What pops into your mind when you think of self-care? As much as we’d like it to be, it’s certainly not all Galaxy chocolate, red wine and bubble baths. You’d probably think it’s more along the lines of relaxation techniques, getting enough sleep, and useful tools that help us to reduce the stress in our lives. But what about using creativity as a self-care tool?
While creativity can often be seen as a bit of a solitary skill, it’s actually one of the most important ways to care for ourselves. Research has shown that people who are creative are typically more self-reliant. This means that they’re better at managing their own emotions, setting and achieving goals, and taking care of themselves. They also tend to be more open-minded and tolerant.
We practise self-care to help us relax, reduce stress and feel more connected. Creativity helps us to connect with our inner selves, so why not try and combine the two? Here’s a number of ways you can jump start your creative side and see where it takes you:
- Make a list of five things you always do. These are things that come naturally to you and don’t require much thought or creativity. Then challenge yourself to come up with a list of five things you have never tried before. This could be anything from cooking a new dish to writing a song.
- If you like to draw, sew, or craft, experiment with different colours, shapes and textures. Play with different materials and look online for inspiration to make something new and unexpected. Instagram and YouTube are great places for sew-alongs, paint-alongs and step by step tutorials that will get your creative juices flowing.
- Don’t be afraid to break some rules. Take some time to freestyle. Don’t plan any of your thoughts or ideas – just let them flow and see where they take you. Sometimes things that don’t work spark great ideas for things that will.
- Listening to music can help you to be more creative. Try out different styles and listen to different artists.
- Take a camera or sketch book with you when you are out and about. Jotting down notes or taking photos when you are out for a walk can provide plenty of inspiration when you are feeling low on ideas.
- Try doodling or journaling as both are great ways of engaging with your brain and downloading thoughts and ideas. As you go back and look at your notes, doodles and ideas, you might just find you have created your own creativity goldmine.
Being creative is important for both our own well-being and the well-being of others. Perhaps it’s time we start acknowledging this and making it a part of our self-care routine. Why don’t you make some time for something new today, connect with your inner ideas bank and make the magic happen?
SJB
So Just Be 