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.
Amanda Goodwin
I find Inspiration in Everything. I mean Everything. If you knew how many photos I’ve taken over the years of light fixtures, you might understand…LoL. I can’t help but find colors, shapes, patterns, lights and so many other things fascinating. And that’s just things I can see… We live in a world full of interesting people, places and things. Read More>>
Michael & Shanae Okpewho
We keep our creativity alive by making it collaborative, documented, and actionable. We believe the strongest ideas come from brainstorming, so we regularly create space to think ideas through together—building on each other’s perspectives rather than working individually. We’re intentional about writing ideas down as they come up, even the ones that we aren’t ready to act on yet. Read More>>
Lailo Lema
Oftentimes creativity strikes in the surge of a moment. I think that the most impactful way to get my creativity flowing is to live life to the fullest as best I can. Much of my inspiration has come from my own experiences in life. My storytelling has been enriched because of the lovely people I meet and new adventures I have. Read More>>
Matthew Chung
I keep my creativity alive by trying new things, experiencing new places, and meeting new people. I’m constantly inspired by different forms of art and ways of life. I’m fascinated by the capabilities of the human mind and the power of storytelling, and how we’re able to express ourselves through so many different mediums. Read More>>
Phyllis Douglass
For me, creativity stays alive because it isn’t something I do—it’s something I listen to and live from. I don’t treat creativity as a resource to be depleted or a skill to be forced. I relate to it as a living current. When I’m present, attuned, and honest with what moves through me, creativity is already there, waiting to be expressed. Read More>>
Jalen Jones
For me I do daily exercises that keep my brain flowing for example I like to take down notes if something comes to mind and I’m out and about enjoying the day that way I can go back over it later and figure out a way to make it into a joke on stage. Read More>>
M.J. Etkind
As a novel writer, I think so much of my creativity is a release from my day job which is very numbers and excel focused. In terms of keeping the creativity alive, engaging in creative works breeds creative, reading, movies, music all inspire my original works. Read More>>
Jody Hafey
At Nantahala Weddings & Events, we’ve always believed that every inch of the venue should feel photo-worthy—which really means every inch deserves care and attention. We spend a lot of time walking the property slowly, noticing the little things, and asking ourselves, What could be better here? It’s almost meditative—a kind of grounding, or feng shui, expressed through design. Read More>>
Tonaya Wright
This year, I made a quiet promise to myself: to honor rest as a vital part of my creative process. Each week, I carve out an entire dayfree of to-do lists, obligations, and the constant hum of productivity. Phones off. No appointments. Just space to breathe. Read More>>
CS and Patricia ‘Danger’ Taber
When we were kids, we lived without modern distractions. No TV, no radio, no phone. No social media. Only books, family, and friends. Direct contact or the printed word. Nothing more.. But we had imagination! Danger and I were born in Central African Republic and spent much of our childhood in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Zaire (now the DRC), and Sudan. Read More>>
Alana Mercedes
A line that stands out to me to this day is a simple phrase I came across while reading “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin: live in wonder. Read More>>
Giovanna Crise
I do think creativity needs cultivating, but not just on familiar platforms like Pinterest or Instagram. They’re useful, but if I only looked there, everything I do would probably start to look the same. I try to look elsewhere on purpose—visiting exhibitions, travelling, or paying attention to very ordinary situations. Read More>>
Arturo Hoyos
This is a great question because it is something I am very mindful and aware of. In my opinion creativity is what makes coaches, players and programs unique and it is often the factor that helps someone reach the next level. Because of that, I make a real effort to keep my creativity as sharp as can be. Read More>>
Mark Sbani
When I start a painting, I have an idea of what it should look like. But I’m an amateur and can’t paint, so it turns out messy. Nothing like my original idea. So I look at my big ugly mistake and decide to either continue or give up. I’m stubborn, so I keep painting, I look for its personality. Read More>>
Elise (Lellopepper) Mesner
Keeping creativity alive is a familiar question that’s pretty cool to revisit through the years – it is still not a lock with a single key answer for me, but an ever-shifting, beautiful, demanding movement. My art is still my very first language. There is a tension between the innate and the chosen. Read More>>
Bapi Joss
Chale, keeping creativity alive in Ghana’s music industry is like keeping a fire burning during rainy season—you need constant attention, the right fuel, and sometimes you have to protect it from things trying to put it out. But I’ve developed some practices that keep my creative energy flowing: 1. I Stay Connected to the Source My creativity lives in Ghanaian culture itself. Read More>>
Yehlie Metayer
Whenever I experience an artistic block, I return to my roots—specifically to Haitian culture and the literary works I studied growing up. My inspiration is deeply grounded in my heritage, and I create pieces that emulate Haitian culture through my own distinctive painting style. Read More>>
Luis Solo
To keep your creativity alive, rather than listening to thousands of people on social media, you must learn to listen to yourself. Personally, in the world of films and TV series, my creativity is always guided by my own tastes, thoughts, and ideas. Read More>>
Sophie Peterson
Talking to people! Going down rabbit holes on archive.org. Watching movies, traveling, going to museums, watching more movies. Listening to people talk about what weird, esoteric things excite them. Working on projects with mediums that I don’t typically use. Read More>>
Paola Rachal
Sometimes it does take a lot to keep the creativity alive. There is a lot of planning that goes behind a session to create unique set up for each individual session. I pray to God to give me peace of mind and to make it clear on how to create a session specifically for a family, a milestone, or for a couple. Read More>>
Diana Morgan
For me, creativity is something that needs to be cultivated. I’m more interested in novelty than comfort when it comes to the media I consume, and it’s the same with what I write. I’m always looking for the new thing, the new story that will suck me in and feed my imagination. Read More>>
Looptive
I keep my creativity alive by staying curious and open to experimentation. I make time to explore new ideas, tools, and perspectives because inspiration often comes from unexpected places. I also balance structure with freedom: setting clear goals while giving myself permission to play, make mistakes, and iterate. Read More>>
Veronica Scharf
In creativity, as in anything else, it’s always a good idea to take a break. Step away from what you’re making or writing. Take a walk or immerse yourself in art. Art museums are a great way to spend time with curated collections and gain some exposure to art history. Many museums offer free days if you need to avoid admission fees. Read More>>
Rachel Gisela Cohen
As an artist, I believe it is essential to look at art. During periods when I’m not making work, the most important thing I can do is seek it out. Living in New York City, I have the privilege of being immersed in the contemporary art world. Read More>>
Kowa Mattern
It’s funny because I never really considered myself a creative person. I started out my career in sales and stuck with the more numbers-focused area of the field, eventually becoming a business analyst. However, I always worked for smaller businesses, and that inevitably meant that I was never only doing one job. Read More>>
Anthony Trujillo
I keep my creativity alive by discovering new sources of inspiration for my designs. I work on the areas I feel I lack inspiration and create designs out of my comfort zone. Read More>>
Chynna Cohen
As a wedding planner, keeping my creativity alive is both a passion and a necessity – it’s the heart of what I do. I approach it in many different ways. Education is a big part of it – I’m always learning, whether that’s following trends, seeing what couples are looking for, or studying new techniques in design and event planning. Read More>>
Nina Marie
I have always had an overactive imagination. Matter of fact, I’ve been criticized for having ‘too much’ of an imagination. However, my imagination is what keeps me writing. What keeps my creativity alive is me constantly asking ‘what if’ and letting my imagination take over completely. Read More>>
Willa Rai
I keep my creativity alive by journaling and listening to some of my favorite artists like Mariah the Scientist, Kehlani, and Denzel Curry. Seeing other artists’ creative projects inspires me and helps me stay connected to my own creativity. Read More>>
Melissa
I’ve loved art since I was a kid. Drawing, painting, etching.. it’s always been a part of me. Maybe that’s why I connect with Photoshop so much; it still lets me use the same skills and creativity I grew up with. Read More>>
Isadora (Stowe) Jackson
I keep my creativity alive by paying attention to the land, to my inner world, and to the small moments that often go unnoticed. Growing up in the borderlands taught me that boundaries are fluid, and that understanding still fuels my imagination. Whenever I feel stuck, I return to those in-between liminal spaces physical or emotional because that’s where transformation happens. Read More>>
Louise Cutler
I keep my creativity alive by giving back to my community and by allowing myself the freedom to be fully alive. Creativity, for me, is something that lives inside of us. When we pour it out, we make room to be refilled. So when you see one of my paintings or sculptures, or when you come to one of my workshops, that’s overflow. That’s what’s pouring out from the abundance that God has placed inside of me. Read More>>
