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.

Iain Watson

The way I keep my creativity alive is through redirecting my focus to other creative outlets. My main artistic discipline is poetry, so I mainly put my creative energy into writing, but lately I have hit a bit of a wall. This happens from time to time and it can be frustrating, but I believe the most useful tool I hold is being able to pivot my creative energy into other outlets. Read More>>

Amelia Hopfensperger

I like to always keep discovering new facts, ideas, and fun things about life. This allows me to stay curious and want to know more. Naturally, this sparks creativity in myself to take an idea that I learned and make something to add to it. Read More>>

Jamie Feldman

It can be challenging to keep creativity alive, especially when distractions and a seemingly unending onslaught of current events to be concerned with abound. I find there are a few things that help me stay creative. Read More>>

Aneesa Patel

I think the main word that comes to mind is ‘potential’. Despite feeling periods of burn-out or art block like any other creative out there, I find a lot of joy and wonder in the untapped potential of anything that I, or anyone else for that matter, could make. Read More>>

Bradley Adjei

I find inspiration from other creatives in different mediums. Usually this realigns my focus and my hunger. Also my clients bring me ideas a the time and I love when they push me to new heights. Read More>>

Tim Johnson

For me as a producer I feel like we have to maintain a certain level of creativity that other people don’t realize.

A lot of times people get caught up in the sound, but they don’t know what level of creativity it took to get there, especially without having any prior knowledge. Read More>>

Franklin Mills

Keeping your creativity alive is a skill that can only be developed through constant learning and listening. Inspiration is everywhere. As a filmmaker, I am always looking for the story in everything. Everyone has their own saga. Read More>>

Nora Benjamin

To nurture my creativity, I focus on staying engaged with photography, even during times when I’m not actively creating photographs or collages. I allocate time to read about photography and related topics that inform my art practice. Read More>>

Naomi Townsend

Reminding myself that it is not about the end product but about the process. Acting, like all art forms, has no rigid path to success. I constantly recalibrate my artistic mindset, repeating the mantra that creativity is something to be nurtured daily, not just when a project comes along. The more I can involve myself in art forms, the more my creativity flourishes. Read More>>

David Thomas

I believe to create something is to look at something differently, a different perspective. To think outside the box . I think that is how I evolve in my art. The art that I did two years ago looks elementary is scope and vision than what I am doing today . Read More>>

Alexis Diaz

Creativity can manifest in many ways. For me, one of the most effective ways to keep my creativity alive is by trying new things that ultimately make me a better artist.

As an actor, you don’t always know when the next gig will come, so I’ve worn many hats over the years—including in the present day. Fortunately, I’ve always been able to work in the restaurant business. I used to feel defeated, thinking I was spending more time bartending than booking acting roles. Read More>>

Ari

I keep my creativity alive by connecting to the things that bring me joy in life. Skating, connecting with nature or even just friends and family, I typically have my best flow of creativity surrounded by my loved ones. Read More>>

Essa Baird

For me it’s about actively trying to stay curious, create blank space, and opportunities to play. It’s consciously pulling my head out of my phone and staring out the window of the train letting my mind wander and question things. Read More>>

Clare Guintu

My creativity stays alive by doing it on my own, and other times with the inspiration of others.

When I am alone, I get inspired by being outside in nature, reading books, artwork I come across online or in museums, lyrics from songs I listen to, or even by instrumentals from music. Read More>>

Nicole Marie Quinn

I strive to be unique in my performances & also in my songwriting. So keeping my creativity alive is paramount to my objectives & living my dreams. When I write my original songs, I combine my personal experiences with things I’ve witnessed and learned from others. I typically have a narrative & a character in mind when I create both the lyrics and the melody. Read More>>

Begum Ozcelik

For me, keeping my creativity alive is all about staying curious and open to new ideas. I love exploring different forms of art, whether it’s films, music, books, or exhibitions. They all inspire me in different ways. Living in London is a big plus too; there’s always something new happening, and the city’s energy constantly brings fresh ideas to life. Read More>>

For an animator or an artist, creativity is a crucial skill. I describe this ability simply as the process of capturing a sense of freshness and putting it into practice. To maintain this ability, the key is to preserve that sense of freshness. For me, I do this in two ways.

The first is to go outside frequently and record what I see—whether it’s interesting or not—simply based on whether I feel like recording it. The second is to abandon overthinking everything I see and instead follow my initial, instinctive reaction. Read More>>

Abihail Ortega

I’ve taken on a challenge for myself—drawing something new every day—and it’s turned into much more than just a creative exercise. It’s become a way to reconnect with myself and tap into the little moments of inspiration that pop up in everyday life. Read More>>

Jamie Ferriman

I have been a very creative person my whole life. My teacher discovered my talent for art in 3rd grade. I am very artistic. I love to draw, paint, DIY projects and interior decorating. When I discovered candle making it opened a whole new version in me. Read More>>

Kevin Cheng

I keep my creativity alive by immersing myself in the New York theatre scene and staying connected to things that light me up both in work and life. As an actor and playwright living in this vibrant city, I find inspiration by attending theatre performances and development workshops of new plays created by friends and fellow artists. Read More>>

Maria Leto

As a small business dedicated to creating fun, educational content for preschool-aged children, creativity is the heart of what we do! We truly love coming up with fun, unique and exciting ways to help kids learn, and it’s an added bonus when we can make them giggle along the way! Shawn, our co-founder and pediatric speech therapist, draws constant inspiration from the children she works with, while Maria, co-founder and Montessori mom, fuels her creativity when playing with her two kids. Read More>>

Simo Kassabi

For me, keeping my creativity alive is all about staying connected to the fundamentals and constantly challenging myself to refine them. I spend a lot of time going back to the basics—simple mixing, clean EQing, understanding how two tracks can breathe together without overcomplicating the transition. Read More>>

Ankit Dey

Creativity has always been my driving force, but keeping it alive hasn’t always been easy.

I remember when I first started Parichay Animation Studio—it was just an idea, a dream of creating world-class animation in India. But dreams don’t pay the bills. There were days when projects were scarce, investors hesitated, and self-doubt crept in. I questioned whether I was chasing something too big. Read More>>