Creativity Information

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 5 Ways to Start Today


Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer attention to your self-care, you can have easier access to your creativity, to your muse and to your inner strength and resilience. You'll also have more energy, more tolerance for others and yourself and more confidence in your work.

Start. Have you been procrastinating about something? Do you need to update your resume so you're ready for that next audition or show? Edit the last chapter of your book? Call that gallery owner? Learn that new piece? Well, just start. Set your timer for 15 minutes and remind yourself that as soon as it goes off you can stop.

Stop. Today, just for five minutes, STOP. Stop and listen to what your inner muse might be trying to tell you (if it could just get your attention). This process will be easier and more effective if you consciously relax your mind and body first - a few deep breaths might be enough, or a few minutes listening to your favourite relaxing piece of music. If you have the time, try a progressive relaxation exercise where you imagine a ball of light traveling through your body and relaxing each muscle as it passes.

Turn around. Turn around your negative perceptions. When you start beating yourself up for procrastinating, remind yourself that you worked for 15 minutes on that project today! If your inner critic is telling you something else, try this method from my "Performance Readiness" worksheet. Write down everything your inner critic is saying to you. Now, imagine it's saying those things to a small child. Then, for every statement, write down what you would say to comfort and encourage that child and show them another way of looking at things.

Play. Speaking of children, just for today, approach your art as child's play. Paint with your non-dominant hand, play a new instrument or write a song or story using only words that start with the letter "d". What are some other playful things you could try?

Rest. Do whatever it takes to get a good night's sleep. And, just for today, rest when you feel tired. Not getting enough rest and sleep is one of the most direct ways we sabotage ourselves and our health. When's the last time you bounced out of bed in the morning, eager to start the day and feeling completely rested? For tips on getting a good night's sleep, see my Genuine Self-Care article at www.genuinecoaching.com/news/selfcare-aug2003.pdf.

© Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services. All rights reserved.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. To receive her free monthly newsletter, "Everyday Artist", subscribe at http://www.genuinecoaching.com/artist-newsletter.html


MORE RESOURCES:

CNET News

Morocco fights terrorism with one ID card, "promotes" creativity ...
CNET News, CA - 16 hours ago
As to the artist card; it affords them a "more structured environment" in which to work and ensures "conditions necessary to promote creativity," according ...


Tough times encourage culinary creativity
Aviation International News, NJ - 13 hours ago
“Tough times don’t destroy creativity,” said co-owner Paula Kraft. “They demand that you rise to the occasion with even greater creativity.”


Creativity and our life
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 5 hours ago
CREATIVITY, as held by many, can take two forms. One is invention, which has quite often been described as “one creating totally new things”. ...


Self-discipline, creativity work together to spark new ideas for ...
Columbia Missourian, MO - 12 hours ago
If an artist has limitations to work within, he or she is forced to be much more creative when trying to produce something original. ...


Students tap into creativity for CEC derby
phillyBurbs.com, PA - 17 hours ago
The assignment tapped into many of the students creative energies, the teacher said. One student made his wood block into a trolley, another into a football ...


Murder in Mumbai: Civilization and Barbarism
Insurance & Technology - 13 hours ago
The fragility of civilization is only one side of its paradoxical nature: it is the gentleness of liberty that allows for creativity in all endeavors, ...


Stefanski adds touch of creativity
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - Nov 30, 2008
By MARTIN FRANK • Gannett News Service • November 30, 2008 Already, it is clear that Stefanski breathed some much-needed life, ingenuity and creativity into ...


Creativity unleashed
This is Total Essex, UK - 16 hours ago
And to get you warmed up for that, there's I Scream Sunday, a night of creative performances from 7pm. The organisers are promising a big dollop of poetry ...


Gift ideas: Encourage creativity with board games
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - Nov 30, 2008
Here are 10 top picks for remarkable board games that stand out from the crowd and stand up to creative play. “Labyrinth is a strategy game of searching for ...


St. Peter Teen Uses Bubble Wrap With Creativity
KEYC, MN - Nov 30, 2008
Most people will admit to being fascinated by bubble wrap.It can create hours of fun and one teen found a way to combine that fun with education. ...

Creativity - Google News

home | site map
© 2006