​Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash

​As adults, we don’t always allow ourselves time to reflect on life and the thoughts and feelings that go along with it. Unfortunately, this lack of self-care can have a negative impact on your mental health which also impacts creativity. Much like the diary you kept under your bed as a teen, your journal or morning pages can be a safe haven, a place where you can gain clarity and control of your daily emotions instead of letting them rule your life. Once you allow journaling to become a habit, it can have a profound effect on your mental health and can help unblock your creative fllow. Here are 4 unexpected ways that journaling can transform your mental health and improve your creative life. 

Sleep Better: Getting a more restful night’s sleep is just one way that journaling can benefit your mental health. It’s common to carry a load of worry and stress to bed without even realizing you’re doing it. As your head hits the pillow, every problem and concern from the previous day comes to light making it impossible to sleep. When you start journaling or begin a morning pages practice and brain dump your problems, thoughts and feelings onto paper, it takes the weight off your shoulders and your mind, even if it’s only for the night. Pushing pause on those troublesome thoughts racing through your head can greatly improve how fast (and how well) you sleep each night. 

Self-Expression: Each and every person has a unique inner voice that sometimes gets lost in this crazy chaos called life. By hiding your feelings, not speaking your mind and consistently meetings other’s expectations over your own, you put yourself at risk of forgetting who and what you really are. Journaling can get you back on track by helping you dig deep and awaken a part of yourself that you’d long forgotten – feelings, emotions, likes, dislikes, dreams, goals and so much more. However, it’s not going to happen overnight - the key is to keep writing. Don’t censor yourself and don’t hold back from any thoughts or feelings that keep coming to the surface. Be transparent about your experiences and let your journal be a safe haven for your deepest desires and biggest dreams. Have some patience and you’ll find your way back to YOU in no time. 

Reduce Anxiety: If you’ve struggled with anxiety in the past, you know it can be debilitating when it comes to everyday life. Picking up the habit of journaling can be a great way to manage stress and relieve any anxious thoughts and feelings that come your way. Anxious feeling are often fueled by the uncertainly of what will happen, not so much by what is happening in the present moment. By writing down your worries, stressors, and fears you can delve into them at a deeper level and examine what is really going on beneath the surface.  This will help you challenge your thoughts, explore your true options and finally begin to flip the switch on your thinking so you can have a different outlook. Instead of letting anxiety rule you, get it off your chest, out of your head and onto paper. This is the perfect way to take back control and start living life on your own terms. 

Increase your Optimism: We live in a world where it’s easy to fall victim to the gloom and doom mentality without even realizing it. We take little things for granted and don’t give nearly enough credit to how beautiful our lives really are. Journaling can help you do just that. Putting pen to paper is a powerful way to shift your perspective and remind you to focus on the good in your life rather than the bad. Take time each day to write about a positive experience or simply take note of a couple things you’re grateful for. By doing this consistently, your journal will become a source of positive energy, a place where you can visit even on the worst of days to bring a smile to your face. 

Journaling can benefit you in more ways than one, especially when it comes to maintaining strong mental health and opening to your creative self expression. Putting pen to paper can set in motion a mindset shift that will positively impact your life for years to come. 

Photo by ariq sulaiman on Unsplash

 
Many of us have been creating in isolation since the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year.  Some people have been producting all kinds of music, art or writing while others have been feeling stuck because of the uncertanity of the times. 

As the pandemic ebbs and flows, there's no doubt about it, at least for the forseeable future, COVID-19 and it's variants will continiue to plague many of our lives for awhile.  How can we get past the often scary and unpredictable virus mentally, physically and emotionally and get on with our creative lives if it has us stuck.

Here's a few ideas to help you adapt and move forward with your creativity during these times::

Mentally and Emotionally

The biggest hurdle is to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the possiblity of future quarantines or at least working in isolation for awhile.  

-Ground yourself:  Whether it's Prayer, meditation, or other Mindfulness practices., practice a daily ritual to help you keep anxiety at bay.  Find a way to get still and focus on yoiur well-being.  

-Be gentle with yourself.  This new reality many of us are living is challenging.  Don't get hard on yourself if you don't feel like creating right now.  Allow yourself time to relax, rest and reflect, if need be.  Disenage from the "grind" culture of producing, no matter what your peers are doing.  Work at a pace, if anything, that works for you.  If a few months or weeks are unproductive, give yourself compassion, not pity or anger.  We are all working through this the best way we can. 

Movement

Move your body at least once a day whether it's walking, dancing, exercise, yoga, etc.  Do what makes you feel good without over doing it.  Movement releases tension, anxietiy and stress that can weigh on the body and create blockages to our creativity. 

Nature

Spend time outside in nature, whether it's a daily walk, hiking or another activity such as grabbing lunch outdoors, doing nature sketching, or meditating.  Consider bring the outdoors inside such as plants and flowers to decorate your space.  Nature can provide a feeling of calmness and help bring equanimitiy to your daily life. 

Declutter

Physical Space: Go through all of your studio materials and sell or dispose of stuff. you don't need.  Create a storage system for your supplies that makes it easier to retrieve and put a way when finished with your creative practice.  Your creative space will feel lighter and more inspiring to create as well as bring a positive energy to the place.   

Mental Space:  What's holding you back from your creative practice mentally?  How can you clear out the negative messages so you can hold yourself accountable?  Work with some affirmations about your creative goals and intentions and keep them handy.  Review your schedule and see what things are a priority and what may need to go.  Practice some of the grounding activities above to help gain insight.  Schedule time with a therapist, a coach or someone you can talk to about anything in your life that you have difficulty letting go of for a more peaceful, creative life. Make to-do lists for creative activities daily or weekly so it can be added as a priority.  

Reach Out and Touch Someone: Virtually

If connecting to other artists, writers or creatives is not safe or possible, work on establishing relationships online.  Sign up for creative co-working sessions with others, participate in online writing/poetry open mics and other art critiques/sharing opportunities.  If you are on social media, establish some relationships with other creatives online that you admire or have shown interest in iyour work.  Collaborate with other creatives on projects or get involve with an art swap.  Join or start a virtual book club for creatives.  The sense of community can be built beyond four walls and can invite rich social experiences as well.

Professional Development for Creatives

Are there workshops, trainings, etc., that you always wanted to attend?  Do you have a passion for writing poetry and would like guidance?  How about a new art making technique?  What about an creativity building or Artist's Way Group to help with some inspiration?  If you can afford it, this is a time to discover oir add to your creative skills without a lot of distractions and meet others doing the same thing as well.  If finances are a little slim, try listening to podcasts for creatives, checking out YouTube videos on art techniques as alternatives to formal online courses and trainings. 

Experiment with Social Media

Social media can be an asset or a liability during these times.  If you want to reach more people with your work, try a social media platform that you are not familiiar with or haven't tried.  Find ways to bring attention to you work using videos, photos, live broadcasts and other methods.  Or it may be a time to review what you are using as platforms and focus on what's working best and delete those that are not working well

Remember this season of our lives is difficult for everyone.  As we learn more about COVID-19 and how it will affect us, know that being gentle with your creative cycle and staying healthy is the most important thing.   Use your intuition as you move forward and connect with others for help and support as much as possible.

Feel free to share other ideas on how you have been moving through the pandemic creatively below. 





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​Would you believe that being idle could make you more interesting? A recent study suggests that mental clutter stifles creativity while unburdening your mind encourages originality.

Researchers at an Israeli university looked at what happens when your mind is occupied with stray thoughts and nagging concerns. Subjects who were tasked with remembering 7 digits responded slowly, and gave boring conventional answers on a free association test. On the other hand, subjects assigned only 2 digits were quick to come up with innovative replies.

Learn how to liberate yourself from mental overload. Explore these tips for meditation and other intuitive experiences.

Reducing Mental Load Through Meditation

1. Face yourself. Some unconscious thoughts can be disturbing. Remember that bringing them to the surface is the first step in healing. Once you spot your baggage, you can develop more constructive habits.

2. Scan your body. Your body is an excellent guide to how to find your flow. Notice what conditions help you to lower your shoulders and unclench your jaw.

​3. Focus on your breath. Simple breath work helps beginners and advanced practitioners to become more mindful. Notice the air as it enters your nostrils and travels through your body. Spend as much time exhaling as inhaling. 

4. Develop clarity. Picture your mind as a pool of water. As the ripples settle, you can see under the surface. What’s going on when you put aside housework and utility bills? Connect with your aspirations and dreams.

​5. Count your blessings. Engage with the present moment by noticing what you’re grateful for. Celebrate the taste of morning coffee and the sound of your children laughing.

6. Practice daily. Work your way up gradually and consistently. Even a few minutes of stillness can be beneficial.

Reducing Mental Load Through Other Activities

1. Write things down. Put your to do list onto paper so you can forget about it without worrying that you’ll miss your next dental appointment. Electronic versions are also fine if that’s more convenient.

2.  Play games. Do you lose track of time when you’re planning your next move in Words with Friends? Taking a break from work can help you to return more refreshed.

3.  Move around. Clear your mind with an afternoon run or visit to the gym. Physical exercise also burns calories and releases stress. 4. Use your hands. Repetitive movements can trigger breakthrough ideas as you tap into your unconscious. Knit a scarf or play piano. Chop vegetables for dinner or paint an accent wall in your bedroom.

5. Slow down. If running too many programs at a time makes your computer less 2 effective, think what excess multitasking does to your brain. Try to immerse yourself in a single task while you remember your purpose.

6. Appreciate nature. Nature is a powerful antidote to cognitive overload. Spend a moment enjoying bird songs and cool breezes.

7. Take a nap. If you can fall asleep easily during the day without disrupting the quality of your nightly slumbers, napping could be for you. Studies show that a brief sleep enhances memory formation. According to some research, people who nap also tend to live longer.

8. Turn off your phone. Some distractions are beyond your control, but you can opt out of being available around the clock for non-emergencies. Disconnect your devices for an hour each day. Give yourself quiet time to stimulate your creativity and think on a deeper level.

If pushing yourself to succeed is tiring you out, try thinking less. Allow your mind to become clear so your creativity and productivity can soar.