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.
Adelynn Martin
A question I get a lot in my industry is how do I continue to come up with new ideas, keep producing new work, and prevent burn out and it all roots from pulling art and inspiration from more than one place. I grew up being extremely creative in just about every single realm. Read More>>
Tiff Wright Writes
I keep my creativity alive by allowing it to evolve. I’ve never forced my art to live in one box; I have created and produced work through the mediums of choreography, short film, and poetry. That diversity prevents stagnation. Right now, however, I feel a profound sense of renewal because I have stepped fully into my author era, channeled through my brand, Tiff Wright Writes. Read More>>
Eleanor Reyelt
I keep my creativity alive by reconnecting with my younger, more carefree self. My younger self was drawn to pink, sparkle and play. I see my artistic practice as a way of keeping my younger self alive rather than outgrowing her. When I am creating my work, I am not aiming for restraint or polish. Read More>>
Jamel Pearson
I keep my creativity alive by staying rooted in real life experience while constantly building new worlds through my art. I’ve been creating music, visuals, and concepts since the early days of hip-hop internet culture, long before algorithms and trends dictated what people should make. That history keeps me grounded. Read More>>
Tiara Daniel
As a international educator/tutor, I keep my creativity alive by staying deeply connected to my students and remaining flexible in how I teach. Every learner is different, so I’m constantly adapting lessons to match their interests, learning styles, and needs. That challenge pushes me to think creatively and design engaging, hands-on activities rather than relying on one set approach. Read More>>
Emily Bryn
I’ve never really considered my creativity to be something I have to tend to and keep alive. Creativity and expression and problem solving are all really similar to me, and are foundational tools in how I move through the world. It sounds kind of corny to say. But, with that belief, there isn’t really anything to keep alive… because it’s just how my brain works! Read More>>
Dennis Walthers
I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t come from chasing ideas—it comes from building systems that allow ideas to surface. In my new book, “The Experiential Advantage” I talk about the importance of staying close to real human behavior. I spend a lot of time watching how people move through spaces, how they react emotionally, and how they share experiences in real time. Read More>>
Lay Simone
I keep my creativity alive by treating it as something I live with, not something I wait on. Creativity shows up for me in fragments. A thought while washing dishes, a feeling that lingers after a conversation, a visual that comes to me before I have words for it. Instead of ignoring those moments, I collect them. Read More>>
Alan Abeyta
That’s easy, it is part of my DNA. I have been drawing and creating little sculptures since I was a little kid. Having a graphic design degree helps immensely in the picture frame industry.. when not creating at work I will on occasion paint a bicycle frame, bicycle helmet or a lexan RC car body. Creativity is not only artistic, but also in business. Read More>>
Sam Otero
To keep creativity alive, I remind myself that it’s never finished growing. As a creative, there’s always something new to learn, something to dream about, something waiting to spark inspiration. A big part of my story comes from cinema. Read More>>
Yara Abboud
I keep my creativity alive by staying connected to why I fell in love with baking in the first place. For me, creativity comes from emotion, comfort, and everyday moments rather than chasing trends. Baking has always been my way of expressing care and love. Read More>>
Kierrica Davis
I keep my creativity alive by staying deeply connected to my purpose. I moved to Atlanta at the end of October with a clear goal and a dream to become a model and to grow creatively, hopefully within the magazine industry where I can learn the behind-the-scenes process and support other models as well. Since moving here, I’ve taken a hands-on approach to learning. Read More>>
Gaby Fadhel
I have had the absolute pleasure of creating amazing theatrical works for the past ten years. Read More>>
Eli Busse
As a band we consistently have a surplus of ideas! With any new song release, there are likely 4 or 5 others lying in some pseudo finished state begging to be released next. Modern technology is a wonderful thing, and allows us to share ideas 24/7. Read More>>
Mark Justice
Being creative is an integral part of who I am. While I lack a lot of artistic abilities – drawing, for one – I lean into my creative sweet spots: music, writing, and interviewing. Inspired by what I’ve enjoyed doing – reading comics, watching movies, listening to music, watching musicians. I figured if they could do it, so could I. Read More>>
Tara Paulsen
My creativity is rooted in how FLEUR. began. Growing up, I was always drawn to fresh flowers. I noticed them most in beautifully styled homes, boutiques, and magazines—spaces where flowers felt intentional and special. I remember thinking that one day, I wanted to create that same sense of beauty and atmosphere in my own life. Read More>>
Tova Petty
I find that I keep my creativity alive through finding mediums of creativity that are new to me in hopes of finding new inspiration. It helps me unlock new skills of my own that I did not know I liked or were possible. Read More>>
Joanna Crowder
I keep my creativity alive through what I call intuitive discipline. I meditate daily and give my mind space to rest, because when I stop forcing ideas, I can connect to a creative flow where inspiration is received rather than directed. From there, I follow those intuitive thoughts as honestly as I can. Read More>>
Brent Bonner
This is a great question, but in reality, keeping creativity alive is a total illusion! To me creativity comes when a great idea is floating around in the air, and I just happen to be the one to capture it. A more practical question may be, how do I keep from running out of ideas? Read More>>
Erica Vasquez
Something I learned since I started doing Calligraphy is that creativity isn’t a lightning bolt, it’s a practice. Some of the things I do to keep my creativity alive are: 1. I Romanticize the Process, Not the Outcome. I’ve stopped measuring creativity by productivity. Read More>>
Ed Walsh
By looking hard at the usual with confidence that something unusual or surprising hides inside. Familiar streets, repeated views, the same stretch of water or light are never the same twice if you look closely enough. Long walks with my dog, Dori, are part of that practice. She’s interested in everything and everyone, and her curiosity is contagious. Read More>>
Royal Dean
Being creative is a significant part of who I am, and maintaining creativity in my life is a high priority for me. There are a handful of ways in which I keep that creative spirit alive. The first one is, staying consistent. I’m a huge advocate of action generating inspiration, rather than waiting for inspiration to hit to take action. Read More>>
Tish Bhatnagar
I definitely wouldn’t say my creativity has stayed alive, but rather it has died and been revived multiple times. At least it feels that way! Growing up, I was always trying to do creative things, primarily art in the form of drawing or painting. Read More>>
Brittany Lippett
keep my creativity alive by staying connected to my customers and what makes them smile. I’m always paying attention to trends, popular sayings, and real-life moments that people can relate to, then turning those ideas into doormats that feel personal and fun. Read More>>
Keyara Clardy
Keeping your creativity alive comes from many elements of life. Having imagination and creativity is something that comes naturally to us as humans but is then suppressed by society and hurt/rejection. Many people lose their creativity or struggle with maintaining it because they hold the standards of society too highly when realistically, what society thinks, what society tells you doesn’t matter unless you let it. Read More>>
Donovan Whitaker
For me, creativity isn’t something I “turn on.” It’s something I protect.
There was a point in my life where creativity felt transactional—deadlines, algorithms, client demands, and survival mode. I was producing constantly, but I wasn’t creating. That season taught me something important: creativity doesn’t die from lack of talent, it dies from neglecting the person behind it. Read More>>
Brayden DeMorest-Purdy 
Good question… Writing is always my go-to for immediate creativity. The first few drafts of any script- it’s the biggest playground I can play in without any limitations or concerns. And in the world of filmmaking, writing is one of the few things you have full control over- until the script is in a producer’s hands, but that’s later in the process. Read More>>
Rasika Ashwin
I am a freelance illustrator & an art educator to kids hence my whole productive day is creative but with my current priority of raising an infant, I do keep myself creatively active in margins of life. My baby’s naptimes are mine to relax-draw & take care of myself. In the very little time I draw things i see in front of me & am in the process of illustrating a series of illustrations around my baby & me. Read More>>
