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.

Ali Zamani

For me, creativity is about staying connected to life itself. I try to feed my imagination constantly—through travel, photography, and conversations with people from all walks of life. I watch the world closely: the way light hits a building at dusk, the rhythm of a crowded street, or the quiet moments of human vulnerability. Those little details become cinematic seeds. Read More>>

Rebecca Gigante

I am very lucky to have been born into a creative family. My family ancestry lists poets, actors, makeup artists and chefs. My wonderful mother was a singer, piano player and she played the accordion. My father was also creative in his career working with food and science. He was well known by family and friends for his ability to fix anything, even if he did not have the proper tools.
With that said, I do believe it still takes effort to keep your creativity flowing. I started dancing and singing at a young age. Which leads me to also believe that music is a big help or influence on keeping my creativity flowing. Read More>>

Tydiss Scott

By trying different things such as exploring different hobbies and thinking outside the box when it comes to music, dance, fashion, and even art. Another crucial part of why my creativity is kept alive is because i chose not to compare myself to others especially with any local or upcoming artist. Instead i collaborate with them and genuinely give appreciation and love to all I encounter normally and artistically. I strongly believe that the if you compare yourself to others you start to lose love, yourself, creativity, vision, motivation, and sound to where no one will really acknowledge the authenticity of your work but showing it to people and only saying “I like it” and nothing else meaningful all because of meaningless comparisons. Read More>>

Trae Mackey

There’s a saying that goes “art imitates life” and when you think about it, it’s true.

How I interpret that is everyday there’s always a new experience to be had, a new song to be heard, a new sight to see, a new story to hear.

The human experience as a whole IS the inspiration that keeps creativity alive

It’s everywhere, you just have to look honestly. Read More>>

Marissa Nieto

The creative industry can take a big mental toll, and burnout is something I’ve definitely experienced. To recharge, I like to retreat into nature or go off the grid for a few days. Whether it’s camping, hiking, or staying in a cabin, being surrounded by nature shifts me into a calmer environment where I can disconnect from hustle culture. I usually leave electronics behind, except for my phone on Do Not Disturb and my camera. Photography helps me slow down, stay present, and reconnect with why I love creating—it’s both grounding and therapeutic for me. Read More>>

Jesse Harless

I keep it alive by doing different creative things I don’t limit myself to one process. I practice traditional and digital mediums as well as photography, 3D printing, and painting models. I traditionally draw, paint, and sculpt. I digitally draw, paint, and sculpt as well. Read More>>

Hannah Mangione

I feel that in a world where art has become so commercialized and monetized it is hard to get excited about an idea no one has thought of. I constantly find myself and friends tossing ideas that we love because we feel there is no audience for it, that we won’t get anything out of it. When this gets me particularly down and I can’t separate what I would like to do from what I think would appeal to the masses I rewatch the low-budget animations that guided me into this line of work. Read More>>

Totti Lamadrid

Creativity, more than a momentary or fleeting state, is a way of living that expands into every aspect of my live. It is a state of mental elevation that allows us to build and reshape the way we interpret our own reality. We are not creative simply because we were born with nothing around us, nor because we feel pressured to be when it is convenient. Instead, I believe we are creative for two main reasons: first, because it is the most powerful way to express ourselves to others, and second, because it is a courageous leap into the unknown, the uncertain, and the never-before attempted. Read More>>

Michael Mendez

I like to keep my creativity alive by making content daily. Since starting M2SKIN, I have discovered a deep passion for photography, digital creation, and travel. I love to weave an adventurous and creative lifestyle into every piece of content I share. Traveling, in particular, has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration — experiencing new cultures, landscapes, and perspectives sparks fresh ideas and teaches me to see beauty in unexpected places. This sense of discovery translates directly into how I create for M2SKIN, helping me tell stories that are vibrant, authentic, and globally inspired. It has helped to shape M2SKIN into more than just a skincare brand — it’s a reflection of exploration, self-expression, and the pursuit of confidence through creativity and care. Read More>>

Simon Prithiv

My creativity has always had a life of its own. Even in primary school, no textbook of mine was safe from doodles. While teachers carried on with class, I’d be listening, but my mind would drift into another layer of reality—sketching things I saw on the way to school or reimagining the classroom right in front of me. Read More>>

Michelle Motel

I believe creativity is innate in human beings. In recent decades, we’ve tended to consume rather than create. We prefer quick fixes and distractions, from ordering takeout to spending the day plugged in with headphones, disconnected from ourselves, isolated not only from the outside world but also running away from our own thoughts, ignoring the ability and need to create anything: a garden, a system, preparing a meal, a story, an idea, a joke, art, music, etc. Read More>>

Danielle Bunch

I keep creativity alive by staying physically, mentally, and emotionally stimulated. As a theatre artist, one of my favorite ways to recharge is by seeing other artists on stage. Being a patron offers both rest and research while keeping me actively engaged with what’s relevant in the field. Cliche, right? But real! Just as important as directly creating something myself, I need to take in the works of others for inspiration and aspiration. San Diego is rich with fantastic performances happening year-round, but I’ll travel for theatre as well! Read More>>

Leonardo Sidney

I think creativity is being in touch with your inner child, being able to use your imagination the way a kid would. For me, it’s also about finding different solutions for things, but I don’t like to define creativity only as problem solving, I really don’t think that’s the main thing. I believe creativity, at its core, is the ability to imagine, to create, and in the case of an artist, it’s our super power. Read More>>

Xingchen Ding

This is a question that matters to everyone, not just to artists. When I was a child, my creativity was born out of the unknown. I felt as though I were standing in a dark room, holding a flashlight that could only illuminate one small corner at a time. I had to summon all my energy to perceive, to explore, and to record what I found. Read More>>

Z-Y

I’ve always let my thoughts run wild without borders. I treat every passing idea, whether mundane or extraordinary, like the next big thing. Every single one of those ideas is worth pausing to explore. Whenever I allow myself time to cherish and build upon these thoughts, they become so much more than imagine this and what ifs; they evolve into exercises that both sharpen and expand my ability to create. By embracing imagination this way, I train myself to think deeper, larger, and without limits. Read More>>

Minette Hand

I’m honestly not sure if creativity is something I keep alive so much as it is something that I continually have to find outlets for. I am my happiest when I have multiple projects and outlets for my creative energy. I always have creative projects on the back burner waiting for their day. Maybe it’s creativity, maybe it’s the productive side of ADHD. Whichever it is, it’s working. Read More>>

Mars Obsidian

This hasn’t been linear, creativity comes and goes as well as the inspiration and drive. Over the years I’ve had to find new goals and new ways to keep my brain and body alive.

This hasn’t been easy by any means, it’s meant a lot of long nights of studying. I was never the traditional school type but that doesn’t mean I’ve been lacking in classes and materials. American artists don’t like to admit the fact that talent takes time, it takes frustration, it takes a lifestyle of motivating yourself in very unorthodox ways. Finding friends and family that truly support you and your art. Read More>>

Addy Peterson

In order to get a creative spark, I really like to do collabs with other small businesses or shop owners. I recently did a collab with a small business friend of mine and it really allowed both of us to flex both of our brands’ muscles, but display it in different ways. Bouncing ideas off of fellow artists and just being involved the community of makers really keeps my personal creative drive alive and helps me form new ideas/products/concepts for the shop! Read More>>

Brian Karl

Thank you so much for meeting with me again.
I am always looking to learn and grow in every aspect of my life. I believe when you stop trying to learn new things, you begin to regress. In other words, it is important to continue to educate yourself and progress in all things. Read More>>

The Happy Casualties

I think that when I’m consciously being creative I have a conceptual scheme for a song that is dictated by the song title. I generally come up with song titles first and they give me an indication of where the song needs to go. Then at a broader level I have an idea of how the songs dictate the general feel of the album. So, for our latest album, Welcome to the Dreamhouse, I was trying to capture this vague sense of American nostalgia that was prevalent in the 1970s. It took us about a year, but I think we captured it. Read More>>

Dona Maria

If you lack creativity, you cannot sustain it, but once you tap into your creative potential, trust that no one and no circumstances can hinder you from fulfilling your innate purpose. Rest assured, you must have faith in yourself, and avoid waiting for others to inspire or support you; instead, rely solely on yourself, and if you are deserving, you will reach your intended destination. Read More>>

Abishek Prayaga

I keep my creativity alive in industrial packaging design by grounding my process in empathy, curiosity, and determination. Empathy allows me to understand the real needs of people, whether that’s the consumer interacting with packaging, the manufacturer handling production, or the brand communicating its story. From that intent, curiosity drives me to explore possibilities, experiment with materials, and question conventions. Read More>>

Hunter Hinrichs

Finding inspiration in the little things,slowing down to appreciate the life around us. Whether thats sitting in the grass to look at the tiny ecosystems around us,a black swan i saw swimming in a lake or the way the colors on someone’s dress complimented to the color of their hair and how that could be a cool color palette. Giving yourself fun challenges like only being able to use a select few colors in your piece or a style outside of your norm is a perfect way to keep your creativity alive. Read More>>

Zane Lynch

My creativity stays alive because I’m constantly inspired by the world around me things I see, hear, and reflect on every single day. But at the core, it’s this inner voice that’s always calling me back to music. Whenever I’m making music, listening to something that really connects with me, or even just writing down lyrics, I slip into this flow state where nothing else exists just the music. That feeling is what keeps me creating. It’s less about forcing creativity and more about tapping into that natural energy that’s always there waiting for me. Read More>>

Giulia Cantini

Creativity, for me, comes from everything that surrounds me. Growing up in Italy, I was deeply influenced by art, design, and culture—it shaped my eye and the way I approach my work. Moving to Los Angeles three years ago opened me up to a completely new world: different cultures, new perspectives, and a vibrant energy that constantly inspires me. Read More>>

Marc Marcel

About four years ago, I was on a flight to Honolulu for a spoken word performance. Just three minutes after takeoff, the engine exploded and caught fire. In that moment, I made peace with everything. I accepted my fate fully. I thought of my friends, my family, my past lovers, and silently wished them goodbye. I reflected on the places I had been, the experiences I’d lived, and I felt satisfied. I knew I had lived a full life. Read More>>

Chelsea Weidmann

I have several hobbies that I love but I keep private, just for me. I garden and I make pastry and have found that the process closely resembles what I do professionally (research into the end result I want, careful preparation of ingredients, lots of hard work and dedication, and then the end goal) but the payoff comes in hours or weeks instead of years. I get beautiful flowers or beautiful pastry–both of which are transient just like beautiful dance. It’s all sort of the same process, just different timelines. Read More>>

Heidi Abra

For me, creativity is really about keeping my eyes open. Even in the city I live in, I make a point of noticing new things—an old doorway I’ve walked past a hundred times, the way the light hits a building, or some tiny detail in the architecture. Art, history, and nature all fuel me in different ways. And of course, travel always wakes up that part of me—being in a new place, surrounded by beauty and history, it’s like my senses tune in sharper and I feel inspired all over again. Read More>>

Saana

My view on creativity has drastically changed over the years. When I was younger I would see a creative life as something that is based on achievements, I now see creativity as a way of life.

It is not hard for me to keep creativity alive – I grew up in a creative home so creativity is just a natural part of my everyday life. To me creativity can be so many things – practicing a scene, working on character development, writing a script, learning a song, or starting a craft project. But just as much these things are fuel to my creativity, so are making up silly dances with my husband, reading and playing with my daughter, or going thrifting with my friends, exploring new colors and styles. Read More>>

Kinga Brassay

Creativity is something that needs constant nurturing. I keep it alive by noticing details in everyday life, the way light falls in a room, a texture, different materials, or a striking color combination. I also give myself permission to play, to try things without worrying whether they’ll work out or not. Read More>>

Brooke Walsh

To keep my creativity alive, I love to explore new places whenever it’s locally or when I am traveling with my camera. Finding inspiration through my lens, really helps me explore more ideas when I’m taking photos. My creativity helps me connect with my photography by allowing me to bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives when I’m working with clients. Read More>>

Isabela Soares

It is hard to be creative in a world where we are bombarded with content all the time, because we don’t have time to think and create our own ideas, if our minds are always full of stuff. I try to keep my creativity alive by doing other creative works rather than only 3D, such as writing, drawing, and arts and crafts in general. I also find important to respect boredom and understand that there’s no need to be entertained all the time: that allows my brain to create more freely and for ideas to come and go smoothly in my head. Read More>>

Heather Moody

Along with running Sage Travel, my boutique travel agency, I’m also a writer. Both roles require me to think creatively and to remain inspired and diligent throughout the entire project. Each morning, I make space for what I’ve termed my 3 Ms: Movement, Meditation, and Morning Pages. The latter is pulled from The Artist’s Way, which I’m sure you are familiar with. If not, stop listening to me and pick up that workbook! But if I can manage all three before the day begins, that can toggle my brain into creativity mode and the writing exercise might turn into something more substantial. Read More>>

Kali McKeown

I keep my creativity alive by going outside and spending time in the places that inspire me. The Sierra Nevada mountains and rivers have a way of reminding me that everything is not only connected but constantly changing and shifting. Wildflowers bloom that weren’t out the day before, a river’s level changes from season to season and light moves across granite in a million different ways. Returning to these places not only keeps me connected and curious but each trip outside often sparks a new idea for something that I want to create or emulate back home in my studio. When I stay true to spending time in the places I love, there is no shortage of creativity for me. Read More>>

Evan Jaster

The most important thing a creative can do is take breaks. For me personally, I suffer through depression during the summer months and it takes a toll on me creatively, I use my music as an outlet but when I’m in a slump like that sometimes it’s good to recognize that I need to take a break. At times, you may think being on “go-mode” all the time and grinding for your craft 24/7 is the best option, it’ not. Everyone needs breaks and sometimes it may be for longer periods of time than intended. Read More>>

Reko & Nyema Daye

Creativity is at the heart of everything we do, and we aim to keep it alive by not putting too much pressure on ourselves. We started this journey to share the ways we bring joy into our dating life, family outings, and everyday adventures. That purpose remains our compass, guiding us to create content that feels fun, fresh, and true to who we are. Read More>>

RJ

To an extent, creativity and imagination are inherent in human beings from birth. A child, learning about their environment and seeing, feeling, smelling, and hearing everything for the first time, uses creativity to make sense of the world around them. Creativity is present in how children play “make-believe.” Throughout our lives, the sometimes jagged edges of life can cause us to use our creative muscles less, leading to their atrophy. Read More>>

Maria Salinger

Great question! For me it’s a combination of fun and consistency.
I love to write poems or bake tortes for friends. The great thing about presents is that they have no pressure attached – it’s pure excitement to bring joy to others no matter the exact outcome. That gives me freedom while having a clear goal and gets me into my creative flow.
Finding inspiration and flow through the present making strategy I just mentioned is great. However, I still think consistency is key to get things done. Read More>>

Elmira Solo

Creativity always finds me when I’m in motion. It could be walking down a city alley covered in graffiti, wandering through a forest with wild grasses and flowers, or even noticing broken shells scattered on a beach. I often end up bringing these little fragments of the world back home, and they subconsciously work their way into my process. Read More>>

Mary Bue

I keep my creativity alive by believing that creativity IS alive! I have no doubt in the infinite creative well of possibility. The creative force of nature is all around us. The flowers bud, grow, bloom, bolt, decay, and return again in the spring. When there are times of creative “drought,” I remind myself of the wisdom of the seasons, and that there needs be what Mirabai Starr calls “fallow time” ~ the understanding that creativity also needs darkness, rest, and time to incubate. Fallow periods can be incredibly fertile ~ so much growing beneath the surface of our awareness. Read More>>

Jesús

I keep my creativity alive by experimenting with new beer recipes, flavors, and food pairings at the brewery. Whether it’s brewing with unique ingredients, creating seasonal releases, or designing pairings with our artisanal menu, the constant process of testing, tasting, and innovating keeps ideas flowing. Seeing how our community reacts to each creation inspires me to keep pushing boundaries and makes the work feel fresh every day. Read More>>

Blake Musfeldt

My musicianship is constantly being tested. I actually told someone today that every single day I learn something new about music, and I do not believe that to be an exaggeration. From playing on toy drums as a little kid, to now arranging my own pieces and pursuing music in college, my journey to where I am now has been one riddled with dips in my creativity. Starting band in middle school got me excited to learn, but I quickly realized I didn’t care much for the French horn. Read More>>

Danielle Armstrong

I’ve learned that creativity is like a wildflower—it needs space to grow, not a rulebook telling it where to bloom. For me, that meant breaking free from everyone else’s opinions and finding what truly sparks me.

Recently, I heard Jay Shetty share that he listened to Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement speech every single day for nine months. Nine months! I thought, If it worked for him, it’s worth a shot. So now, every morning, I hit play on that speech like it’s my favorite song. Read More>>

Yiyun Wang

I keep my creativity alive in three main ways:

First, I have many unconscious moments of daydreaming or getting lost in thought, I start making small sketches without any planning—just letting my emotions and instincts guide me. I keep these sketches, and when I feel creatively stuck, I revisit them. Often, they reignite the emotions or memories from that moment, giving me fresh creative energy and emotional connection. Read More>>

Hao Ou

I think daily life is the best source of creativity. Maybe this is a habit for designers — we like to observe things around us and interact with them. From these small moments, we get thoughts and feelings that inspire new ideas. For example, when I unlock the door and come home, I don’t want to put my keys back in my pocket. I prefer to have a place near the entrance where I can leave them easily. To me, life itself is creativity. Read More>>