence, traveling keeps me creative with modeling. If I had stayed in the same location, I might only have thought I’m meant for only a few types of fashion and styles. Read more>>
Catrina Morbidelli
To keep my creativity alive, I tap into the journey that led me here. I earned an MFA in painting, but after graduating, I realized the fine art world wasn’t the right fit for me. It was a disorienting time, and for a while, I felt creatively lost. Then, I discovered yoga and completed a teacher training that opened up an entirely new way of channeling my creativity. Yoga became this blend of movement, art, and mindfulness that deeply resonated with me. Read more>>
Ben Bradbury
Creativity can come in a few forms, in business and in art. The artist side fills up my cup, and I carve out times to get to open mics, freestyle rap or mix tunes. On the business side, a few times a week you’ll find me at my local coffee shop with a journal (no phone) in the morning, chewing on juicy questions for 90 minutes. That block of thinking time often produces the best ideas of the week. Read more>>
Kailey Hood
I keep my creativity alive by regularly seeking new sources of inspiration and challenging myself to think in different ways. This includes reading diverse materials, exploring various creative fields like art, music, or writing, and engaging with different perspectives and cultures. I also set aside time for unstructured thinking and brainstorming, which allows me to generate ideas freely. Practicing mindfulness and staying curious about the world helps me find fresh angles and approaches to my work. Read more>>
Anna Trimmel
I am a very curious person by nature, therefore I’m always exploring shapes, textures, music and sounds, materials, even a new recipe can inspire me to create something artsy. I think in my case creativity has no boundaries nor limitations. There’s is a force in me since childhood that makes me want to at least try and see if I can make it myself before I buy it, and that has developed a strong urge to always be creating, from the most simple to sometimes more complex objects. I also surround myself with nature, music and plenty of ideas. Read more>>
Marilena Patouni
To keep my creativity alive in a dynamic digital industry where technology constantly pushes boundaries, I immerse myself in a blend of innovation and human experience. Staying on top of the latest technological advancements is crucial, so I frequently experiment with cutting-edge tools, platforms, and digital trends. However, true creativity for me comes from much more than just technology. Read more>>
Batuhan Safak
I actually maintain my creativity by staying update, learning, researching, and continuously producing diverse content. One of the most significant factors supporting my creativity over the years has been my debt to superheroes. In particular, the character who has inspired me the most is ”The Flash.” For instance, I find that my long-standing fascination with superheroes, particularly The Flash, fuels my creative drive. Working on projects that challenge my imagination and push my boundaries, like the short film I made last year, also helps me stay creatively energized. Read more>>
Christa Franklin
I am an artist, and sometimes it’s a challenge to keep creating, but knowing that the funds from my art purchases goes towards helping people globally it keeps me motivated. If I had it my way I probably would have given up painting a year ago, because it’s time consuming, and comes with challenges,but seeing so many people in need in different ways encourages me to keep going. Read more>>
Joshua Gomez
You have to let the creative juices flow. If we stay present in the moment, it is possible to tune into creativity. Creativity cannot be forced.. and it will strike at any moment. Read more>>
Mya Banks
Keeping creativity alive, for me, is through everyday inspiration. Anything from a song, to a mural painting in the city to the google searches I do for aesthetic ideas to create something that reflects me and allows other people to see what I see. It’s pretty cool being able to express yourself in a specific way and people know that its you– and for me that’s what I want to do as a photographer. Being able to have an idea, build it, bring it into fruition, and it turn out the way I envisioned it puts a smile on my face. Read more>>
Connor Barnes
I keep my creativity alive by constantly exposing myself to new experiences, whether it’s through reading diverse genres, watching different types of films, or simply spending time in nature. I also find that collaborating with others or working on different projects, like my comedy series or short stories, helps keep ideas fresh. It’s important to stay curious and open to inspiration from unexpected places, which often means stepping out of my comfort zone. Regularly setting aside time for brainstorming and freewriting also keeps the creative juices flowing. Read more>>
Thomas Bell
As an artist I find it very important to constantly take in everything around me in order to keep my creativity alive. Not only visual elemnts but information from all the senses. My artwork is usually improvised in the moment and everything I feel at the moment will find its way into my work. I started out as a musician and studied Jazz Performance in college which is where my improvised approach comes from. Being both a visual artist and a musician also allows me to tap into different types of creativity. When I don’t feel particularly inspired to create visual work I can turn to music as a way to continue creating everyday. Read more>>
