The Magic in the Mess: My Creative Rituals That Keep the Spark Alive

Inspiration is fickle—like your crush who texts back after two days and somehow still manages to be charming. When it comes to creativity, waiting for inspiration to “strike” is a myth you abandon quickly (spoiler: it doesn’t). I’ve found that if you want creativity to dance with you, you’ve got to play the music, set the mood, and hope it joins in.

Over years of writing, daydreaming, and occasionally aggressively cleaning my workspace to avoid writing, I’ve realized that my creative rituals aren’t just habits—they’re part therapy, part chaos, and one hundred percent me. So, here’s a peek inside my process. Whether you’re punching up your dating profile or penning your next magnum opus, maybe these rituals will give you a little nudge toward your own creative spark.

1. A Cuban Cafecito (or Two) Is Non-Negotiable

Growing up in Miami, coffee wasn’t just a beverage—it was a love language. My abuela would call me into the kitchen each afternoon and hand me a tiny porcelain cup filled with sweet, espresso-like magic. Fast-forward to adulthood, and this ritual has remained.

The act of making a cafecito is almost ceremonial: I measure the espresso, whisk sugar into an airy espuma (foam for the uninitiated), and let the aroma transport me back to my grandparents’ kitchen. Somehow, those rich, bold sips smooth out even the most stubborn writer’s block.

Pro tip for the creatively stuck: Pair your caffeine fix with a daydream session. Sit by a window, cappuccino in hand, and let your imagination run wild. Creativity loves a wandering mind—and espresso-fueled jitters never hurt, either.

2. Sweat Out the Stories

If cafecito is my mind’s fuel, moving my body is how I untangle whatever nonsense is happening in my head. For me, that means lacing up my sneakers and pretending I’m training for a marathon (spoiler: I am not, nor will I ever be).

During one of my “pretend runner” jogs in Chicago, I came up with a story idea I’m still working on—a patchwork tale about a family learning to love each other across cultural and generational divides. Something about the rhythm of running silences the inner critic and unleashes creativity.

You don’t have to jog to make this work, though. Whether it’s salsa in your living room or a leisurely bike ride, movement shakes loose creative blockages. Plus, it’s hard to overthink when you’re trying not to trip over cracks in the sidewalk.

3. Channel the Drama of Your Playlist

Few things fuel my creativity better than a playlist with a little tension. Growing up, my parents’ house was packed with salsa classics by Celia Cruz and Benny Moré, while my older cousins introduced me to artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Nirvana.

Before I sit down to write, I queue up a playlist that matches my mood—or the mood I want to evoke. Writing about heartbreak? Queue SZA, and let it pour. Need to channel swagger for a particularly spicy essay? Bad Bunny has my back. I also lean on instrumental tracks when I need focus (Hans Zimmer can make balancing a checkbook feel heroic).

Try this: Create a soundtrack for your daily life. Pair quiet coffee mornings with soft bossa nova or amp up your brainstorming session with high-energy hip hop. Your brain will respond, I promise.

4. Eavesdropping (But Make It Research)

Before you clutch your pearls: yes, I’m that person at the café pretending to be immersed in my laptop while jotting down snippets of conversation from the couple squabbling at the next table. (It’s for art, okay?)

Listening to the way people talk—the awkward pauses, the nervous laughter, the overuse of “like”—is endlessly inspiring. I tuck these observations away like secrets, molding them into fictional characters or dialogue.

This doesn’t just work for writers. If you’re in a creative rut, spend time paying attention to the world around you. It reminds you how beautifully weird and complex people can be, whether they’re working through their latest heartbreak or ordering a ridiculously specific oat milk latte.

5. Lean Into the Chaos

You know that meme of a cluttered desk with the caption, “A genius was here”? Let’s just say that could easily be the tagline for my office. My creative process often looks more like controlled chaos than a picture-perfect Instagram flat lay.

For years, I tried to fight this. I bought color-coded planners, updated corkboards, and downloaded habit-tracking apps. But my aha moments never came from perfection. They came when my cat accidentally knocked over my notebook, or when I scribbled a thought on an old receipt because it just couldn’t wait.

Here’s a hard truth: Creativity doesn’t always follow your schedule. It shows up in the margins of daily life—the sloppy spaces you’re tempted to clean up. Let it stay messy sometimes. You might surprise yourself.

6. Storytelling as Therapy

Every piece I’ve written is a conversation I wish I could’ve had—whether with my younger self, my family, or someone who hurt me. I didn’t start writing because I had answers. I started writing to figure out what my questions even were.

One of my favorite rituals is asking myself what story needs to be told right now. Not what story might sell, or sound impressive, but what’s sitting at the pit of my stomach demanding to be heard. The best writing—the kind that makes your spine tingle or your heart race—comes from this place of raw honesty.

This isn’t just for writers, either. When you’re stuck in any creative pursuit, ask yourself what’s deeply personal to you. Make space for that thing. It’ll set your creativity loose faster than anything else.

7. Mix It Up (Literally)

When writing feels more like pulling teeth than pouring words, I know it’s time to switch mediums. Painting ugly watercolors or baking absurdly complicated desserts (I don’t always succeed, but boy, does it taste good) helps reboot my creative mind.

Case in point: I once made an elaborate flan for no reason other than nostalgia. It turned into a brainstorming session about my dad’s childhood in Cuba, inspiring an entire short story.

Don’t be afraid to dabble in something out of your comfort zone. Try sculpting clay, playing an instrument, or even nailing that TikTok dance everyone’s doing (though I can’t personally vouch for that one). New outlets breathe life into stale creative routines.

Final Thoughts: Your Rituals, Your Rules

The thing about creative rituals is they’re as personal as the playlists on your phone (or maybe even more so). They’re not one-size-fits-all. My routines work for me because they’re grounded in my history and quirks—my abuela’s cafecito, my messy desk, my Miami-to-Midwest mash-up brain.

The trick is finding what works for you. What gets your gears turning? What feels meditative, playful, or energizing? Creativity doesn’t cue up perfectly like your favorite Netflix show, but if you build the rituals that put you in the right headspace, it’ll eventually show up—like that text from your charmingly flaky crush.

So, here’s your permission to explore, to experiment, and to trust that spark inside of you. Build your rituals. Fuel your magic. The world needs it.