Every creative person has their rituals. That magical blend of habits, quirks, and borderline weird behaviors we promise ourselves are essential to greatness—or at least to getting something onto the page, canvas, or screen. Mine, well, they might seem a little idiosyncratic (read: extra), but they’re non-negotiable. They’ve seen me through epic deadlines, uninspired afternoons, and even the occasional heartbreak—because creativity, like love, isn’t always a smooth ride. But, with the right rituals? It’s a journey worth taking.

So, here’s how I keep the ideas flowing, the words coming, and my Brooklyn apartment from devolving into chaos. Think of it as equal parts practical advice and an invitation to embrace your own delightful eccentricities.

The Morning Warm-Up: Coffee, Composure, and Kendrick Lamar

My mornings are sacred, a quiet interlude before the world starts demanding things from me that I am not emotionally prepared to give (looking at you, email notifications). It always begins with coffee—strong enough to wake the neighbors and in a heavy ceramic mug that feels oddly reassuring in my hand. There’s something inherently ceremonial about making it: the sound of beans grinding, the hiss of the espresso machine, the way the aroma fills the kitchen. It’s the prelude to a creative symphony—or, you know, me sitting at my desk for five hours.

But the caffeine isn’t the real secret sauce. That honor belongs to music, and specifically Kendrick Lamar. His intricate wordplay and unapologetic storytelling push me into gear in a way no motivational poster ever will. Lyrics like “I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA” remind me that creativity comes from the messiest, most human parts of us. Bonus: Kendrick doubles as a sound shield against the noise of my upstairs neighbors—who, judging by the stomping, are either flamenco dancers or training for the Olympics.

If I can pair this with 20 minutes of freewriting—just pure brain-dump territory where nothing needs to make sense—I am untouchable. Think of it as shaking the Etch A Sketch of your mind. The randomness clears the way for the good stuff.

A Walk to Nowhere: Moving the Body, Moving the Mind

You know that scene in every rom-com where the protagonist takes a long, contemplative stroll after some romantic misstep? That’s essentially me every afternoon, except instead of pining for love, I’m chasing ideas. Creativity and movement are deeply intertwined. Science even backs this up—walking actually boosts creative thinking. But really, I don’t need science to tell me what I learn every time I roam the streets of Brooklyn.

There’s something about the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement that shakes loose ideas I didn’t even know were stuck. The streets here are full of contradictions—old brownstones nestled next to modern apartment towers, corner bodegas with neatly stacked avocados, a man blasting Bach on his cello at the subway entrance. It’s like walking through a living poem, one that subtly works its way into my creative brain.

By the time I get back home, my phone is full of notes—half-baked metaphors, plot ideas, or just an odd observation (like why every couples’ dog-walking dynamic involves one person holding the leash and the other scrolling Instagram).

Micro-Oases: Turning My Sandbox Apartment Into a Creative Refuge

Living in Brooklyn means accepting that real estate is basically modern-day Monopoly: competitive, expensive, and full of questionable decisions. My apartment, lovingly dubbed “The Shoebox,” requires some ingenuity if it’s going to double as both my workspace and creative haven. So, I’ve created micro-oases. Think niche zones for creativity, each with its specific purpose.

  • The Desk Aesthetic: My desk is where the head-down work happens, and it’s all about clarity. Moleskine notebooks, a minimalist lamp, and the obligatory overpriced scented candle that I light when I need to feel like my life is together (Pro tip: eucalyptus and cedarwood genuinely smell like productivity). My laptop is always closed when I’m not at work—because avoiding doomscrolling is half the battle.

  • The Thinking Couch: This is where my mind wanders freely. My couch faces a massive bookshelf that reminds me why I write in the first place. Baldwin, Morrison, Murakami—they stare back at me with just enough quiet authority to make procrastination fully impossible. I sit here when I’m stuck and need to read something great to snap me out of my creative doubt spiral.

  • The Kitchen Table Creativity Sprints: For some reason, ideas hit differently when I’m scribbling them between snacks. There’s a sense of informality to this space that makes it feel okay to scribble nonsense. Pairing it with something fun (new-wave French fries, chili-mango gummies) makes the process that much better.

The Rule of One: Focus—As Delivered by My Inner Marie Kondo

We all know multitasking is a scam, but I’m taking this a step further: I apply the “Rule of One” to my creative life. One project at a time. When I try dividing my energy too much, nothing gets done. It’s the same principle as dating, really. When you’re juggling too many options, you end up emotionally drained and only half-connecting with anyone (including yourself).

This focus allows me to go all in, and honestly, it’s freeing. If I’m working on a new article or musing about a short story concept, I treat it like the sole object of my creative affection. Everything else gets shelved until I’ve finished, or until I realize it’s not working (which, incidentally, is also dating advice I wish I’d perfected years ago).

Closing The Day: Honoring Inspiration’s Afterparty

The cliché is true: inspiration doesn’t punch a time clock. Some of my best ideas sneak up on me at night, when I’m brushing my teeth or scrolling Netflix for something to half-watch while I fall asleep. And I’ve learned not to ignore them.

Before I head to bed, I jot down a few thoughts—my own version of a “bedtime gratitude list,” except instead of warm, fuzzy feelings, it’s brilliant fragments of dialogue or a forgotten observation from my walk. My most embarrassing note so far? “Why do first dates feel like job interviews where no one is qualified but both people want the role anyway?”

Embrace Your Weird—It Works

At the heart of my rituals is the understanding that creativity thrives when you let yourself get a little weird, lean into what inspires you, and allow space for the unexpected. It’s not about crafting a perfect Pinterest-worthy routine. It’s about curating the elements that help you feel most alive, whether that’s blasting Kendrick at 7 a.m., power-writing between gummy bears, or wandering the streets like you’re out of a coming-of-age novel set in Brooklyn (spoiler alert: you are).

So, embrace it. Build your routine unapologetically, adjust as you need, and let it carry you through your creative and personal seasons. It’s like dating yourself: the better you know what makes you tick, the better you grow—and, ultimately, the better connections you build. Whether with your art, your relationships, or your world.