3 habits that help me keep my creativity alive
Creativity isn’t something that magically appears when we feel “inspired.” It’s an energy you can cultivate, maintain, and train—just like a muscle. Over the years, I’ve developed a few habits that help me stay creative, even when I don’t have a clear idea of what I’m going to do, or when I feel blocked (which happens often!).
Here are three practices I use in my daily life as an artist that might help you too, regardless of the type of creative work you do.
1. Disconnecting on purpose
As strange as it sounds, in order to create, I need to disconnect from the noise. Social media, messages, news… all of that drains the mind without us even realizing it.
That’s why I try to spend as much time as possible each day away from screens. It could be going for a walk, doing a free painting session with no goal, or just sitting and observing what’s around me.
Sometimes I also pick up a guitar and start improvising. I don’t play with any specific intention, just let the sounds flow. And very often, those spontaneous melodies bring images or ideas to my mind. Music helps me shift my focus and access a more intuitive, emotional space where creativity feels natural.
That mental “empty space” allows new ideas to show up.
2. Creating without pressure
Not everything I paint is meant to be shown. Some works are just exercises, experiments, or playful moments. Painting without the pressure of “making something good” allows me to explore without the fear of making mistakes.
That kind of freedom is key to keeping creativity alive. When every piece has to be perfect, the process becomes rigid, and intuition gets blocked.
3. Taking visual and emotional notes
I keep skecthbooks where I jot down ideas, phrases, colors that attract me, emotions, or things that inspire me. Sometimes they’re quick sketches, sometimes just a few loose words.
These notes act as creative “seeds.” When I don’t know what to paint, I go back to them and find clues. They help me reconnect with internal processes and with themes that matter to me.
Staying creative isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s about building an environment—inside and out—that allows it to flow.
These three habits help me stay connected with myself, avoid forcing results, and keep exploring new paths.