With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity alive as it’s one of the best defenses against the rising trend of automation. Even if you don’t buy into all the hype around AI, keeping your creativity alive has always been a challenge and as so we’ve connected with some of the most creative folks in our community to discuss tactics and strategies for keeping your creativity alive.
Hunter Reynolds
I keep my creativity alive by surrounding myself with the people and stories that inspire me. My friends and my partner play a huge role in that. Whether we’re bouncing ideas around, sharing a laugh, or just being there for each other, those connections remind me why I create in the first place. Read more >>>
Garnet Thomas
I always find the most creativity right on the edge of possibility. So if I’m stuck in a routine and not feeling creative, it’s usually because I haven’t found the limits of that possibility space yet. That’s how I know I need to stretch myself, look beyond what I need to do and see what I can do. Read more >>>
Stephen Proctor
For me, creativity comes alive when I step away from the noise of the world and all its devices. Screens, news, social commentaries, and the cacophony of culture can fog up the brain and dull the senses, but stepping into the wild restores them. Read more >>>
Dr. Katrina M. Overby
Some people think being a college professor and being a DJ are worlds apart. But for me, they’ve always been intertwined. Read more >>>
Maria Segerholm
Well, I actually schedule at least one songwriting session every week to make room for creativity. I don’t always feel motivated, but I show up anyway, and it does me good. I usually don’t schedule time for writing songs on my own (which I probably should, too), so that pretty much only happens when I get inspiration and find some time. Read more >>>
Bridget Worstell
Creativity is my job, so it can be difficult to come up with ideas every single day — it can be taxing! I love to lean into my other passions like music, dance, fitness, and wellness to not only regulate my nervous system but also spark inspiration. These tools are completely free to us, and I’ve learned to use them as much as possible. Read more >>>
Joey Kao
Engage with other people’s art! The artists who transfixed me as a teenager continue to influence and teach me so much. Returning again and again to my old favorites is a sure-fire way to remember what I love so much about art, and why I wanted to create my own in the first place. Read more >>>
Linc Jolly
Creativity isn’t a limited resource—it’s a renewable one. But it doesn’t just survive on paint and paper. It thrives on experience, growth, and the courage to try new things, even (especially) outside of what people might expect from an ‘artist.’ First off, don’t just be an artist, be everything. Read more >>>
Patch Thurlow
Sometimes I forget that a whole part of being creative is literally just being human. I’ll find myself in art blocks nearly every other week, and some of those times I just need to go exist. I need to go find sadness, joy, whatever in the world instead of just sitting with whatever emotion I have been trying to transform it into art. Read more >>>
Max Bennett
“For me, creativity is like oxygen — it needs to keep moving, evolving, and finding new ways in and out of my life. When I first started, I thought the best way to create was to isolate myself in the studio for days on end. I’d burn myself out chasing perfection. Read more >>>
Hao Hao
I believe that a lot of the great materials for artistic creation come from daily life and sometimes even small and trivial matters that most people ignore. However, as an original content creator – a screenwriter and director, I keep my curiosity and enthusiasm at the highest level whenever I can and try my best to accumulate any life experiences or enlightenment into writing materials. Read more >>>
Olivia Wander
The people around me. I love to surround myself with people who are also creative and excited to create. Whether it’s a future project or planning out the ‘What Ifs’, having those people to go to when a crazy idea comes up for us to possibly put together and combine our artistic skills to create something new. Read more >>>
Jessy Richmond
Keeping creativity alive isn’t about forcing inspiration, I don’t actively try to keep it alive, what’s important to me is that I leave space open for creativity to flow, because I understand that my creativity comes from. As a filmmaker and photographer, life in the industry has taught me a lot about pace and intensity. Read more >>>
Elizabeth Uribe
I have my moments where I feel burned out or blocked and don’t feel like creating. This is due sometimes to stress, personal things happening, or external situations occurring around me. First, to get out of this funk, I check in with myself and assess how I am feeling. Read more >>>
Paul-Anthony Anselmo
I find that the best way to keep my creativity engaged is by both being present and embracing others art. When you disengage your mind from stress or wandering thoughts and begin to pay attention to your current situation, fairly consistently and with time you’ll start to have new ideas. Read more >>>
LAWLESS ONE
I’ve kept my creativity alive by exploring and escaping reality. Sometimes to find inspiration I have to step out of my own headspace and get lost in another. I think routine can defeat creative freedom. Everyone should go explore somewhere new or put themself in a new perspective every once in a while. Read more >>>
John Woolley
For me, keeping creativity alive has always been about curiosity and trying new things. I got my first magic trick when I was three at a Las Vegas magic shop, and by 14 I was accepted into the Magic Castle’s youth program after a tough sleight-of-hand audition. Around the same time, I discovered art and started illustrated journaling at nine. Read more >>>
Sierra Jenkins
Creativity is such an elusive thing, luckily I was born with oodles of it. It’s a blessing and a curse. However, I am not immune to the occasional bout of artists block. I find these are the best ways to power through a drought of creativity. – find inspiration: Taking a look at fellow artists’ work is often enough to break the spell. Read more >>>
Brad Banyas
Creativity is universal, but for me, it takes root in conversations. Listening to others—understanding their lives, challenges, and passions has fueled nearly every idea and business venture I’ve pursued. As an entrepreneur, I’ve built companies around solving problems uncovered in everyday interactions. My creativity isn’t just about generating ideas; it’s about transforming insights into action and building solutions that fill gaps others may overlook. Read more >>>
Garrett Gillette
The best way to keep my creativity alive is by still making time for personal projects. No matter how busy or bogged down mentally I find myself at times, taking the time to capture photos that can just be for me has always put me back on track. Read more >>>
Keith Robertshttps://boldjourney.com/meet-garrett-gillette/
For me, in some ways, creativity is like a muscle. You know: Use it or lose it; stretch it to keep it limber. One of the ways I exercise it is by constantly challenging it. I have had many hobbies in my life that revolve around crafting and creating. Read more >>>
David Monroe
My creativity has always emanated from people and their stories. Read more >>>
Charles Jah
I’ve been able to keep my creativity alive by always finding different ways to feed it and challenge myself. Photography and filmmaking gave me a strong foundation, and even when I shifted my focus, I stayed committed to storytelling, whether it’s through writing scripts, creating campaigns, or putting together projects like NextStepRunway. Read more >>>
Tyrone Brown
I keep my creativity alive by simply expressing myself. Being true to my craft and the purpose behind it. Whenever I’m feeling like the world is against me or heartbreak I pick up my camera and insist that my creativity will never die. Read more >>>
Cat Wondergem
One of the best strategies I’ve found for keeping my creativity alive is people watching. I love being an unnoticed witness to humans and their interactions with each other, their pets, or the world at large. The nuanced way they have of being in the world allows me to build a narrative, sometimes fantastical and sometimes dreary. Read more >>>
Donavan Jehiel
I honestly just keep creating. Whether it’s things within my primary creative discipline or adjacent, I just keep creating. If I’m really emotional, I’ll write songs, create melodies. If I’m feeling really anxious, I’ll come up with a creative writing concept or two. Read more >>>
Tina Pech
I keep my creativity alive by finding inspiration in nearly everything around me. Nature often grounds me with its colors and textures, while pop culture and the energy of our local football and baseball teams spark playful, bold ideas. My daughters are a constant source of fresh perspective, and my husband’s culture adds depth and richness to the way I see the world. Read more >>>
Mahesh Kondiparthi
For me, creativity thrives when paired with the right collaborators. Early in my academic journey, I learned this the hard way — I shared a core idea from my thesis with a junior peer, who went on to publish several conference proceedings without crediting my contribution. That breach of trust became a turning point. Read more >>>
Alexander Clements
For me, keeping creativity alive really comes from staying curious as an artist and being willing to step out of my comfort zone. I remember a few years ago, I was driving home when I got a call from a colleague of mine, Ana Cuellar. Read more >>>
Kelly Thames
My creativity is energized by learning and looking at other art work, architecture, landscape, and surrounding my self with creative people. Read more >>>
Donovan Smith
My creativity stems from my overreaching, vivid imagination. As a child, I was highly encouraged by my parents to let my imagination run wild, wherever possible. As a way to keep us entertained and somewhat out of harms way, we were thoroughly emboldened to create characters and develop stories with likeminded individuals. Read more >>>
Angel Rodriguez
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been super creative. I believe that it’s part of human nature to be inspired and create. Creation comes from the strongest parts of our emotions, from the things that make us human, whether that’s from the strongest pain or the greatest joy. Read more >>>
Beth Brennan Grabish
I try to work with different mediums switching between sculpture, painting and drawing.. I generally work in three hour intervals on any project with frequent breaks. I think being involved with art groups and workshops is also inspiring. Learning what other artist are creating and seeing their process can really spark creativity and pathways to new ideas Read more >>>
HenkeTooRaw
I think that having other things in life besides music to draw inspiration from is key. Heading to the mountains is always my #1 answer. Its easy for me to draw inspiration from exploring the mountains here in Colorado. Whether its running, skiing or climbing a peak, I stay really busy outside of music which I think allows me to stay fresh creatively. Read more >>>
Marlene Forand
Some people say they are ‘self taught’ and I guess you can say that pertains to me. I attribute my creative talent and ability to God. I graduated high school at 16 (an honor roll student) and then went in to nursing of all things! My creative side was always a part of my personality but not my career choice. Read more >>>
Nick Cody
I’ve always had an interest in music and the arts, but never started recording professionally and play live music until a decade ago. Read more >>>
Zaneta Nandaryca
For me, creativity is something important. It helps us challenge ourselves to make our imaginations come to life, even if it seems hard, and lets us be proud of ourselves for the work and effort we’ve put in. As for overcoming writer’s block, or art block, I mostly draw inspiration from the music I listen to. Read more >>>
Manan Vikam
I keep my creativity alive by constantly questioning and deconstructing the world around me. I have always been drawn to a deconstructivist philosophy, breaking things down into their parts to understand how they come together as a whole. This process allows me to reassemble ideas in unexpected ways, creating new situations and fresh outcomes. Read more >>>
Daniel Vargas Gomez
For me the energy behind of all creativity comes from staying curious. I’m lucky in that I am not someone that is settled with what they know. I feel there’s always something out fascinating around the corner and I tend to be very contrarian which I think also helps. Read more >>>
Kari-Ann Whitaker
I like to keep my creativity alive by constantly learning and researching. I walk 3.5 miles every morning with my son and while walking I am searching for inspiration, listening to creative podcasts and taking in nature & the surrounding landscapes. I thrive outdoors, it rejuvenates my creativity! Read more >>>
Emily Xinya Wang
I find myself often getting inspired by certain things. Poetry, childhood memories, hometown, and a sense of bittersweet. These are things that I was interested in when I was a child, and it seems like a persistent element that keeps me producing artworks, whether it is visual arts or writing. Read more >>>
Laila Hazel
My creativity thrives on variety and adaptability. Over the years, I’ve learned to keep it alive through multiple forms of media, and each one inspires the other. Photography has always been my foundation—capturing moments, whether they’re bold, intimate, or everyday scenes, helps me see the world through a creative lens. Read more >>>
Avi Roque
I keep my creativity alive by continuously making my own work, which has taken many forms over the years. Read more >>>
Tiago Aragona
I see creativity as a muscle that has to be trained every day. It is not a single spark that appears in a special moment, but something that grows through consistency and movement. Read more >>>
