Staying Creative When Life Gets Overwhelming: My Plan to Keep Going
As we all know, life can get busy unexpectedly. And if you are anything like me, when life gets busy, so many other things around me fall through the cracks—things like self-care, hobbies, rest, health, etc. I am in one of those seasons right now. While I can’t share just yet what is keeping me so busy! (But I will.) I will share how I manage to keep at it with my artwork and growth.
Tip: One way I stay on track is by working in my sketchbook. It’s pressure-free, safe, and I can just let loose. Here are some of my sketchbook paintings from the past couple of weeks.
I don’t know how many of you are like me, but when life becomes overwhelming for me, I go into a shut-down state. It’s not always noticeable to others around me; unfortunately, I sometimes don’t realize it myself at first. But it feels like when life things are overwhelming, I can’t take on anything “extra”. I can do my work just fine; I can do the necessities for our home and do what I need to get through the business or challenge that surrounds the overwhelm. But the first thing to suffer is my self-care.
Instead of taking the bath in epson salts that I know soothes my soul, it’s quick showers instead
Instead of dedicating time to exercise, I’ll go to bed super early or hit the snooze one extra time
Instead of doing my skincare routine at bedtime, I will skip it altogether
Instead of starting a paint project, I’ll scroll on Instagram or watch YouTube videos
I stop my journal practice completely
I opt for fast and easy meals instead of prioritizing healthy satiating meals
Is anyone else resinating? But in my growth and healing, I have learned that realizing this for myself is huge. Managing it is even more huge! So, I am here today to let you know I am in one of those funks. I feel like I am about to let things I love slip by the wayside. But I have a plan this time to stay on track! Here is what I am doing differently during this time of overwhelm:
Setting micro goals
Adding in mindless art every day
Limiting distractions
Embracing the imperfections
Tip: Another thing I do to help me stay creating is to do tutorials. You don’t have to come up with new ideas to be creative. You can just simply follow along. You can find so many creative tutorials on YouTube for free!
So here I am, in the midst of one of those crazy, overwhelming seasons. But instead of letting my creativity fall through the cracks, I’m making small, deliberate choices to keep it alive. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress.
By setting micro-goals, incorporating mindless art into my daily routine, limiting distractions, and embracing imperfections, I’m finding ways to keep creating even when life feels like a whirlwind. It’s not always easy, and it doesn’t always go as planned, but each small step helps me stay connected to the things that bring me joy.
If you’re in a similar season, remember that it’s okay to start small. Even five minutes of creativity a day can make a difference. Keep moving forward, and don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go perfectly. We’re all in this together, and sometimes, just staying in the game is a victory in itself.
What are some ways you stay creative during busy times? I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips in the comments below. Let’s keep encouraging each other to make time for what we love, no matter how hectic life gets.
