Taking care of yourself first is not a new idea, by any means. Even the airlines have it down – put the mask on yourself before assisting others in case of emergency. Let’s face it – life right now is a kind of an emergency. The word pandemic has been a part of daily conversation for a year. We have had political dividedness for a number of years, but it has been taken to some new levels in the past year. If your inner artist has decided to shut down and watch Netflix – I get it.
But here is another option. Take your inner artist out for some inspiration. In her book, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron suggests taking yourself out on Artist Dates – once a week. All by yourself.
I know. You’re already shaking your head thinking I can’t do that. I have a job/husband/kids/a parent who needs me, etc.
If that is your first thought, you probably are a person who could benefit from the Artist Date. You know I’m right.
Here are some ideas to create some time – go on a lunch break. Get out of the house before everyone else is up and let the kids wake your spouse. Trade days with your spouse – you have some free time on Saturday; he has some on Sunday. Ask your parents to have a playdate with your kids. Ask your adult children to help their grandparents and give you a free day. Or morning. Whatever time you can get.
Now that you have time, what should you do? Try these ideas to get the creative juices flowing again.
- Go Outside – Being out in Nature is good for creativity. I like to be outside – kayaking in the summer, snowshoeing in the Winter. I like to hike and bring my camera along. And my notebook and a snack.
- Go to a Shop You Have Never Been to Before – Generally, I don’t advocate spending money as a creativity source. But I like to go into stores for inspiration. If I see something I like, I think about how I could create that for myself. I think about displays and what I like about them. Go into a store solely looking for inspiration and with the intention of not buying anything.
- Go to a Bookstore – Check out a bookstore. Go into sections you usually don’t go into. Make a list of books you might like to read. Try something new at the café.
- Visit the Library – Unlike the bookstore you can take home all the books without buying anything. This is a great opportunity to read and learn about things that are out of your comfort zone.
- Watch a Documentary – or a romance or a mystery. Try something you don’t usually watch. Make a playlist of different movies you want to see, so when you have some free time you can get a snack and enjoy.
