Start Simple: Creativity Without Pressure

For many years, I had lost touch with my creative side. I had slipped into burnout and found myself caught in the heavy currents of depression. It felt like I was fighting against myself, as if someone had switched off the light inside me. The creativity that once grounded me felt completely out of reach. And yet, without it, I burned out even faster.
By the time I realized this, there was barely a spark left. I wanted to be creative again, but I had no idea where to begin.

It was, in fact, a colouring book that gently reconnected me with my creativity. My son had given me a Game of Thrones colouring book for my birthday. Suddenly, the question of where to start didn’t matter anymore. There was no pressure to prove I could still create. I just started colouring.

Maybe not many professional artists would admit this, but in the end, it’s how most of us began as children. I simply had to take that step again.

Children don’t question the outcome — they just start. But as adults, we often hold ourselves back with expectations and self-imposed demands. We’ve forgotten how to create without pressure, and that’s often where we get stuck. The thought that whatever we make has to be beautiful, impressive, or even perfect keeps growing in our minds, making it harder and harder to begin.

That pressure can be paralyzing. The blank canvas or empty page suddenly becomes a symbol of our own expectations, as if every idea has to pass an invisible quality check before it’s even worth trying. And what if it’s not good enough?

But creativity thrives when it’s free — without judgment, without a goal. That’s why the barriers to getting started should be low. Maybe it’s as simple as scribbling a few lines on the paper just to break the blankness. Or limiting yourself to a single colour so the choices don’t feel overwhelming. Or using a colouring book as gentle guidance. What matters is starting — without the pressure for it to be perfect.

The Power of Creativity 

There is no known culture, past or present, that lacks some form of art or creative expression. Art and creativity are universal traits of humanity, deeply rooted in who we are.

They serve not just as a way to create beauty but as a powerful means of self-expression. Even the earliest known artworks reveal the human desire to make experiences and emotions visible — whether through dance, music, painting, or sculpture. Art has long helped process pain, joy, loss, and connection, offering a language beyond words.

It is a fundamental part of what it means to be human, fulfilling essential psychological, social, and cultural needs: expression, communication, meaning-making, identity, and the integration of emotions. Art is not an extra — it is one of the most original forms of human expression, inseparable from our ability to think, feel, and connect with one another.

A Release for the Mind

When we engage in creative activities—whether painting, writing, or crafting—our brain shifts. The focus moves away from analytical thinking towards more free-flowing, intuitive processes. Studies, such as the 2016 research conducted by Drexel University, have shown that creative expression can lower stress hormone levels, regardless of artistic skill or experience. It’s not about perfection but about expression.

Creating can also foster a sense of self-efficacy, reminding us that we have the ability to shape and make a difference. That feeling alone can be empowering, especially during difficult times.

Interestingly, creativity has a physical impact as well. The breath slows, the pulse softens, and the body begins to relax. Creative activities activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for rest, recovery, and restoring balance.

Research suggests that mindful creative practices can have effects similar to meditation:

• Present focus: The creative process brings attention to the here and now.
• Less overthinking: Focusing on shapes, colours, or movements gently redirects the mind from racing thoughts.
• Improved body awareness: Working with physical materials like brushes, clay, or paper enhances the connection to the body.

And then there’s the joy. Those moments when we lose ourselves in the creative flow—mixing colours, sketching lines, getting lost in the details—are moments of presence. Creativity can quiet the mental noise and allow us to simply be.

Why We Need Creativity So Urgently

In our achievement-driven society, creativity is often reduced to productivity—art as a result rather than a process. But its true value lies not just in the finished piece, but in what happens while creating: a moment of freedom, of self-determination, where we reclaim control over how we express ourselves.

That’s why it’s so important to keep the threshold for creativity low—because it’s not just about making something, but about reconnecting with ourselves. Creativity can be a tool for self-discovery, stress relief, and restoring the connection to our own body.

What matters most at first isn’t the outcome but the space we create for ourselves. A space where it’s enough to simply do.

This article was created in collaboration with TutKit.com and contains advertising.
All content is based on my own experiences and thoughts.

TutKit: An Easy Way to Get Started

Unlocking your creativity can feel so much easier when the barriers to getting started are low. Sometimes, all it takes is a small spark to get things flowing—and for that, I have a recommendation: TutKit. The platform offers a wide range of creative resources and makes it especially easy to take that first step. No pressure for perfection.

With TutKit’s free colouring pages, you can explore creativity playfully and with no prior skills needed. Whether festive Christmas designs, mandalas, dinosaurs, or unicorns—the selection is huge and constantly growing. All images are available for free download in high resolution (4000 × 4000 pixels) without requiring registration. Plus, the built-in editor allows you to colour the images directly on the screen, save your work, and print it out—also free of charge and without signing up.

And it’s not just fun for kids. Over the holidays, I explored the platform and printed out a few designs myself. I genuinely enjoyed colouring them. In fact, the koala you see in the header came from there too:

With TutKit’s new online tool, you can get creative right in your browser—no design software or complicated setup needed.
Various tools like brushes, markers, pencils, and even a spray can make it easy to sketch, draw, or paint freely.
You can choose colours from a ready-made palette or mix your own using the colour picker. And if things don’t go quite as planned? No worries—there’s an eraser and a reset option to keep it fun and stress-free. Once you're done, you can save your artwork or print it out directly.

The platform offers even more free content. In the DIY section, you’ll find creative craft ideas, decoration tutorials, and DIY gift projects—like fun crafts for kids or napkin folding techniques. Personally, I enjoyed the origami tutorials the most, especially the clever ideas for folding money gifts. And the simple paper planes took me right back to my childhood—so much fun!

Here too, the tutorials are clearly structured, beginner-friendly, and easy to follow with both text and video formats.

The option to create directly online or start with simple craft projects makes it especially easy to dive into creativity. You can simply focus on the process—without barriers.

If you’d like to explore the platform’s full range of content, you can sign up on TutKit.com for free. This unlocks an ad-free experience, and for three days, you can access all video tutorials across the site, beyond the colouring pages and DIY sections—no automatic renewal! Click here to start your free trial.

The Path Back to Your Own Creativity

Today, I work successfully as a freelance artist. But taking a step back to something as simple as a colouring book was an important part of my journey. It felt like pressing a reset button—allowing me to let go of high expectations, the need to create something remarkable, all of it. I was able to reconnect with what creative expression feels like when it’s free from judgment.

Creativity can be playful. Imperfect. And that’s exactly what makes it so valuable—because it gives us the space to grow, to experiment, and to discover ourselves. This TED Talk by Ethan Hawke on the topic really inspired me:

As children, we painted, cut, and glued without ever wondering whether it was good enough. Somewhere along the way, we lost that trust. And how often do we expect results—from children and from ourselves—that stifle this freedom of expression? Creativity needs space where mistakes are allowed. A space for trying, not for proving.

If you feel the urge to create but don’t know how to start—start small. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. A few lines on paper, a colouring book, a DIY project. Just begin and feel the magic. That first step can change everything.