Our Creative Routines, Processes, and Habits
How do you stay motivated and creative in our current work-from-home world? When you take a step back and take a look at your day-to-day, there are so many little things that we implement into our routines without having to second guess them!
According to Kapost, 75% of people believe they are not living up to their creative potential. That’s wild.
Whether it’s taking a walk first thing in the morning, or just enjoying the coziness of bed before starting the day, our routines help prepare us to be our best creative selves!
Get inspired. We interviewed our team about their creative routines, processes, and habits to help you reach your creative potential:
What are routines that help you get ready to start or move through the work day?
Arica: I go for a morning run with my running buddy, Willa to get the blood pumping and do a 10-15 meditation. After getting my kiddos settled for their day, I grab a warm glass of lemon water and LARGE coffee - and light a candle. At the end of the day before signing off, I review the next day's meetings and priorities the day prior. I use ASANA religiously to re-prioritize the next day's key projects/tasks so I can jump into the new morning ready to go.
Kristen: I play with the kiddos and try to give them my full attention in the morning. I also MUST have my 8greens water, call my mama, and then my large coffee with coconut oil, collagen, lions mane, and reishi. Once my nanny comes, I check my calendar for the day. From there I try to catch up with a friend, workout, or go on a walk to give my mind some balance. Next, I take a shower and have some scroll time (social, news, etc) while getting ready to take on the wonderful day.
Lottie: I *try* to ride my indoor bike or take a walk in the morning to get my brain awake, but def doesn't happen every morning. The thing I try to consistently do is accept my morning for what it is. If I wake up late and go straight to the computer, I focus on accepting it's okay and don't get lost in the potential bad thoughts of I *should have*. Let the day roll & drink tons of water. Like so much water.
Shannon: I get up early enough to give myself time for a long walk where I can listen to a podcast, or music- whatever I need that day. Being outside/ getting some Vitamin D without looking at a screen immediately helps energize me and gives my brain a moment to relax.
Patricia: The light in my apartment is the best around 8:30, so I try to soak it all in and just ease into the day by listening to a vinyl. I try to drink a big glass of water before getting to my desk too! I love cooking during my lunch break as well.
Myah: I usually do a morning walk first thing whenI get up. If not, I like to meditate, stretch, and journal. Either way, gotta start the day without my phone.
Callie: I like to wake up early to give myself time to relax before work. Usually going for a walk, reading, just getting some things done. I try to go on a walk on my lunch or get some sun!
David: Get up and shower first thing to wake my body up. Then I make some coffee and read some articles or scroll twitter to get my brain moving. I love to just chill drink my coffee slowly so if I get up early enough that quiet time to relax really gives me a great start to my day.
Top 2 favorite apps and why!
Arica: ASANA - it's basically an external version of my memory. Slack - in a virtual world, this is how our team stays connected and shares funny gifs.
Kristen: Slack and Lightroom bebe! Slack to keep my inbox CLEAR and talk to my friends AKA my coworkers all day and Lightroom cause desktop to mobile edits are the shit. Also canva. Im a cheater and chose 3 WHOOOPS.
Lottie: Figma was a game changer for email design for us. It's a cloud-based live design tool that has made our process 1000% more efficient. Asana is an obvious choice but could not function at a 💯 without it. I run my whole work day by my daily tasks.
Shannon: Twitter because the humor is 👌🏼 top notch. I love getting my news through the lens of memes and gifs. Second fave is probably Slack to keep up with the gang, and also communicate with memes and gifs.
Patricia: I love Canva for designing! Their templates, built in stock photos, and graphic elements make it super easy to design, even when you don't know where to start. TikTok is my guilty pleasure when I want funny content, I can scroll for hours! I usually end my day by watching TikTok's before bed.
Myah: Instagram (maybe this is a no brainer ha!). I feel like IG is always working on new features and there are so many means of communication and education on it. My second is Twitter. I feel like people are their truest selves on Twitter. It is home to the BEST memes.
Callie: Love Asana for reminding myself of tasks and tiktok and twitter for trends!
David: Asana - As I'm learning more about it, it's really helpful to keep track of all my projects in one place. Instagram - It's the app I currently use to have the most personal connections with friends/family on
Favorite podcasts?
Arica: Finding Mastery by Michael Gervais - deep "mastery" conversations with incredible people in science, medicine, sports, art, tech and business. Akimbo by Seth Godin - short 30-min inspiring lessons in marketing and business.
Kristen: Armchair Expert - its Dax Shepard and guests and they are SUPER interesting or funny interviews. Go listen and you will seeee. Also this isnt a podcast but, as far as books go, listening to Jeremy Irons read The Alchemist is everything.
Lottie: I used to love to listen to educational podcasts but I have to listen while driving (which I rarely do anymore) because I can't soak in podcast info while working or doing something else. I'm a much more visual person. But these are a few of my fave fun podcasts— Office Ladies: it's Pam & Angela from the office talking about the show with BTS. Lovett or Leave It and/or Pod Save America is a fave for staying on top of politics in a relatable way.
Shannon: I mostly listen to podcasts to decompress, have a laugh, get my brain off of work things, so none are work related whatsoever! The Daily, Call Her Daddy, anything Bachelor related, a new favorite is Ageless with Cynthia Rowley. My favorite limited series I've ever listened to is Nice White Parents.
Patricia: There's only about 20 episodes, but Adulting is so funny I can listen to it over and over again. Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos interview creatives and talk about their hot tips + experiences in adulting. Home Cooking is also another fave hosted by Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway! They share home cooking tips, highlight ingredients, and more. Real easy listening.
Myah: The Daily! I’ve been listening since day one! The New York Times literally pumps out an episode every day with updates on current events. It is a great, digestible way to get news. The Breakfast Club. Honestly I love radio and I love gossip so this is perfect for me. They also have awesome guests each episode as well as current events.
Callie: Love Mind Body Green! A lot about holistic health, food, mental health etc.
David: The Daily - NY Times daily podcast. They usually do a good job of covering or at least mentioning some of the most important/interesting topics of the week. They've also branched off and had several incredible series - 1619 being an example. Also their Sunday Reads are a vastly different format- but really great!
Favorite resources for inspiration?
Arica: TedTalks, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Nymag.com
Kristen: SO MANY THINGS. The book Visual Feast, the book Feast for the Eyes, the book Ogilvy on Advertising, Pinterest, album covers, vintage posters, old cookbooks, IG, being outdoors, nature, INSPO EVERYWHERE
Lottie: Milled.com is the best inspo resource for email design. Also the FB Ad Library for inspo on ad designs and copy!
Shannon: Being outdoors, immersing myself in other cultures when possible... traveling and changing scenery is a major source of inspo for me. I also think just scrolling through my IG feed/discover page to see what other people and brands are doing. Someone is always pushing the envelope or trying something new.
Patricia: I love Pinterest! Whenever I start a new project, I usually go through and create a board for design inspiration. It makes it super easy to see work from around the world without having to follow specific accounts.
Myah: FGUK Magazine
Callie: Pinterest! I also have a million IG save folders that I am constantly adding to whenever I see something cool!
David: Sometimes I'll just scroll through my youtube until I find an interesting almost TedTalk like video and I'll just let it play and continue recommending videos while I do dishes or chores around the apartment. I've ended up getting a very interesting mix of storytelling/chess/new technology/interestingly odd history content.
Favorite educational resources?
Arica: Audible - all the books. Creative Live, Hubspot's blog, 99u
Kristen: One Drive or Audible for audio books, skillshare, the trades (adage, digiday, etc), The Hustle email, Gary Vee content
Lottie: Smart Marketer + Social Media Examiner are incredible resources for info on ads, social, & email.
Shannon: In general I'm a very visual learner so YouTube is a go-to for me for expert conversations, how-to videos, and everything in between. TikTok is also a SOLID place to go for quick, digestible, educational content when you just have a few moments in your day. Outside of quarantine, I love a good live event or gathering like AdWorld and Creative Mornings in LA.
Patricia: Dribbble is great for finding design inspiration as well as how-to's and articles about creative work!
David: For most things my go-to is youtube. Sometimes I check out how-to guides, but mostly I just watch others doing the thing I'm trying to do or learn about. For most things, I learn best to playing around and actually try doing the thing I'm learning- but the next best thing is seeing someone else and their process and take-aways
What are your must-have WFH tools, desk accessories, tech, etc.?
Arica: candle, coffee, calculator, earphones, music
Kristen: Crystals (chill about it), coffee, big comfy sweatshirt, music/audiobooks, Thinking Putty, heater (I work in the garage), Fan (I work in the garage), Wacom tablet, photo gear on hand, SNACKS (current fav is dried kalamata olives), adaptogens and vitamins
Lottie: Buying a desktop computer changed my life. Also, CHAPSTICK, water, blue light glasses, a TV with the Office or New Girl playing as white noise, and twinkle lights. I want to feel at home in my workspace so I can feel most creative & productive.
Shannon: H20, coffee, airpods, natural light. BOOM.
Patricia: After having my Wacom tablet for 10 years, I decided to upgrade to an iPad Pro! The apple pencil combo is a game-changer for illustrating. I don't think I'd be able to function without my blue light glasses, laptop stand, wireless mouse, and mechanical keyboard that my partner built for me either!
Myah: Wireless mouse and keyboard for sure! I also have a little contraption that elevates my laptop. Oh and 10/10 recommend blue-light glasses if you are in social. Our eyes are always on the screen so protect those babies!
Callie: Sunlight!!! I will sit wherever the sun is. Coffee. Lots of water to make up for the coffee.
David: A bluetooth mouse! I'm still trying to find the rest of my gear sadly :( - Any recommendations??
How do you get out of a creative block?
Arica: I go for a walk or take a shower - for whatever reason, ideas spark. Also - sometimes just starting to freestyle write whatever comes to mind gets things moving.
Kristen: I read books or short reminders (like The Daily Stoic) that put things into perspective. I get out of my day-to-day. I have to be outside. MUSIC music music music music (Lord Huron, Maggie Rogers, Classic Rock, etc).
Lottie: Talk to a friend or coworker about it and/or brainstorm together. From a theatre background, I think I do some of my best work with other people. Or step away entirely. We all need time to recharge and not think about work. It helps us be more creative when we are working. That's super vital to me.
Shannon: I have to get away from screens - typically a nature walk or a shower really help! Also calling a co-worker to just bounce ideas around is always so helpful!
Patricia: We consume so much content every day that it can be overwhelming at times. I've found that getting off the screen, going on walks, sitting outside, and just putting my phone away really helps clear + refresh my mind!
Myah: I try to take a step away from the screen. Breathe, dance, do a little yoga or go for a walk around the block.
Callie: Take a quick break to reset the mind. Getting away from technology.
David: When I'm stuck I usually try one of two things. If I'm stuck at a wall and cannot move forward I will take a break and ask myself leading questions. Maybe go for a walk and just not think about it- I don't know if it's true but it feels like my subconscious works on it while I'm just giving the problem space. Usually I'll end up finding a way to move forward that I had not considered.
If I'm getting frozen by analysis paralysis though - I just have to push forward and get my thoughts out. Just the act of making some progress - even if I end up having to rewrite or redo can help unclog my brain and get me past the block.
While we all have different routines, it's a no brainer that we stay inspired or recharge by stepping away from the screens! Are any of these routines, resources, or habits part of your day-to-day? Let us know how you keep your creative self going, or if you’re inspired to try something new based on our team’s favorites!