Staying creative is hard, especially when your brain feels like it’s running on iced coffee and fumes. Whether you’re in media, content creation, or just trying to get through your inbox with a shred of originality, burnout is the buzzkill that shows up uninvited. But over the years (and through more deadlines than I’d like to count), I’ve found a few tried-and-true habits that keep the ideas flowing—even when the inspiration well runs dry.
Here are the five things that help me refuel creatively and stay inspired, even on the chaotic days.
1. I romanticize the mundane.
Yes, I’m that person who lights a candle before opening their laptop. Specifically, with my candle lamp, I’ll throw on a playlist that makes me feel like the lead in a French indie film and sip my coffee like it’s a scene in Gilmore Girls. Turning everyday moments into aesthetic rituals helps my brain shift from survival mode to creative mode.
2. I keep a “spark list.”
This is just a running doc of things that catch my eye or make me think—song lyrics, overheard convos, half-formed captions, color palettes, weird dreams. When I’m feeling blocked, this list gives me a starting point that’s already charged with some kind of energy.
3. I consume before I create.
Reading a few pages from a great book or scrolling through an artist’s Instagram feed (without doom-clicking) puts me in a more expansive headspace. Creative output is so much easier when I’ve given myself permission to input first.
4. I move my body (but not in a punishing way).
Some of my best ideas have come while I’m walking my dogs, stretching in my living room, or dancing around my kitchen like I’m on a poorly produced version of Dancing with the Stars. Movement shakes loose the stuck thoughts—and honestly, the serotonin boost doesn’t hurt either.
5. I stop trying to be “productive.”
Some days, the best thing I can do for my creativity is… absolutely nothing. I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t always look like content creation. Sometimes it’s taking a nap. Or doom-cleaning. Or binge-watching Vanderpump Rules until something clicks. Rest is part of the process, too.
5 Creative Habits
Staying creative isn’t about forcing brilliance—it’s about building little habits that give your brain room to breathe. Whether you’re deep in a project or just trying to muster the energy to open your Notes app, I hope these habits remind you that creativity doesn’t have to come from a lightning bolt. Sometimes, it just comes from lighting a candle and pressing play.
