Art and Self-Care – Thoughts from an Enforced Break

Honestly, I had pictured the past few weeks rather differently. But sometimes life just forces you to hit pause—whether you’re up for it or not. In my case, it was a cold that completely threw me off track from head to toe. Creative projects? Not a chance. Instead: sofa, blanket, and tea.

Is it just me, or are colds hanging around longer and nastier this year? Mine, for one, took me out for a solid two weeks! I admit, at first, I tried to get a few things done here and there. But that was my own fault—come my birthday, I was flat out and not going anywhere.
Note to self: if you’re going to run yourself ragged, do it considerately!

From Flow to Full Stop

And then there are those times when you need to pay attention to the subtle warnings from your body, which often just quietly raises a finger at first.

I have a little confession to make. There’s an artist I know (purely hypothetically, of course) who, when in full creative flow, gets so immersed in her work that she completely loses track of time. Just this one last thing, then the next, until she’s practically bouncing in her seat with an over-full bladder, but still, she has "just one more thing" to finish. Any similarities to the author here are, of course, entirely coincidental.

It seems harmless enough – but not so much when I don't even notice I'm exhausted, or even just that my feet have gone cold.

Let’s take a step back and get serious for a moment. My tendency to overlook my own needs in the name of enthusiasm has actually landed me in burnout and serious depression before. Hardly surprising, is it? Creativity is fun, even joyful, but it’s also demanding. It takes energy and focus – often without us noticing.

Long before this cold, my body had been signalling, “Hang on, this is getting too much!” But clearly, I needed a firm reminder, which is why that cold found its way right in and took me down.

Art and Self-Care During a Break

I’m feeling better now, mostly. My energy is coming back, but I still feel drained, and of course, there’s a mountain of stuff that’s piled up... I’ve got to be careful not to throw myself straight back into the pit of exhaustion.

In the past, I’d have jumped right back into things. These days, I’m trying a different approach. It doesn’t always have to be big creative projects to get back into the art groove. A bit of sketching, mixing some colours... Small acts of creativity that clear my head without draining what energy I’ve got.

And you know, even without the illness or exhaustion, these little warm-up exercises shouldn’t be underestimated.

Doing Nothing, Doing Good

Sitting still with a cup of tea and letting my thoughts drift is harder than it sounds. Especially when my schedule is jam-packed. There’s always that urge to “be productive.” But in truth, doing nothing isn’t really doing nothing. As Philippe Djian once said, a reclining artist is hard at work.

Doing nothing creates space for thoughts and ideas. These small pauses, I’ve realised, are just as essential for my creative process as the active painting sessions. The less I try to force creativity, the more it just seems to come on its own. My creativity thrives when I give it the room to unfold.

How to

It sounds so simple. Pauses are supposed to hit reset on your creative thinking – what was blocked starts to flow again, your energy and enthusiasm return.

Unfortunately, it’s rarely that straightforward. Because I’ve ignored my need for creative and restful pauses for so long, I’ve put myself in a position where stepping back feels almost impossible. I’m still a bit weak from being ill and should probably take more breaks than I’m actually allowing myself. But the irony is, I’m too tense to truly relax during these breaks.

So, what next? How do I find my way back out of this? Thankfully, this isn’t my first rodeo, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help. If you’ve got any other ideas, I’d love to hear them – I could really use some fresh insight!

1. Start Slowly
   If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that diving back in headfirst usually ends in disaster. Instead, I take it slowly, starting with simple tasks. They don’t even have to be creative. Filing paperwork, for instance – no thinking required, just punching holes and sorting, and suddenly one more unwanted task is off the list.
2. Tap into Inspiration
   When I haven’t got the energy to create, it’s the perfect time to find inspiration. Flicking through art books, listening to a podcast on creativity, or even just browsing Pinterest. It’s a way to feel connected to art without the pressure of having to create something right away.
3. Yoga – Letting Go of Tension
   Normally, I start my day with a few quick yoga poses to get moving. But recently, I’ve treated myself to longer Yin Yoga sessions. It’s only when I’m holding those poses that I notice how much tension I’ve actually been carrying, even when I thought I was fine. These moments let my body truly exhale and help me let go.
4. Take Micro-Breaks
   I need more breaks than usual right now. But even little ones help: a few minutes of meditation or just closing my eyes. It doesn’t have to be an entire day off; sometimes just a few minutes can help recharge. The trick is to take those breaks before I even feel like I need them.
5. Time with My Other Half
   Sharing a coffee, chatting about nothing in particular, or just being together – these moments ground me and help me recharge.
6. Change of Scenery
   A walk, experiencing nature, or sitting at a café with a friend – sometimes all it takes is a new perspective and something different to look at. I do love a good wander through a museum too.
7. Rethink To-Do Lists
   My “never-to-be-done” list can feel like a real downer sometimes. So I break it down into smaller, more manageable lists: What’s really important? What can wait? What’s quick and easy to tick off right now? And sometimes, it’s perfectly fine to leave something on the list and let it be.
8. Schedule Time for Doing Absolutely Nothing
   I’m not great at this, but sometimes it helps to actually schedule some time for doing nothing. If need be, I’ll even put it on my to-do list.

Protection Mode On – Pauses Aren’t a Luxury

In the end, it boils down to this: it’s alright to slow down. Pauses aren’t a weakness or a luxury – they’re a form of self-protection. Sometimes you just have to accept that you can’t do everything all at once. I’m constantly reminding myself of that. After all, it’s our mental health on the line here.

What about you? What helps you? I could certainly use a few more tips!