How to Live Like a Creative

how to live like a creative

About

Seeking to further our understanding of what it means to lead a creative life, we surveyed over 2000 members of the talented Format community at the end of 2015.

“How do today's photographers, designers, illustrators, artists, filmmakers and other creative pros spend their time?” we mused. “Where do they reside? How do they work—and more importantly—play? What are their differences and similarities?”

Shattering the disorganized, sleep-all-day, drink-all-night "starving artist" stereotype, our results depict a group of confident, business-minded, active individuals that are passionate about their crafts. United beyond a penchant for spectacles and motorcycle jackets, they’re driven by the need to express themselves and maintain a sense of achievement.

Here, we’ve teamed up with illustrator Sam Island to visualize their daily habits, hour by hour. Consider it a step-by-step guide to achieving a modern creative life.

Follow the timeline, peruse the data and let us know: how does your day match up?

step 1

7:30am

Wake up in the morning at your downtown apartment and recall your dreams

couple waking in the morning dreaming of pizza
Survey Says

74% live in a city

50% live in an apartment, condo or loft

67% of creatives wake up between 6am and 8:59am

89% remember their dreams, either somewhat or vividly

66% have zero tattoos

67% of creatives wake up
between 6am and 8:59am

74% live in a city

50% live in an
apartment, condo
or loft

89% remember their dreams,
either somewhat or vividly

66% have zero tattoos

step 2

8:30am

Throw on your glasses and drink your 1st of 2 coffees, as your dog tries to get at your breakfast

creative cooking bacon eggs fruit and coffee for breakfast
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Survey Says

50% wear glasses

67% like to drink coffee

32% of those that like coffee or tea drink 2 cups per day, on average

61% eat 3 meals spread throughout the day

50% own a cat or dog

50% wear glasses

67% like to drink coffee

61% eat 3 meals spread
throughout the day

32% of those that like
coffee or tea drink 2
cups per day, on average

50% own a cat or a dog

step 3

9:30am

Start working from the organized chaos you call home—alone—by skimming through the morning’s trending links

busy creative working at a desk
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Survey Says

45% primarily work from home

58% prefer to work in organized chaos over a perfectly tidy space or complete mess

64% consider themselves to be introverts

45% read online articles more than books, magazines and even Netflix descriptions in 2015

45% of respondents
primarily worked
from home

58% prefer to work in
organized chaos over a
perfectly tidy space or
complete mess

64% consider
themselves to
be introverts

45% read online
articles more than
books, magazines
and even Netflix
descriptions in 2015

step 4

10:00am

Respond to your friend's joke on Facebook with a tears of joy emoji

sharing facebook emoji on social media
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Survey Says

45% check social media every hour

45% cited Facebook as their most used social media platform

The tears of joy emoji was respondents’ most used of 2015

45% check social
media every hour

45% cited Facebook
as their most used
social media platform

The tears of joy
was respondents’
most used
emoji in 2015

step 5

11:00am

Grab a pen, jot down some notes, and start producing something real

busy creative working
Survey Says

45% prefer to write with a pen, over a pencil, keyboard or touchscreen

20% find themselves to be most creatively productive during the late morning, between 10am and 12:59pm

45% prefer to write with
a pen, over a pencil,
keyboard or touchscreen

20% find themselves to be
most creatively productive
during the late morning,
between 10am and 12:59pm

step 6

1:00pm

Take a photo of your lunch and post it to Instagram

creative taking an instagram of lunch
Survey Says

40% cited Instagram as their most used social media platform

45% check social media every hour

45% check social
media every hour

40% cited Instagram as their
most used social media platform

step 7

2:00pm

Throw on your leather jacket and excitedly drive to your studio to review your latest work with a client

creative driving car in leather jacket with dog
Survey Says

60% work from 2 or 3 spaces each week

21% have a studio, co-working space or personal office

47% used a car as their primary mode of transportation in 2015

48% own a leather jacket

49% prefer to share their work when it's fully complete, over sharing it when it's an idea or a work-in-progress

45% are very confident in their work

60% work from 2 or 3
spaces each week

21% have a studio, co-working
space or personal office

48% own a leather jacket

49% prefer to share their work when
it's fully complete, over sharing it
when it's an idea or a work-in-progress

47% used a car as
their primary mode of
transportation in 2015

45% are very confident
in their work

step 8

6:00pm

Power down and go for a run, while streaming a mix of music through your earbuds

listening to music jogging with dog
Survey Says

66% work out once a week or more

Running, cycling, weight training, yoga and hiking were the most popular forms of exercise in 2015

59% listen to music through streaming

Musical preferences were split between Alternative, Rock, Electronic, Indie Pop, Hip Hop and Rap, Pop, Jazz, R&B and Soul, Classical and Other

54% prefer earbuds over headphones

66% work out once
a week or more

54% prefer earbuds
over headphones

20% of respondents ran more than
cycling, yoga, weight training and
other forms of exercise in 2015

59% listen to music through streaming

Musical preferences were split
between Alternative, Rock,
Electronic, Indie Pop, Hip Hop
and Rap, Pop, Jazz, R&B and Soul,
Classical and Other

step 9

9:00pm

Order pizza, crack open a beer and chip away at your passion project

creative playing drums, eating pizza and drinking beer
Survey Says

The average respondent ordered takeout 2 times a week in 2015

24% ordered pizza most frequently, over other takeout options such as Chinese, American and Thai

34% opt for alcohol as their poison choice, while 31% indulge in food

35% drink beer most frequently, over wine and spirits

54% regularly juggle a couple of creative projects at once

20% find themselves to be most creatively productive during the night, between 9pm and 11:59pm

The average respondent
ordered takeout 2
times a week in 2015

24% ordered pizza most
frequently, over other takeout options like
Chinese, American and Thai

54% regularly juggle a couple
of creative projects at once

34% opt for alcohol as their
poison choice, while 31% indulge in food

20% find themselves
to be most creatively
productive during
the night, between
9pm and 11:59pm

35% drink beer most frequently, over wine and spirits

step 10

12:30am

Get into bed, whisper “je t’aime” to your partner, and fall asleep for 7 hours

married couple going to sleep in the city
Survey Says

60% of respondents are in a relationship, engaged or married

57% had 1 sexual partner in 2015, while 22% had more

64% speak more than one language

59% sleep for 7 hours or more each night, on average

60% of respondents are in a
relationship, engaged or married

64% speak more
than one language

57% had 1 sexual partner
in 2015, while 22% had more

59% sleep for 7 hours or
more each night, on average

step 11

Repeat