If you see the words “self-care” and scoff, I completely understand.
The bubble bath and candles just didn’t do it for me this week, E.
But self-care is so much more than the aesthetic “R&R” moments we see on our socials. It has many facets, and my personal favourite is the creative one!
I spent much of my decade-long public accounting career in pursuit of the elusive work-life balance, so I write a lot on this topic. For a primer, check out The Quick Guide to Work-Life Balance: Simple Steps to Make Space for What Matters.
Embracing creativity as a form of self-care was pivotal to my sense of balance.
(This could be because of the border collie that lives in my mind, but I think a little creativity can help everyone feel more balanced.)
In this week’s post, we’re diving into what “creative self-care” is, why it works, and how to fit it into your busy schedule.
I often write to “busy professionals” because that’s the world I come from, but this is for anyone and everyone feeling stretched and wanting to incorporate some effective self-care into a busy life.
What is “creative self-care,” anyway?
Creative self-care is the act of intentionally engaging your creativity in a way that honours your authenticity and your energy.
We all have the need to create. This form of self-care is about acknowledging that need and satisfying it in a way that feels good and true for you.
“Self-care” has become a colloquial term, so as a refresher: self-care really is about caring for your self. It’s tempting to run ourselves through a laundry list of generally accepted self-care activities. But how would you care for a dear friend? You’d probably start by listening deeply and finding out what kind of support would mean the most to them.
Take the same approach with yourself. What is it your creative self wishes to express? How can you help make that happen?
Creative self-expression could look like:
- Intentional time spent in a beloved hobby.
- Working on a creative project.
- Trying something new and creative that you’ve been curious about.
It only requires a couple of elements: using your imagination, and creating something out of nothing (or learning the skills needed to do that).
It could be joyful or cathartic, structured or intuitive, done with others or practiced in private – so long as you’re doing it for you.
I want to say the goal is not to accomplish something, or to monetize something… But it could be!
The key is to do it in a way that is joyful, exciting, or meaningful. The moment it becomes “work”, or you start limiting your authentic expression to cater to others, it stops being self-care because it’s no longer about you.
Heard of “creative rest”? This is just one of 7 types of rest we all need. Read about the 7 types of rest through a creative lens here: The Creative’s Guide to Rest: 7 Ways to Restore Your Energy.
Creative self-care is vital for busy professionals
Our careers demand a lot of us; all of us, if we’ll allow it! This is especially true when we care deeply about what we do.
Even if we’re not actively available to our employers or clients after hours, we’re probably thinking about them. We unravel the lessons from today’s frustrations on the commute home, and we get a head start on tomorrow’s problems by solving them in the quiet solitude of the shower.
It’s easy to lose ourselves this way, and yet our selves are what make us unique and innovative contributors to our careers. We need creative self-care to root us firmly back in our authenticity so that we can show up with energy and direction.
I wrote a personal reflection on my experience with overwhelm and creative reclamation here: Creativity, Lost and Found: My Story (and Signs it’s Time to Reconnect With Yours).
That’s why it’s not enough to get a little quiet time in. You need an outlet:
- Action that definitively shuts down work for the day.
- Something that will capture your attention to create a break from your work life.
- An arena where your mind feels free to wander and explore creative possibilities.
Creative projects reduce overwhelm, curb stress, and minimize burnout.
They shake up prescriptive thinking, and give you an opportunity to step out of groupthink.
They put us back in the driver’s seat of our daily lives by giving us full control over our own creations.
They give you mental energy the same way exercise gives you physical energy.
Sound like a worthwhile pursuit? Let’s make it happen!
7 simple creative self-care ideas you can try today
Need a nudge to get started? Here are 7 creative self-care activities that you can try right now with minimal supplies.
I know you’re busy, so let’s categorize them by available time:
If you have 5 minutes:
- Doodle. Try a quick sketch of what you can see while waiting for meetings to start, or whenever you need a little brain break. If you don’t love your drawing skills, you can try filling space on the page with patterns. You might be surprised by what you can do!
- Dance. Most of us could use a little more movement in our day to keep the blood flowing, the muscles active, and the joints mobile. Dance is just a creative, expressive way to get that movement in. Committing to only five minutes of it a day is a great way to ease yourself into a lasting routine.
- Do a 5-minute reset. Part of the reset is to write down everything on your mind in short-form, so be sure to capture any creative curiosities! Check out 5-Minute Reset: A Simple Routine to Declutter Your Mind and Refocus Your Day for a routine you might like. (Don’t miss the free one-pager linked in the post!)
If you have 15–30 minutes:
- Bullet journal. All you need is a pen and paper or notebook to start. Fill out your daily log, paying special attention to any inspiration, ideas, or insights. Set up your next monthly spread. Create a new collection for something you’re interested in.
- Photography walk. We’re touching on movement once again – a 15-30 minute walk can do you wonders. Bring a camera (your phone set to do not disturb will do) and capture the beauty around you. Find magic in the mundane!
New to bullet journaling? Here’s an introduction to this mindful productivity system: The Busy Creative’s Guide to Bullet Journaling (Start Here!). They make wonderful creative companions!
If you have an hour or more:
- Take a class. Ever wanted to try pottery? How about a painting class? These are a great form of self-care because they take you out of the usual grind and help you connect with other like-minded hobbyists.
- Visit a museum or gallery. In keeping with the theme of changing environments, these are great places to collect ideas, capture inspiration, and slowly, intentionally focus on the pieces that interest you.
How to build lasting creative self-care habits (even with a demanding day job)
The same principles that make habits stick in general work for creative self-care. For example, habit stacking suggests attaching your creative self-care activity to an existing routine. Every time you pour a cup of coffee, spend your first few sips doodling on a post-it note.
Creative self-care comes with its own set of challenges, though:
- They aren’t traditionally thought of as vital care in the same way that, say, brushing your teeth is.
- Creativity is an abstract concept, so a “creative act” is not well-defined. It can actually add to the cognitive load by demanding that you decide what exactly you will do that is “creative”.
- Self-care in general is often seen as unproductive when compared to sitting down to your computer to work. It’s hard to let go of this mindset when the world around you is full of busy bees.
Here are some ways we can counteract these to make the habit really stick:
Pick the right creative act. Let your curiosity lead on this one. Your creative activity will be most impactful if it’s something you feel connected to in some way so that you naturally feel pulled in. This is usually something you’ve always wanted to try, something you used to do as a kid, or something that you really admire.
Truly prioritize it. We feel like we should be working constantly, so this is hard to do. Re-read why self-care is vital for busy professionals. Make it personal – what do you want to change in your life by incorporating creative self-care? How would that make you feel?
Add joy. Creativity is joyful! But when we’re stuck in work mode (and in desperate need of some self-care), getting that 5-minute doodle in can seem like a chore. The key is to find ways to add more joy to the process, and keep trying this until your creative break feels irresistible. Do you need to add ambiance? Chocolate? A friend? Is there a time of day when your creative self-care feels the best?
Start small. We want to lower our barriers to entry. You don’t need to commit to 30 minutes a day to benefit from creative self-care. Commit to 5 minutes, even if you have 30 available! After that 5 minutes, you’ve got permission to stop (but if you have the time, I bet you’ll keep going).
Take notes. A journal is easiest, but even a mental note will help.
Your prompt: How did I feel before my creative self-care session? How about after?
We want to notice how incorporating this form of self-care impacts us, and as we collect tangible evidence that it really does have an impact on our wellbeing, we’ll be more inclined to stick with our new routines.
Read more on finding time and making space for creativity here: Barriers to Creativity: Finding Time and Making Space
Ready to embrace creative self-care in your daily life?
Jump in if you’re so called! Or, take one baby step — what can you do right now with what you have? Exercise your creativity, but make it fun (and just for you).
If you’re stuck on where to start and just want something guided that can be done in 5 minutes: Grab the free one-pager: 5 Minute Reset to exercise your rapid logging skills (and see what creative ideas emerge).
And of course, if you’re feeling burnt out and need some more ideas to reset, visit this collection of posts: Reclaim Your Energy
Until next time, stay resilient and creative!
