Keeping Your Creativity Alive

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.

Katherine Fickell

I often wish I could go back to college, when all I had to focus on was finding inspiration in my photojournalism classes and filming craft beer reviews. These days, my regular job keeps my mind busy, sometimes pulling me down rabbit holes, other times overwhelming me altogether. So many ideas, so little time. To keep my creativity alive, I read books, scroll through social media for fresh inspiration, and chat with my other creative friends. Fortunately, photography has always been a passion of mine, and it’s a part of who I am. And of course, Star Wars continues to fuel my dreams and keep me inspired. Read more>>

Camila Gonzalez Ruiz

I keep my creativity alive, by transmitting my ideas and thoughts into other people. I mean when I create something for example if i created a choreography and got other people to do it, in the sense of they may find their own way into love it and feel the passion for dancing and joy But still following the idea and creation that I did.I feel that I got more motivated to create and continue pushing myself with my projects and ideas. Read more>>

Uma Poonguzhaali

I try to surround myself with art, movies, or anything that sparks my interest and reminds me why I love creating; I work with others to stay motivated and see things from new angles; I find inspiration in everyday moments and maintain my curiosity about the world around me; I schedule time to explore new ideas, whether it’s experimenting with different tools, sketching, or diving into projects that push my boundaries; and, finally, I remind myself to enjoy the process and let my passion guide me, even when things get difficult. Read more>>

Elisha Akram

I keep my creativity alive by carving out time to meditate and reflect on the things that bring me joy. Whether it’s walking, reading, or even doing chores, I find that during these moments of mindfulness and daydreaming, ideas and inspiration naturally flow. It’s in these simple, everyday activities that I’m able to reconnect with what excites me and sparks my imagination, helping me stay grounded and creatively fulfilled. Read more>>

Sari Karplus

Creativity is like a tiny little gnome that occupies your brain— a moody little gnome who decides what’s next and when. One of the best ways I keep my creative gnome happy and productive is by giving her regular breaks. I’m often in awe of the artists who follow The War of Art methodology of creating diligently no matter how you’re feeling. I’m of the opposite mindset, however, that you should allow yourself to work when you feel inspired and grant yourself permission to pause when you are not. Boredom and staring out the window create more creativity than staring at a blank page. Taking measured breaks helps me stave off burnout and keep the creativity alive. And then when a story comes to find me and is ready to be told, that gnome and I have more energy to tackle it. Read more>>

Brian O’neil

In terms of songwriting, it can be as simple as listening to a new album/artist or just reading something interesting. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be related to music – just learning more about the world can inspire new ideas that can be worked into music somehow. And the best part is that you don’t really know how that’s going to happen, experiences sort of bury themselves in our minds and come out when they’re needed. Read more>>

Mandy Nadyne Clark

The first twelve years of my life I lived in a rural town in Oregon where the population was less than 150. My older brother and I found many ways to entertain ourselves. Maybe driven to curb boredom? We lived in Shedd, with two d’s, (not in a shed) if that provides any insight.

I’ve always loved stories and at age nine I started to write short fiction pieces after school on my grandma’s electric typewriter while she assisted customers at the town’s only bank. By age eleven I had my own manual typewriter and would watch movies and transcribe the words as fast as I could (still wish I had that version of The Black Stallion). Some nights I’d steal a Jolt cola from the refrigerator and sit in front of a black and white 13 inch television I had in my room and imagine I was writing for the movies. Perhaps the answer is caffeine? Nope. Read more>>

Eric Gomez

I keep my creativity alive by taking the time to sit back and live life in the moment. These moments are what us artists use to express the deepest senses of our creativity. When we’re in the moment, we catch things that inspire and motivate us. I keep this in mind, especially when I feel a bit less creative because it reminds me to live fully even when the pressure is on me to work hard. Sometimes the work itself can stunt our growth when we forget why we do it in the first place. This self-awareness is necessary for me to bring myself back in tune with my creative side. Read more>>

Alex Sguazzin

This is an interesting question, primarily because its not always. As someone who works full time, finding time to be creative is very important to me. In the same way that i think it’s very important to find some free time to myself, as well as time with friends to keep my social life somewhat active. All of these things contribute to my mental health and well being, which in turn boosts creativity and overall productiveness. And yes of course i have days where I’m feeling lazy, as well as days where i feel like i can take over the world. Balance, moderation and time management is something i try to keep on the forefront of my mind, especially because I’m not always great at that them. As far as staying creatively consistent goes, i try and look at the world in such a way where I’m always thinking about what can be used in art. Read more>>

Chloe Alejandre

I keep my creativity alive by wondering about the natural world. Growing up with stories about fairies, trolls, and other magical woodland creatures, I have always been fond of the magic that can be found in nature. Simple acts like going for walks and stopping to admire the flowers and trees or hearing the birds sing are enough to make me wonder about what magic could be there. Are there fairies frolicking in the flowers today? Are the trees swaying because they’re dancing with the wind, or perhaps to the birds singing? All these silly, whimsical wonders are what fuel my creativity, which I demonstrate in my illustrative and three-dimensional artwork! Read more>>

Milena Mimi Leznicki

I’ve always been creative and always worked in creative fields. As a designer, your job is to solve a specific problem, creatively, and this is what I have done all of my professional life.
When my daughter was born, I learned quickly that my career as a shoe designer was not sustainable with a baby. I cannot get an an airplane to a factory with a few hours notice, I cannot be at the studio late nights or weekends.
This led me to create The Rainbow Play Space! Building a new business is a huge creative undertaking. From solving new tasks to learning how things work to designing the space itself. There are many more steps to accomplish before we are open for business, but it has already been a tremendously creative process to figure out how to get everything done. The best part is that the end result will be a community space where babies, toddlers and their adults can play and learn how to be creative. Read more>>

Alison Morse

Being self-employed is a constant balancing act between work and life. Finding a place where the scales are level – or don’t sway back and forth too much – is what keeps my creativity alive. For me, this means managing my time so I feel fulfilled both personally and professionally, which often overlap as an artist. Read more>>

Taekyung (tk) Suh

I keep my creativity alive by finding inspiration in the mundane aspects of daily life. The weather, conversations with friends, or even discovering a new album on Spotify spark my imagination and make each day feel fresh. As a painter, I value these small moments, preserving them as seeds for ideas. I often sketch these thoughts on paper, which helps me personalize and better understand the subject. Read more>>

Rory Link

I keep my creativity alive by consistently asking myself and our team one simple question: How? In the back of my mind, there’s always this little voice chirping, How could we be better? That question branches into countless thought threads, connecting moments from our daily lives—especially surfing—back to our business. Surfing is full of inspiration, from the way a wave moves to the tools we use out in the water, and it always sparks new ideas. Some of those ideas are great, others not so much, but we stay open to all of them. It’s that constant curiosity and willingness to explore that fuels our creativity and keeps our brand evolving. Read more>>

Kristin Ballard

I keep my creativity alive many times; I use music as my muse for my creativity. I’ll allow the music to take me on a journey and I let my mind wonder. While I focus and create. I also go outside see people live life and look and think what type of art they would hang in their home. Or I’m always thinking How my art will live in someone’s home and what will people remember about the work over the years. The art will live in the world forever so why not create it leaving the world a little colorful. Read more>>

Vanya Bagaev

Being creative for me is rather a natural state, inseparable from my personality. I have to channel it somewhere, be it work, music, or writing. The main impulse, however, in keeping it alive comes from “search”, striving for what perhaps has no name but one could refer to as the Truth, the Absolute, a glimpse of hidden, unseen, indescribable, not in a traditionally religious sense. It’s neither the Truth nor the Absolute but something of the same nature for the creative domain, something that has to be uncovered rather than created. What’s created is a new way of seeing it, usually it’s something that you’ve experienced or felt or ideated. The word “new” here is a key for me and perhaps it’s what keeps my creativity alive — creating new ways of perceiving the world, in particular ways unique and resonating with me, for often it’s hard to relate completely to the ways others present.  Read more>>

Débora Cervelatti Rossi

I enjoy reading good books, traveling, admiring art, observing nature (and its amazing colors and textures), being close to the ocean, having meaningful conversations, spending time with people I love, cooking (which is definitely one of my true passions, specially talking about Italian food), going out for walks, paying attention to the spirit of the time and listening to songs that connects me with deep emotions. Read more>>

Cecilia Franco

To keep my creativity alive, I draw inspiration from the world around me. Nature plays a huge role, traveling and visiting botanical gardens is one of my favorite ways to connect with beauty and capture unique photographs . I also find new places, everyday moments, and platforms like Pinterest invaluable for sparking fresh ideas and building mood boards. Taking breaks and prioritizing self-care is essential for me because a clear and refreshed mind is where the best ideas are born. When it comes to photography, I let my mood guide me, allowing my emotions to shape the story I want to tell. Above all, staying curious and continuously learning keeps my creativity thriving, it’s all about feeding that spark and letting it grow. Read more>>

Zachary Michael

Keeping creativity alive is a dynamic and multi-faceted process, and my approach serves as a blueprint that I’m always happy to share with others. Creativity is an ongoing journey of exploration, discipline, and evolution, and I’ve found that the combination of experimentation, creating diverse avenues for expression, and maintaining discipline fuels lasting creativity in everything I do. Read more>>

Yuxiao Zhu

For me, creativity is like tending a little garden—you water it with curiosity, feed it with play, and let it soak up the sunlight of inspiration.

I’m a bit of a collector—not of grand things, but of small, overlooked moments. A fruit puree bottle cap, the shadows cast by a cracked window, or the way paint cracks on an old wall—these tiny details can be seeds for big ideas. I jot them down, sketch them, or just let them linger in my mind until they bloom into something unexpected. Read more>>

Maegan Bereal

GOD gave me the gift of creativity, and so I use it for HIS glory. I would draw almost everyday and sometimes I take breaks because I have other things to do. GOD gave me the gift and HE gives me the strength to keep on going. Read more>>

Jon Freeze

Nostalgia is my creative fuel. When I feel my photography inspiration running dry, I turn to the past—flipping through a magazine from the 2000s or watching a movie from the 80s. These nostalgic aesthetics, packed with innate emotion, reignite my imagination and fill my mind with fresh, new ideas. Read more>>

Suzanne Moses

Creativity – the spark that gives life its color, at least to me. It’s been with me since childhood—the urge to color outside the lines, to build, to write, to make things just a little different. It’s the personal touch I bring to everything I do. Not because it’s special, but because it’s mine.

Years ago, someone told me, “What you do is like your signature.” That stuck with me. Over time, I’ve come to understand that my actions and words are an expression of who I am. So, even if something doesn’t turn out exactly as I envisioned, at least I tried. At least I created. Read more>>

Nicole Alexandra

Most of my inspiration comes from studying past decades. I always aim to weave historically inspired elements into my designs, whether through choice of fabric, a silhouette, or styling. Books, paintings, and vintage photographs are often a huge source of inspiration. Travel also deeply influences my work – immersing myself in different cultures, marveling at intricate architecture, and wandering through museums helps me develop my vision when designing. Read more>>

Trisha Tamblyn

I’m a firm believer that there is a lesson in everything. I remember when I was 14, I was contemplating this very idea when I dropped a pencil on the ground. I stopped for a moment when I leaned down to pick it up and thought, “why did I drop this? What was I meant to see?”. I looked for a moment longer and saw the tiniest little spec of glitter stuck in the carpet. Something beautiful and meaningful was hidden in this insignificant little place. Read more>>

Nakaelah Boyd

I keep my creativity alive by finding new ways to incorporate it into my everyday life. I have always been a creative person from making up dances for talent shows in elementary to creating a modeling org on my college campus. For me, creativity is a form of expression. That is one of the drives for creating Creative Safe Haven. Everyone deserves a safe space to express and learn themselves. What better way to learn about yourself and more than in a creative, educational, and empowering environment? Creative Safe Haven can spark creativity in the youth while sparking it in the older generations as well all in one spot. I feel that creativity never goes away but can dwindle when it is not in use. Creativity will be kept alive when you don’t take everything so seriously. Every so often you should just step outside your comfort zone and do something innovative and creative. Doing this will heal your inner child and allow your creativity to stay alive. Read more>>

Mauricio De Riglos

I love movies and watching my colleagues or other photographers/videographers, being part of a community really helps you see things from another perspective and see what else you could do to improve your work. Everyone finds inspiration in a different way, and in my case, my inspiration comes greatly from movies, specially movies from A24 and Studio 8, which color grade is something always mesmerizes me. I think using inspiration and then apply it to your work its part of a learning curve, until you find the sweet spot of how you want your work to look. Read more>>

Aaron Brown

This isn’t the case for everyone, or even most people I know, but I can draw inspiration from just about anywhere. Tough experiences, good experiences, conversations, images, art produced by other people. Back in my middle school days, I can recall orating fictional stories for peers. Seeing their reactions drove me to tell more stories. At the same age, when I started drawing comics, I was able to enjoy even more reactions. The other kids were impressed, humored, mortified. The stories I produced meant something. My creativity had power. I knew I wanted to do more. Read more>>

Juni Calluna

I often find myself stuck in writer’s block or drained creatively for ideas when trying to produce. To combat this I try to stop whatever it is I’m stuck on, whether that be writing a song, coming up with a drum part, etc. and I try to work on something else. If I’m really stumped I find that sitting down and pumping all the bad ideas I have out really helps find some gems to build off of. I also find that stepping away is sometimes the best answer, I think the majority of my songs have come from random ideas that sparked while driving around or on a night out with friends. I think it’s best to step out of the studio and experience life to come up with material, it could be a something you hear someone say or a vibe or feeling you catch while out and about. Read more>>

Hyning Gan

I keep my creativity alive by approaching it as a dialogue between different facets of my life rather than a finite resource to manage. As someone who works across commercial design, freelance projects, and personal initiatives, I’ve found that creativity flourishes when these areas inform each other rather than compete. My work at NBC Entertainment might inspire a personal project about making design more accessible, while my experiments with typography could influence how I approach a client brief. This cross-pollination of ideas keeps my creative practice dynamic and evolving. Read more>>

Zoot

To me, creativity is just an extension of your self expression. For some, you have to know yourself and understand your thoughts and emotions, while for others, expressing can come without a pre-planned perception. You output what you input. Everyone sees different things in life and connects with them differently based on how they were raised, but we only have the present to live with now. You can get inspired by what you see in this exact moment. Matter of fact, all 6 senses are ways we input information; they can all lead to inspiration. A touch, a sound, a feeling, a view, a flavor, a scent – they can all lead to an idea. Read more>>

Emma St. Pierre & Alyssa Matz

From a young age, we’ve both been inspired by nature, having grown up in families that encouraged us to go outside, hike, and explore the world around us. Much of our creativity stems from nature and the beautiful things the world has to offer. By hiking and exploring, we are inspired to create art because of the beauty around us. The outdoors provides us the spark we use to create designs for our shirts and stickers. Although we draw our inspiration from nature and real places, we also feel the freedom to expand our creativity, adding elements from our own imaginations. We keep creativity alive by continuing to connect with the source of our inspiration: the natural world around us. Read more>>

Alex Quintas

If you’re good at something creative you tend to think “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That is the nicest lie we tell ourselves. It just means that you take your work personally and can never turn it off! So finding something that is JUST for you with no expectations is scary but freeing. For me, I work in animation for a living so drawing is intrinsically linked with work. I didn’t want to be in front of my computer drawing when I was working on my own stuff so I decided to go back to basics and just use pen and ink on a notebook or sketchbook to make my comics. Most of them are me working out ruminations or anxieties and because it’s so far removed from what I do for work it’s nice. I think it also gives me confidence in other fields because I don’t really make different versions of the comics. It’s one shot, get it out there, and put it out into the universe, good, bad or cringe. Read more>>

Denzhe Mudzuli

I keep my creativity alive by focusing on what excites me and experimenting with new ideas. Whether it’s trying a different style, exploring new formats or just stepping back to recharge, I make sure I’m always enjoying the process. Also, staying consistent, even when inspiration isn’t overflowing, helps keep the momentum going. Read more>>

Brittany Church

As a creative person, I’ve wondered this exact question! Creatives hit dry spots and question their career choice or major or medium.
For me, the key has been to have variety. I’ve always wanted to have multiple projects going at once. I like to think of it as a bit of a mind trick. If I get bored or stuck on one thing, I move on to the next, and because both are productive and necessary (mostly…necessary haha) it’s still moving me forward. Read more>>

Jessica Gorman

Creativity has always been part of who I am. I have a bachelor’s degree in visual arts with a focus on graphic design, and back in high school, I was even voted “Most Creative” in my graduating class. But I don’t just rely on that—I’m always looking for ways to grow and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in design and marketing. Read more>>

Lauren Valenti

Keeping creativity alive as a Social Media Manager is very important. It is so easy to get lost on your phone and not take a moment to really look around and spark creativity.

Whenever I find myself facing writer’s block, I turn to music. Sometimes I just need a few moments on my lunch break to sing one of my favorite songs to bring me back to reality and connect with my inner creativity. Singing has always been a lifelong passion for me—I’ve performed in numerous musicals from elementary school through high-school and was lucky to land a lot of fun lead roles! I also minored in Musical Theatre at Hofstra University, where I was a part of an acapella group Makin’ Treble (For any of my fellow Office fans, if you are picturing Andy Bernard, you are not too far off!) To this day, I still love to sing when I get the opportunity. Whether it’s at home, at karaoke or joining my brother, Daniel, on stage at a local gig- it’s really a great outlet. Music will always remain my go-to when I need to recharge! Read more>>