6 Habits to Boost Your Daily Creative Routine

What the Book “Keep Going” Taught Me About Living a Meaningful, Creative Life

If you’ve ever felt stuck creatively—you’re in good company. In his book Keep Going, Austin Kleon reminds us that creativity moves in cycles. There are bursts of progress, pauses of rest, and familiar places we come back to—each time with a little more perspective.

As Annie Dillard wisely said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” And that’s the heart of this little book. It’s not about perfection—it’s about showing up.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways from Keep Going—reflections I think will also resonate with you—the rediscovering of what it means to create with meaning.

1. Embrace a Daily Routine

One of the best ways to support your creativity? Start your day with routine. Not a strict schedule—just a simple, daily pattern.

As Kleon notes: “A routine gives you freedom by protecting you from the ups and downs of life.” That rings true. Little rituals—like journaling, a quiet walk, or sitting in your favorite chair with a warm drink—can ease you into a mindset that’s ready to create. He also recommends starting the day with a list. It clears the mental cobwebs and gives your ideas a place to land.

And, instead of reaching for your phone first thing (tempting, I know!)—do something else first. Lynda Barry wisely points out: “The phone has given us a lot but takes away three key elements of discovery: loneliness, uncertainty, and boredom. Those have always been where creative ideas come from.”

So before scrolling—start with stillness. A simple routine can remind you that you were made to create.

A quote emphasizing the importance of paying attention to what captures your interest, with a passage by Amy Krouse Rosenthal reflecting on life's choices.

2. Pay Attention to What You Pay Attention To

This quote grabbed me, so I took a photo to remind me of it.

Such a simple idea, right? Pay attention to what keeps catching your eye, or what you find yourself coming back to. Curiosity can point you to your next step. If you’re wondering what to create next or what direction to take, start here.

3. Create for Joy, Not Just for Income

Kleon strikes a chord with this observation: “We used to have hobbies; now we have side hustles.”

There is so much pressure these days to turn every passion into a product. And sure, that sometimes makes sense—doing what you love and getting paid? But it can also be exhausting. There’s freedom in creating just because you love it. It’s okay to keep some things just for you.

4. Make Something for Someone Else

Here’s a heartwarming truth: when you’re in a creative rut, don’t just make something—make something for someone. Kleon puts it this way: “Making gifts puts us in touch with our gifts.”

When we give, we reconnect with why we started creating in the first place. Whether it’s a handmade card or knitted gloves, it brings joy not only to the recipient, but to us as well. It reminds you of why you started creating in the first place—not to impress, but to bless.

To bless someone else with your craft, read:
“How Your Passion for Crafts Can Support Charities” here.

5. Help Others See Life with New Eyes

Kleon includes a quote from Sarah Manguso: “The purpose of being a serious writer is to keep people from despair.”

It rings true, and it’s not just for writers. Whether you’re snapping photos, stitching quilts, painting, or piecing together a scrapbook, your creativity can be a quiet lifeline—for someone else and for you.

When we create, we shine a little light. We help others notice beauty again, feel less alone, or even just breathe a bit easier. That’s no small thing. That’s holy work.

6. When in Doubt, Tidy Up

If you’re stuck, try straightening up. Kleon calls tidying “productive procrastination,” and honestly? I agree.

There’s something about picking up that helps your mind get clear of clutter too. You’re not just cleaning; you’re making space for creativity. I can’t count how many times I’ve cleared off a surface or reorganized a craft bin and suddenly—there it is. A spark. An old idea I’d forgotten. A new one I didn’t know I needed.

It might look like avoidance from the outside, but it may be the reset you need too.

brown wrap around desk with craft supplies and a desktop computer — *^{Photo of a former creative space—ready to begin something new.}*

Live the Season You’re In

“Live in each season as it passes and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
– Henry David Thoreau

Your creative life isn’t meant to look like anyone else’s. It maybe that you’re in a slower stretch right now, or maybe you’re rediscovering creative habits you’d almost forgotten. But the key?

Keep going. Make something small. Let it bring a little joy—maybe to someone else, maybe just to you. You don’t have to force it. Just live the season you’re in… and let your creativity bloom right where you are.

That’s more than enough.