I’ll be honest.
When I wake up in the morning & it’s still dark & the room is freezing?
No thank you!!
I’ll be staying nice & cozy under my duvet for as long as possible…
Maybe just like me, you live in a cold climate in winter & know the mental battle between nurturing creativity & wellness, even during these darker months.
If you’re at a lost on how to find the will power to nurture creativity in the fall & autumn, I got you!!
Here are the top 3 things that saved me each and every single time.
What does it mean to nurture creativity?
To nurture creativity means to take care of your mind, body & soul through artistic self expression.
This could be through painting, writing, journaling, dancing, acting, or even things like baking, reading, and being out in nature.
The point is to deepen connection to the self, take strides to heal your inner child ( & artist), & prioritize playfulness.
1. It’s all about *slow* connection
You might be thinking, “slow connection? It sounds nice & all, but what exactly is it…?”
In a nutshell, slow connection is discovering slow care activities to reconnect with the deepest parts of yourself, stretch your imagination, and heal your emotional history.
Okay so, what does this look like in practice??
Here are ( a few) examples:
- Dim / Red Lights after sunset
- Nourishing drinks
- Sitting by the fire ( or pull up a mock one on youtube!)
- Barefoot nature walks
- Nourishing yourself with warm soups & stews
- Saying no more often
- Taking time to notice
- Creating simple family & friend traditions
- Escasping in a book
- Candle lit bubble baths
- Quiet time
- Visit a free museum
- Series binge with hot chocolate
2. How to Nurture Creativity #2: Seasonal Daily Practice
Having a daily practice is amazing because it’s how you show up for your creativity every single day.
Why seasonal?
Every seasons brings a whole new *vibe* or energy.
In other words:
Just think about the drastic difference you feel in spring & summer versus the fall & winter…
Personally, I want to cozy up with a book, drink all the warm drinks, & slow all the way down come the cooler seasons.
& so does your inner creativity!
Here’s a mini recap of my own cold season daily creative practice:
- 10-15 minutes winter focused meditation ( or alternative one that focuses on the theme of creativity, stillness, and grounding)
- Cheap & easy craft project ( wreaths, snow globes, center-pieces, arrangements, all times of different holiday decor)
- A non-fiction winter novel with loads of drama & the adventure ( more on my top favorite winter must reads soon!)
- Artist pages ( write whatever comes to mind. Beautiful outlet for self-reflection, & self discovery into inner child healing work)
3. Surround Yourself With Good People
A few years, I thought I had it all figured out ( I know, I know…)
My diet was pretty decent, I was working out every day, & making the effort to journal & be creative.
Yet I felt awful. I mean really bad.
I realized during this “creative glow up” period, my friendships had been put on the back-burner.
Which led me to realize:
We could have the most best of everything, but without nurturing relationships first – kiss your creativity out the window.
Why?
Surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good inspires you to create, try new things, and express yourself more openly & freely cause you’re in an amazing mood!
+ creativity doesn’t always have to be a solo act!
Here are some ideas:
- Host a craft night
- Attend a wine & painting class
- Go dancing
- Join a writers group
PS: Don’t miss out on the free creativity challenge!
I mean we’re going ALL IN with this one..
3 Days of winter themed art journal activities, crafts, creativity meditations & more to take care of your mental health this upcoming season.
Related : What’s Your Creative Season? A Fresh Take On Feeling Inspired