5 daily habits that support your creativity

If you would prefer to listen to this blog post as a podcast episode with loads of antidotes and giggles, then you can head over here.

Creativity isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have”. It’s something that responds to the conditions you create around it. So often, creatives wait to feel creative before they begin, but in reality, creativity usually shows up after we start, not before. The good news? You don’t need huge blocks of time or perfect motivation. Small, repeatable habits can make a big difference.

Here are five daily habits that gently support your creativity, especially during busy or low-energy seasons.

1. Build solid routines that are easy to stick to

Our bodies love repetition.

Think about it:

• you often wake up a minute or two before your alarm

• your stomach starts rumbling just before lunch

• you feel that familiar Friday afternoon urge to switch off

That’s your body responding to routine.

Creativity works the same way.

Instead of waiting to feel creative, build a simple, repeatable routine that signals to your body: “It’s time to create.”

This might look like:

• making the same drink before you start

• putting on your apron or sneakers

• turning on music

• moving to the same part of your studio

• keeping that space tidy and ready to go

Over time, these small rituals help your body and brain drop into creative mode more easily, without forcing it.

2. Set up for the next day at the end of the workday

One of the biggest creativity blockers is decision fatigue.

At the end of your workday, take just a few minutes to:

• write tomorrow’s to-do list

• choose one priority task

• put a Post-it note or reminder where you’ll see it before emails and notifications take over

When you do this, you remove the friction of starting.Instead of asking “What should I work on?”, you can simply begin.

This small habit makes mornings feel calmer and helps creativity feel more accessible.

3. Make time each day to play (with no intention to monetise)

Creativity needs space to breathe.

That space often comes from play, not output.

Daily play might look like:

• a Lego project with your kids

• cross-stitching or knitting

• pottering in the veggie garden

• working on a passion project just for you

The key here is that it’s not for selling, sharing, or turning into content. It’s creativity without pressure, and that kind of creativity quietly feeds everything else you do.

4. Use “10 minutes of power”

This is one of my favourite tools, especially on low-energy days.

Instead of committing to finishing a project, commit to 10 minutes.

Set a timer. Do the bare minimum:

• open the file

• sketch one idea

• prep materials

• write a rough paragraph

Often, 10 minutes turns into more, but even if it doesn’t, you’ve still shown up. And consistency matters far more than intensity. Creativity builds momentum through action, not waiting.

5. Protect your energy over productivity

Creativity doesn’t thrive in depletion. If you’re exhausted, undernourished, overstimulated, or constantly pushing, creativity will always feel harder than it needs to be.

Supporting your creativity means prioritising:

• rest

• nourishment

• boundaries

• space

This isn’t about doing less forever, it’s about doing what’s sustainable. When your energy is protected, creativity has room to exist.

You don’t need to do all five habits perfectly.Choose one. Start there.

Creativity isn’t something you need to chase — it’s something you can support through small, intentional daily choices.

And those small choices add up.