Key points from the poster
- The poster lists 40 numbered tips for keeping up creative work, made by the design blog Layerform.
- Many are about input: read books, watch films, listen to music, travel, visit museums, galleries and the theatre.
- Others are about people: socialise, collaborate, be around creative people and get feedback from peers.
- A third group is about habits and mindset, from breaking your routine and finishing projects to letting go of fear and being curious.
All tips are from the graphic, which carries the address www.layerform.com.
All 40 ways to stay creative, in text
Title: 40 Ways to Stay Creative, with each letter of “Creative” filled with a different fabric pattern and a light bulb drawn beside it. The tips are set in coral, navy and teal lettering of different sizes, packed together like a collage, with small drawings next to many of them: a door (get out more), a flask (experiment), a sticky note, a magnifying glass (spy on the competition), a paper plane (travel), musical notes, playing cards (take risks), a heart around number 26, a bed (take naps), theatre masks and a ringing phone (turn off distractions).
| No. | Tip as printed (sentence case) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Create an inspiration board |
| 2 | Get out more! |
| 3 | Sketch more! |
| 4 | Experiment |
| 5 | Socialize |
| 6 | Keep up with trends |
| 7 | Learn a new skill! |
| 8 | Read books! |
| 9 | Use sticky notes |
| 10 | Break your routine |
| 11 | Be around creative people |
| 12 | Spy on the competition |
| 13 | Visit exhbitions (spelling as printed) |
| 14 | Collaborate with others! |
| 15 | Travel! |
| 16 | Get a new hobby |
| 17 | Challenge yourself! |
| 18 | Make lists! |
| 19 | Meditate |
| 20 | Get feedback from peers |
| 21 | Listen to music |
| 22 | Watch films |
| 23 | Take risks! |
| 24 | Write stuff down |
| 25 | Declutter your workspace |
| 26 | Love what you do |
| 27 | Finish projects! |
| 28 | Visit museums & galleries |
| 29 | Keep a dream diary |
| 30 | Have sex! |
| 31 | Take naps |
| 32 | Watch motivational speeches |
| 33 | Go to the theatre |
| 34 | Practice! |
| 35 | Eat different cuisine |
| 36 | Stop comparing yourself to others |
| 37 | Question things! |
| 38 | Turn off distractions |
| 39 | Let go of fear |
| 40 | Be curious |
Footer: www.layerform.com.
What Layerform says about the tips
Layerform’s article for the poster, written for designers and other creative workers, gives a short explanation of each tip [1]. An inspiration board, it says, is one of the easiest methods: print off favourite things and pin them up. For “break your routine” it suggests changing working hours now and then, for example starting earlier and finishing earlier, then going for a walk or a workout [1]. “Spy on the competition” is explained as looking at what competitors are doing differently or better than you [1].
The article recommends walks in nature for “get out more” and points designers to Behance, Dribbble, DeviantArt, Pinterest and Instagram to find other creative people [1]. The current version also adds two bonus tips that are not on the poster: taking an ice bath and using AI tools [1].
What research says about walking and ideas
One tip on the poster has direct research behind it. A Stanford study by Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz, published in 2014 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that a person’s creative output rose by an average of 60% when walking compared with sitting [2]. Walking on a treadmill indoors, facing a blank wall, worked about as well as walking outside, so the act of walking rather than the setting was the main factor [2]. The effect carried on for a short time after people sat back down [2].
Notes on this infographic
- Tip 13 is printed “Visit exhbitions”, a misspelling of exhibitions.
- The poster uses US spellings (“Socialize”, “Practice!”). Layerform’s own list in the article uses “Socialise” [1].
- The tips are general suggestions from a design blog, not the result of a study. Only the walking tip is backed by the research cited above.
- Layerform’s file name dates the poster to May 2014 (wp-content/uploads/2014/05); the article was last updated on 23 September 2023 [1].
Questions about how to stay creative
How do you stay creative?
The poster’s 40 tips centre on feeding your mind (books, films, music, travel, exhibitions), spending time with creative people and changing habits, such as breaking your routine, finishing projects and turning off distractions. Layerform suggests starting with an inspiration board [1].
How can I be more creative?
Try something new: the poster suggests experimenting, learning a new skill, getting a new hobby and challenging yourself. Going for a walk may also help, as a Stanford study found creative output rose by an average of 60% while walking [2].
Does walking make you more creative?
Yes, according to a Stanford study by Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz, published in 2014, creative output rose by an average of 60% when people walked rather than sat [2]. Walking on an indoor treadmill facing a blank wall worked about as well as walking outside, so the walking itself was the main factor [2]. The effect also lasted for a short time after people sat back down [2].
How do you break your routine to be more creative?
Layerform suggests changing your working hours now and then, for example starting earlier and finishing earlier, then going for a walk or a workout [1]. "Break your routine" is tip 10 of the 40 on its poster. Related tips on the same list include getting out more, getting a new hobby, travelling and eating different cuisine.
Sources
- Eddy Andrew, How to Stay Creative, 40 Ways, Tips and Tricks, Layerform. The creator’s post of this poster.
- Stanford University, Stanford study finds walking improves creativity, Stanford Report, 24 April 2014.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
