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Sustaining Creativity in
a Fast-Paced Industry
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By Angely Báez, May 18, 2025
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Sustaining creativity is often a challenge. It’s easy to lose our sense of direction when we get swept up in the chaos of daily life. Depending on our reality, whether we’re mothers, spouses, business owners, or simply navigating the complexity of our environments, there are countless distractions. Culture, geography, economics, and politics all shape our days. Sometimes we receive disheartening news. Fear of the unknown creeps in. Changes threaten the stability we’ve fought so hard to build.
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For me, reconnecting with my creative self means carving out time for the things that nourish my soul. I need silence to recharge. Stillness to read something that stimulates me, not just for work (like my audiobook narrations), but for inspiration. Music is a great escape. I seek out my artist community, those who speak the same language of creativity, who offer new perspectives and challenge me to grow.
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I escape to the beach. That’s my element. It relaxes me and allows me to disconnect from daily stress. I can return to that joyful place within myself where inspiration lives. Nurturing the soul is essential, and so is surrounding ourselves with people who make us better. The dreamers. The brave ones. The creators filled with faith. The ones who encourage us to be more, not just do more.
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As artists, we often overlook the business side of our careers. The uninspiring, sometimes tedious tasks are a necessary part of what we do. Inspiration doesn’t always show up on time. We must cultivate the discipline to do what must be done even when we don’t feel like doing it. Sometimes, I wish I could add hours to the day, trying to do more than what’s humanly possible. And that’s when you realize that balance itself is an art.
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Just a month ago, the Dominican Republic experienced the most devastating human error-related event in our recent history. The collapse of the country’s most important nightclub led to the deaths of 235 people, hundreds injured, and a nation in mourning. Six days of national grief were declared. I lost friends. Colleagues. But perhaps the most profound realization was how interconnected we all are—everyone knew someone who had lost someone.
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The air was heavy. This happened right in the middle of an audiobook recording. The day after the tragedy, I walked into the studio, and my sound engineer and I paused to cry before beginning work. That’s how emotionally charged those days were. In moments like these, love for what you do, responsibility, and discipline come together to carry you when your soul can’t.
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Deadlines and fast-paced schedules often don’t allow us to stop, but even taking a few hours to reconnect with our humanity, with compassion, with the fragility of life, can make a world of difference. Reminding ourselves why we do what we love is absolutely necessary.
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One of the most valuable lessons I learned, through time and therapy, is that it’s okay to stop. That may sound simple, but for someone constantly moving, working, being productive, rest often arrives dressed in guilt. Guilt for all the things we “should” be doing.
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Sleep. Walk. Get some sun. Disconnect from technology and detox your mind, even for a few hours. Seek out joy in things unrelated to your career. Go to the movies. Talk to a “vitamin person,” someone who lifts your spirit. Read. Go to the theater. Hit the gym. Sing. Meditate. Do whatever you need to recharge your soul.
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I once read that feeling overwhelmed is often a sign that we’re growing – that we’re expanding beyond our comfort zones. We just need to give our brains time to adjust and process. That perspective changed everything for me.
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If you feel stuck or burned out creatively, remember this: your soul needs care as much as your craft does. You can’t pour from an empty cup. And your best work will always come from a place that’s alive within you.
♦♦♦
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Angely Báez is a multi-award-winning voice artist and narrator from the Dominican Republic, celebrated for her dynamic range, warmth, and emotional depth. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in commercial and narrative voiceover, master of ceremonies, public speaking, and simultaneous interpretation. Angely has voiced countless commercials, audiobooks, radio IDs, and campaigns for national and international clients, spanning Latin America and the United States.
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As the co-founder of Locución Santo Domingo, the first international voice professionals conference in the Dominican Republic, and the only Dominican and Latina international ambassador for the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS®), she represents her region’s vibrant talent on a global stage. Passionate about storytelling, cultural representation, and nurturing emerging voices, Angely’s work is deeply rooted in authenticity, connection, and soul. Web: www.angelybaez.com Instagram LinkedIn
