This is 38 :: Celebrating and Reflecting on Another Trip Around the Sun

Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean— the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down— who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

-Mary Oliver

This is 38.

Today is my happy new year. Another trip around the sun, lessons learned, love given and received. I am feeling sparkly with love and abundance from the Universe this weekend.

Yesterday morning, I woke up to snuggly kids in our cozy bed, and started the day feeling bathed in the warmth of gratitude. I heated up some pumpkin bread with butter and cinnamon, poured a mug of hot coffee and cream, and thought about how I want my 38th year to feel. Here are a few words that came to mind…

Delicious…Rich…Cozy…Colorful…Affectionate…Intimate…Patient…Slow…Connected…

IMG_0845.JPG

I have an old journal from college, with Mary Oliver’s famous quote from the above poem, and I think of this often. I dream big dreams while enjoying simple pleasures, looking for beauty and joyful moments every day, and actively work to stay present in the now.

I also continue to learn to acknowledge my fears, my doubts, my shortcomings, my struggles. I am as imperfect as they come. I am broken and cracked and parts glued back together with love and care and a whole lot of grace. And honestly, some parts are haphazardly slapped on with duck tape.

As a Libra Sun, I love this time of year. It’s a time to turn more inward, slow down, get cozy and sink deeper into yourself. I wonder how much of who I am is ruled by being born into this world in early October, and arriving at this season feels like a joyful homecoming.

As the days, weeks, months and years tick by, I really just want to live a life of simple joys.

I hope I am always this person who sits and looks around at nature, listening to music, breathing deeply and feeling grateful for where I am in every moment.

I want to continue to explore and make art that feels vibrant, healing, empathetic and full of love.

I want to show my family the most love and affection possible. I want to exercise more patience and slowness with my parenting, and more intimacy and connection with my partner. To go to bed each night, cuddled up to my dearest love, and sink into peaceful, restful sleep.

I want to bottle up moments of watching my kids running wild and free, with their laughter tickling the treetops and their hair smelling of sunshine and pine at the end of the day.

I want to take in every possible sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling as I go about my days.

I want to laugh from the depths of my belly until tears squeeze out the corners of my eyes and form rivers down my cheeks.

The tide continues to flow in and out. Our bodies continue to expand and contract with the moon. The sun rises and sets in gloriously brilliant watercolor masterpieces that stretch across the sky. And there’s so dam,n much in between all of that.

I want to enjoy it all.

I want to savor every morsel of every moment.

With butter and cinnamon.

Do I Actually Like Coffee or Do I Just Like Sugar?

Do I Actually Like Coffee, or Do I Just Like Sugar? A blog post about old habits and letting go by Shannon Sorensen

There have been many times in my life that I have made the decision to cut sugar out of my coffee. I’d do it for a few days or a couple weeks, and then I’d slowly start adding that sweetness back in. I chalked it up to my personal flavor preference for something I enjoyed consuming, and that was that.

I typically made this decision at the start of a health kick. My thought process went something like, “Sugar is bad. I put a lot of sugar in my coffee. I drink a lot of coffee, so I drink a lot of sugar. If I cut out the sugar, that will be a healthy decision for me.”

I would do this for a week or so, and inevitably start adding sugar back in, because the coffee was too bitter, too…gross, really, for me to enjoy.

But this week, I had a bit of an epiphany. I am making some major lifestyle changes to combat weight gain and bad cholesterol, so one of the first things I did? Cut the sugar out of coffee. And I’m sitting here drinking my cup, which has half and half and cinnamon in it, and guess what popped into my head…

What if I don’t actually like coffee?

As someone who drinks anywhere from 1-4 cups of this per day, it seems like a valid question to be asking.

Do I actually like coffee, or do I just like sugar?

And the jury’s still out on that question. I want to give it a fair shot to see if cutting sugar out of all areas of my diet results in adjusting my taste buds. But, this brought up another question…

Why do I feel the need to like coffee so much? And what else am I holding onto day after day, year after year?

I have been drinking it since I was 14. I remember sneaking tastes of it from my mom’s morning cup and thinking it was disgustingly bitter. And then, one night at the beach with a friend, she gave me a thermos fully of “mocha”. I had no idea what mocha was, and she told me it was coffee with cream and cocoa in it. Wow! I Love cocoa! I gave it a try and was hooked. I started drinking mocha. I gradually started making coffee without cocoa, adding scoops of sugar instead.

For over 20 years, coffee has been a central part of my daily routine. Grabbing a cup at a local coffee shop with friends, grabbing a big morning cup from Dunkin on the way to work, school drop off, or embarking on a two-hour drive between Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The “Mommy needs coffee” mindset that has taken over social media, graphic tees and seeped into our core beings. It has played a supporting role in the social theatrics of motherhood and working from home. It’s been around for so long, it’s become part of my identity. I am a coffee-drinking artist.

But the question remains…do I actually like coffee?

I’m sure there are people who do. And perhaps it’s a matter of finding a brew that has a good flavor that I do enjoy. But again, what if I just don’t like it?

Oh coffee, why can’t I just quit you?

I have quit quite a few things this past year that I don’t enjoy, that no longer serve me, and don’t feel good. Maybe it was being home and being with myself for so long that these changes came pretty easy. I stopped wearing bras in general, and switched to comfier bralettes and camis. I stopped pouring my nightly glass of wine or beer while making dinner (and the second drink after the kids went to bed). I realized that I didn’t enjoy it anymore, and it was giving me regular headaches and tummy troubles. And again, the whole “Mommy needs a drink” mindset felt icky and not a good story I want to embody.

Pants with zippers and buttons? Buh-bye. I am a curvy person who enjoys her stretchy clothes. Screw the patriarchy and capitalism for making me think I have to wear certain things at all, especially constricted clothes that don’t expand and contract with my feminine body throughout the day and month.

And the best breakup has been no longer automatically going to Amazon for every little thing out of convenience. Jeff Bezos doesn’t need my money, and I don’t need convenience when it comes to most things I’m looking to purchase.

So today, I am just putting this out there for anyone who may need to hear it:

You can stop doing the things that you do out of habit, that you don’t enjoy, that no longer serve you.

You don’t need anyone’s permission. You don’t need to make a big thing out it - I mean, let’s ignore the fact that I am writing an entire blog post about possibly breaking up with coffee, and may have also tweeted about it this morning…

Cutting the cord on things that no longer serve you, and no longer make you happy, allows you to open up space and energy for things you do enjoy.

It may not seem like that big a deal, but when you stop and think of all the things you continue to do out of sheer habit, how much are you holding onto?

And who is keeping that habit locked in? Is it you? Capitalism? Family or friends?

Or do we simply keep on keeping on because it’s what we’re used to, and the idea of letting go brings up some discomfort?

So here’s your homework…

changing habits, shifting mindsets with Shannon Sorensen

Take five minutes and reflect, make a list, jot down one or a few habits you hold onto that you actually don’t like, or no longer serve a purpose to who you are today. Sit with the feelings that come up. And start actively letting them go.

Some things will be easy to release.

Others may take more time, and incremental change.

But as Marie Kondo teaches us in the practice of letting go of things, it may just be as simple as asking: Does this bring me joy? Do I actually like this?

The answers might be clearer and easier than we ever realized.

Let go of all that weighs you down, and discover how high you can really soar.

Love to you all, and have a beauty filled day.

Shannon Sorensen is a Connecticut-based artist, photographer, writer and creative spirit. She’s a work at home mama to two wonderful young kids, and hopes her art and writing inspire you to explore your own creativity, or at the very least, bring some light to your day.

If you enjoy Shannon’s art and writing, you can support her ongoing creative work by supporting her art shop, or simply tipping the artist below.

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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 7 :: It's Ok to Not Be Ok

Episode 7 of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast is all about those times when you don’t feel happy or creative. They happen to all of us, and especially in the midst of the events happening in our world right now, there are a lot of big, hard feelings to process.

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing some personal things that have happened during our time staying at home. It’s a bit of a heavier show than usual, but an important conversation to have, about the scope of being human, and the wide range of emotions we experience.

I hope you will join me in the Creative Happy Life Community on Facebook after you’ve listened so we can keep the conversation going, ask questions, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:

Show Notes

Episode 07

This episode is all about the big, hard feelings you might be experiencing during this weird, uncertain time in our lives and in our world.

I share a personal experience that made the “stay at home” reality feel truly real and hard, as well as the importance of allowing yourself to feel sad, and frustrated. We are experiencing a collective loss in the world. We’ve lost the sense of freedom to go out and do what we want, to go to work, see family and friends, to do all the little things we enjoy in our day to day lives. And if you’re feeling sadness and grief over loss and the heaviness of the world, you’re not alone.

We are not meant to exist in a bubble of feeling creative and happy all the time. With this podcast, I certainly don’t want you to think that’s the message I’m putting out into the world. Do I generally try to see the positive side of things and enjoy being inspired and creative? Of course! But we’re all human, and sometimes we all go through times that are hard, and sad, and not very creative. There’s a balance to everything.

In this episode, I also share a bit of a personal parable from my childhood that is all about falling on my butt, literally chest deep, in thick, heavy mud, while on a clamming outing with my dad. I was physically stuck, the mud was holding me down, and I realized I wouldn’t be able to get back up on my feet without help. My dad, who was taller and stronger and better equipped for navigating the knee-deep mud, saw me struggling, reached out and gave me the hand I needed to stand up and find my footing again.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” - Fred Rogers

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or need help or support, please reach out to a professional. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/ is a great resource to guide you through seeking help.

My thoughts and opinions on this blog and in my podcast are my own, and should not replace the support and assistance of a mental or health care professional.

Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation following each episode, connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!

Currently Loving: Instacart

Under more normal circumstances, I don’t mind doing most of my own grocery shopping. But there are days we’re crunched for time, or I just don’t want to drag the kids to the store with me, and I’m happy to rely on someone else to do the shopping for me!

Enter, Instacart - a grocery delivery service that allows you to select and place your order from a number of major retail stores, your order gets shopped and delivered right to your front door within a couple hours.

Your shopper can text you through the app while shopping and ask questions, make substitutions if your selections aren’t available, and adjust your order as needed. You get real time updates while they’re shopping, at checkout, and on the way for delivery.

In this time of physical distancing and staying at home, wait times for orders are increased, so check your app for updated delivery times and be sure to plan ahead!

Try Instacart and get $10 off your first order!

Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
 

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 6 :: Working at Home and Family Life in Covid-19 Quarantine

It’s time for episode six of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast!

This week I have my very first guest - my husband, Sean! We’re stuck at home together, so we might as well make the most of the time, right? In this episode, we talk about how it’s going with both of us working at home, while in quarantine together with the kids, we hear a bit from Lily about distance learning, and how we’re doing adjusting to the weird new normals while we try to flatten the curve.

Join me in the Creative Happy Life Community after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:

Show Notes

Episode 06

This episode features my first guest - my husband, Sean! While we’re all home, practicing physical distancing and hoping to stay safe and healthy away from the Covid-19 virus, we were asked “How are you managing working from home with kids?”

We talk about the whole experience of working from home while parenting, distance learning with our daughter Lily, and how quickly we’ve adapted to a lot of weird new normals.

We also chat about Sean’s comic book collection, communicating and self-awareness, and how in our marriage, opposites really do attract.

Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation following each episode. Connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!

Currently Loving: Instacart

Under more normal circumstances, I don’t mind doing most of my own grocery shopping. But there are days we’re crunched for time, or I just don’t want to drag the kids to the store with me, and I’m happy to rely on someone else to do the shopping for me!

Enter, Instacart - a grocery delivery service that allows you to select and place your order from a number of major retail stores, your order gets shopped and delivered right to your front door within a couple hours.

Your shopper can text you through the app while shopping and ask questions, make substitutions if your selections aren’t available, and adjust your order as needed. You get real time updates while they’re shopping, at checkout, and on the way for delivery.

In this time of physical distancing and staying at home, wait times for orders are increased, so check your app for updated delivery times and be sure to plan ahead!

Try Instacart and get $10 off your first order!

Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

Keep Calm and Get Creative :: Tips for Working From Home, At Home Learning Plans and Resources, and 96 Activity Ideas for Kids and Adults

Welcome! If you’re here from Pinterest, I’m a Connecticut-based artist, podcaster and creative mama of two littles. Thanks for visiting!

I originally recorded this podcast episode, and created these printables in March 2020, when we were just learning about Coronavirus/Covid-19 and figuring out what quarantining and remote learning would be like.

Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 5

Keep Calm and Get Creative

Episode 5 of the Creative Happy Life podcast was recorded on Thursday, March 12 2020, and is all about:

  • tips for people who will be working from home, possibly for the first time

  • ideas and resources for learning activities to do with your kids

  • encouragement for how to tend to your own mental wellness, and perhaps coping and finding calm through creativity

Episode Overview

00:00 Intro

03:00 Practical tips for working from home (also outlined below)

19:42 Practical tips for having your kids home and continuing learning (scroll down for more resources and ideas in this post)

31:05 Self care and using creative interests and hobbies to cope with stress, anxiety, boredom (scroll down for more ideas)

Show Notes

It’s kind of weird and wild out there right now, friends, and if you are making plans to work from home, or having your kids home from school, or BOTH - I recorded this episode to give you some tips. Click the player above to listen, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts to listen on your phone or devices.

As someone who has worked from home AND have done so with one or two kids home at the same time, I would like to offer you some reassurance that all will be well.

With a little planning, patience, and flexibility, we’ll get through this time of weird uncertainty.

Here’s a guide of sorts so you can navigate this post and find what you’re looking for:

  1. Tips for working from home

  2. Ideas and learning resources for keeping your kids home

  3. Ideas and activities to do with kids, your family, roommate, partner, or solo to Keep Calm & Get Creative.

Tips for working from home:

Many Americans are gearing up to work from home for a week, two weeks, or indefinitely, while we ride out the Covid-19, and hopefully flatten the curve of spreading the virus. Even those with jobs that aren’t ever done from home (like my husband’s) are figuring out alternative plans. This is far from ‘business as usual”, so here are a couple tips that you may find helpful in staying productive and mentally stimulated:

  1. Create your workspace. This might be a spare bedroom with a door you can shut, a desk in the corner of a playroom or even your kitchen table. Set up where you think you will be most productive and focused. Make sure you have Internet, remote logins, a way to make calls, and any paperwork or files you’ll need.

  2. Keep to a daily routine. Stick to a schedule that’s as close as your normal schedule as possible. Set your alarm, get up and shower, get dressed, make some breakfast. If you typically go to the gym first thing, find an enjoyable at-home workout video to do instead. Keep your body moving and healthy.

  3. Designate household duty time. One of the biggest distractions from working from home is trying to get housework done (since you’re already home). Designate time that you would normally be commuting for putting a load of laundry in, emptying the dishwasher, or taking out the trash, and then be done with it. Making the mindset shift from “being at home” to “working at home” is important to productivity.

  4. Communicate your plan to your family/roommates/friends. Whether you have a set schedule to log in and work, or a more open-ended to-do list, communicate with those who you share a space with so expectations are clear, and work together to avoid distractions as best you can.

  5. Be flexible. Nothing about this time is normal, and everyone is doing their best to figure it out and keep moving forward. Have patience, keep communications with your team open and honest, and give it your best!

  6. Connect with coworkers or a friend to check in with each other. Especially due to social distancing, it’s no fun feeling closed off to others, and one of my biggest struggles working from home is missing having coworkers or other adults to talk to. Make a daily phone date with a friend or colleague to check in and catch up.

  7. Get some fresh air. Take at least one break that involves going for a walk or getting outside for some fresh air. This of course, depends on your neighborhood and your comfort level with potential crowds or neighbors, but even stepping out on a balcony and saying hello to a neighbor or some squirrels will be good for your brain.

  8. Finish your day and be done. It’s easy to lose track of time working from home, and to just….keep….going….Set your scheduled time to finish, shut down your laptop, turn off your phone, and spending time with your family, make a good meal, watch a show or movie, and get some sleep.

Shop Printable Coloring Pages

Free Activity Apps (or Mostly Free)

Insight Timer - Meditation for Sleep and Anxiety, guided meditations for all ages, music and stories to help you sleep, courses. Choose based on your needs, or search by the amount of time you desire or want to spend meditating.

Go Noodle - Lily told me they use this at school to get up and sing and dance. It looks fun!

Cosmic Kids Yoga - Interactive adventures in yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for kids.

Share the Happy!

Was this post helpful to you? Share the link, pin some images, or leave a comment! Use the hashtag #keepcalmandgetcreative and share activities you’re doing to pass the time. Who knows, you might inspire someone to try something new!

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 4 :: I'm Not a Creative Person

It’s time for episode four of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast!

I’m trying something new this week with producing weekly micro-episodes - this one is just 5 minutes! I will still occasionally produce longer episodes where there’s reason for more narrative or a guest/interview, but I am excited to create these “audio snacks” you can enjoy on a quick errand run, in the bathroom (no shame, we all have our longer “sits”), getting dressed in the morning, or on a quick coffee break!

Join me on Instagram after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:

Creative Happy Life Podcast, Creativity Quotes, Everyone is Creative, Podcast About Creativity, New Podcast, Podcast Art, podcast host Shannon Sorensen

Show Notes

Episode 04

Have you ever been talking to someone, and they say “I’m not a creative person”. Whenever someone says that to me, it just makes me sad, I want to give them a hug and look them in their eyes and say “Yes! Actually you are!!

We need to stop thinking of creativity under the umbrella of talent and skill and final products. Creativity comes in so many forms.

Anywhere you bring your own unique perspective into the world to get something done, you are using creativity. If you take a minute to think about it, I bet you can think of at least one thing in your life that you enjoy that is creative.

Creativity is everywhere, in every day. It’s not in our skills and abilities, but in our curiosity and playfulness. It’s in the trying. And the more creativity we use, the more we have. Ideas evolve, we practice, we try, and try again, maybe not because we are looking for any particular result, but because we just enjoy the process of trying.

Think of the feeling you get when you pick up a paintbrush or a colored pencil or a pen, and touch it to paper. Or when you pick up a hammer and start piecing together a project for your home. Or a wooden spoon and your favorite jar of spice to cook a meal for your family. Think of how it feels to be doing something, making something, that wasn’t there before.

We tend to think of creativity in the way of art and music, so many people write themselves off as not being creative because what they do doesn’t pertain to art. But creativity is more than art, and it’s everywhere. If you’re using materials or your brain, to bring something into the world that wasn’t there before, you are creative.

To create means to bring something into existence. To cause something to happen as a result of one’s actions.

As different as each and every brain that has existed, in billions of different moments, locations and experiences, there are endless possibilities when it comes to being creative. No two people will ever make, or paint, or coach, or cook, or write, or build or play, or perform, or think the same way

Because being a creative person is not only seeing the world differently, but having the courage to explore how you see it. To try something new, in a new way, out of curiosity or inspiration. Creativity is where the reality of your experience meets the playfulness of your  imagination. It has the power to help you express yourself, in whatever way you want, with your unique toolbox consisting of your voice, brain, skills, talent, curiosity, imagination and heart.

So if you ever catch yourself thinking, I’m not a creative person, I hope you take a moment, and really think about all the ways you really are, every single day, in all the things that you do.

Creativity is everywhere, it’s just a matter of how you see it.

Thanks for listening!

If this episode got your creative wheels turning, take a screenshot of this episode on your phone and tag me in your stories over on Instagram. Share a story or your own thoughts on creativity, tag #creativehappylifepodcast, and let’s keep the conversation going!

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When you subscribe to my Patreon membership, you gain access to a private community where I share sneak peeks, behind the scenes of my day to day as a working artist, live chats and Q&As, and a monthly hand drawn coloring page that members vote on, watch me draw live, and then receive as a digital file to download, print and enjoy!

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If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, or save the image below to Pinterest! In the world of podcasting, the more the merrier!

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 3 :: Making Time and Space for Creativity with a Five Minute Morning Ritual

Happy new year, and welcome to episode three of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast! I am so excited to be jumping into 2020 with this episode. The transition into this year and the new decade has felt so different, and this episode is all about how I am doing a very quick morning ritual that has transformed my days to feel calmer, happier, and more focused on what matters.

Join me on Instagram after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:

Show Notes

Episode 03

Hello, my beautiful friends! Welcome to the first episode of the new year! I hope 2020 is off to a great start for you. I have been feeling some really incredible energy as we’ve transitioned into a new decade, and today I want to tell you about a new practice I started, a five minute morning ritual that has helped me to feel happier and more centered, more ME, than I’ve felt in a looong time.

But first, I have to ask you something. Have you ever gone on a vacation, and maybe while sitting on a beach or near a lake or overlooking some mountains or the ocean, you’ve just felt present and peaceful? It’s kind of a weird feeling, where you lose track of time, because you don’t have anywhere you need to go, or anything you need to do. You just kind of sit, and stare, taking in the scenery, the sounds of waves or trees, breezes or birds...and then...you get an idea. You’re feeling inspired, excited, and refreshed. And you come home with a renewed energy.

Or how about this... You step into a hot shower, and assuming you’re not being interrupted by kids every 30 seconds, you have a few minutes, just to yourself, and suddenly like the water pouring out the showerhead, thoughts are pouring into your brain. An idea, a solution. Things you’ve been wanting to figure out, or something completely fresh and new. After a couple minutes you’re scrambling to dry off and write down everything you can remember. Maybe your Notes app on your phone has a note specifically called “Shower Thoughts”.

Or you’re on a long car ride, or maybe your daily commute on the train. A long stretch of time where you can just sit and kind of zone out. Your kids are asleep in the backseat, your partner is asleep next to you, or you have the whole car to yourself to listen to whatever music or podcast or audiobook you want. Suddenly you realize that your thoughts are swirling with ideas, phrases, and you go deeper and wilder into an exciting brainspace.

Lastly, you’re on a walk. In the woods, or in the city, you are just moving along, and you see or hear something that makes you think of something else, which makes you think of something else...and so on, and so forth…

Why am I bringing up these situations? Well, if you find yourself in one of these situations, you might realize that you have your best, most creative breakthroughs. You might have a really big idea. You might find the words you’ve been searching for. You might feel more mentally strong, clear and feel a surge of inspiration and creative energy.

Why does this happen? It’s all about having time to quiet your brain and allowing your mind to wander. When we allow our minds to wander, we imagine, we daydream, and we make space for creativity to flow through us. Instead of keeping all those little, random tabs open, cluttering our thoughts with things that aren’t important or inspiring, we find these moments in our days where we can give our own thoughts and desires some much needed freedom and attention.

Our minds are pretty incredible. When given the time and space to wander freely, the possibilities of our imaginations are endless.

So why is it so damn hard to find this time, this space, to let our minds work their magic?

Because we set up so many mental roadblocks in our days. We overschedule, overwork, and don’t allow ourselves to slow down and rest.

The beginning of every year is so interesting. We’re bombarded by messages of making changes, to ourselves, our habits, our routines, and it’s usually all centered around doing more. Eat healthier, exercise more, schedule your day to optimize your time and productivity, make more time for friends and reading and...it’s just too much. No one ever talks about doing less. No one ever talks about taking it slow. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, we go from zero to sixty into the new year, expecting to transform into this new, better person.

So let me be the person to tell you that I think that’s all a load of garbage. It’s too much. It’s setting yourself up to hit a wall, hard and fast, right around the end of January.

We’re not built to make these extreme fast changes all at once. We’re not made for doing it all, all at once, at a high energy pace. Our bodies and our lives require ups and downs, and that includes a big need for slowing down and doing less.

Think about the holiday season, the weeks leading up to Christmas and the end of the year. It’s a slow build of preparations and excitement, and by the time we hit the end of December, we have maxed out our energy on all the baking and visiting and joy and cheer. And we just need a break. But instead of resting, we get smacked upside the head with New Years. We are catapulted forward before we’ve had a chance to restore ourselves.

Maybe the reason resolutions seem to always fail is because winter is nature’s way of trying to get us to slow down, to hibernate, and take it easy. It’s cold, it’s icy, it’s dark, our bodies are craving warmth and comfort and rest, yet we set ourselves on a steep uphill battle, as if resolving to do it all on January first is a now or never, pass or fail situation.

It’s all wrong. It’s unnatural. And it’s the reason we feel so damn sad and bleak. Our overtired bodies and minds are being stretched thin.

I did a lot of thinking in the week between Christmas and New Years. I felt a different energy in myself, to say screw it to resolutions, and just treat January first like another day. To go with the flow into the new year, enjoy time with my family, and start listening to myself. I had been thinking for years about how great it feels when I go on long car rides and have these creative breakthroughs, or those moments in the shower where the ideas flow, and how nice it feels to have that quiet space to let my mind wander.

As a creative business owner, a mom, a woman, my brain is always running in different directions, always tired, but how often do I make time for it to just slow down and wander? That feeling when you’re walking in the woods and you lose track of time, or when you’re driving and don’t seem to notice how long you’ve been driving for, or how far you’ve gone?

We’ve gotten so used to scheduling our days to the hour and to the minute, adding more activities, more appointments, more tasks on the neverending to do list.

What happens if we decide, and set an intention each day, to do less?

As this year started, I decided to make a change to how I go about my days. I was tired of making to do lists full of tasks that weren’t important. I was tired of thinking every day had to be fun and exciting for my kids to have a good childhood. I decided to start a daily practice, nothing that required much effort, but a small part of my routine that has given me that time to rest my brain and start my day feeling more grounded and focused on what matters, instead of hitting the ground running aimlessly at an unrealistic pace. Each day is a fresh start, with it’s own energy, it’s own things to focus on.

It’s a bit like meditation, I suppose, in the way that this repeated exercise has helped me to find clarity, to breathe, and be more aware of my thoughts, my body and my capacity on a given day. And I have felt more creative, and at peace with saying no to more, because of it.

So are you curious? Do you want to know what I’ve been doing? It’s super simple, and here it is:

Each morning, as I pour my first cup of coffee, I sit down at my dining room table with my little notebook. I don’t sit at my desk or in front of the tv. I leave my phone in the kitchen or out of reach, and spend a few minutes with myself, drinking my coffee and writing. I answer the same six prompts, in the same order, every day. This gives me the minimal structure I know I need to focus this short amount of time each day. If I sat down with an empty notebook to write something open-ended, I’d sit all morning! I have a blog and podcast scripts that fulfill my creativity in that way. This daily practice is a personal check in, kind of like having coffee with your best friend or a quick chat with a coworker before you sit down to start your day.

Here are the six things I write each morning.

First, I start with gratitude. I write one sentence, and it can be anything, whatever I am grateful for in the moment. It has taught me not to overthink everything, and to find gratitude in small things. By intentionally starting my day with thoughts of gratitude, I have seen a significant difference in my mindset for the rest of the day. There is nothing feels terrible or insurmountable when I have centered my mind and my heart on the good things I have in life. 

And if you really can’t think of anything, you can always acknowledge your basic needs being met. You have air to breathe, food to eat, clothes on your body and a roof over your head.

There is always something to be grateful for.

The second thing I check on is how I am feeling. I write 1 to 3 sentences about how I’m feeling physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s important to make sure it’s not how I hope to feel, but how I actually feel. Some mornings I’m tired, grumpy, foggy or or overwhelmed. My energy has peaks and valleys. Some days I’m surprised to feel focused and motivated.

By doing this, I am practicing self-awareness, which will affect how I go about my day. I might feel ready and creative and motivated to get a lot done, or I might intentionally give myself an easier day so I can rest and allow myself to feel tired. I’m learning more and more that our bodies signal us when they need to slow down or rest, and I have started giving myself a big serving of grace on the days I know I’m not feeling great.

This also helps me to think about what I can do to feel better, which might be a midday nap, or opening the curtains and letting the sun in. Some mornings call for putting on some soothing music.

The third check in is writing down one specific thing I want to do for myself that day. I try to make sure it is something creative or self care, like spending time painting, trying a new dinner recipe, doing a facial before bed, or simply going for a walk and breathing some fresh air. Most days my schedule revolves around caring for everyone else in the house, and devoting my energy to things that need to get done. So this one is really important. I ask myself what I want out of the day. How do I want to feel? What can I do for myself to feel good?

The fourth is a Top Three list. I write down my top three productivity priorities for the day, the things I need to really get done to move the needle forward. This can be work or personal. Instead of running around and getting overwhelmed by all the small distractions, and a trivial list of to-dos, I practice focusing on three super specific things I need to do that day. Everything else can maybe get done later, or saved for another day.

The fifth thing is a Brain Dump. I give myself a minute or so to jot down any and all random thoughts that are cluttering my brain each morning. Remember that saying about our brains having too many tabs open? The goal here is to close some of those tabs by writing down reminders, ideas, things I want to get done at some point but aren’t really pressing. Anything that’s possibly distracting me by keeping it in my brain, I write it down. When I take a minute to do this, I feel more mentally calm and clear, more focused and ready for the day ahead.

And last, but certainly not least, I write down an affirmation for myself. If you are a fan of Parks and Recreation, you’re probably familiar with the quirky, but uplifting things Leslie Knope says to her best friend, Ann Perkins. Things like, “You are a poetic and noble land-mermaid.” and “You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox.” Or my personal favorite, which she says to Ann, who just gave birth, “You are the most beautiful, glowing, sun goddess ever.”

So I channel my inner Leslie, put on my proverbial positive pants and write down something, just for me, to give myself a boost as I start the day. It can be motivational, empowering, or silly. But it’s just for me.

And then I close my little notebook and start my day.

By making this part of my daily routine, just like I shower and brush my teeth and eat and breathe, I have prioritized myself and my own needs. It’s not enough to just go through the motions each day, and for a long time, I have put my family first, which is certainly not a bad thing, but we have to take care of ourselves, right? As a creative person, heck just as a person, I need and deserve to focus more on my own needs. We give, and give, and give some more to our friends, our families, strangers on the internet.

So imagine the change we could make by turning our time, our energy, our positivity, more inward? To make sure our cup is not only full, but also not being dumped out over and over and over again.

Do you have five minutes a day to give yourself? Do you have five minutes to let your mind wander, to check in with yourself, and give yourself a pep talk? Use this episode as your guide for each of the six prompts. Here’s a quick recap for you:

What are you grateful for, right here and now?

How are you feeling today, in this moment? How is your energy? Your body? Your mind?

What do you want to do for yourself today? What will make you feel good, or creative, or accomplished, or rested?

What are your real top priorities today? Not tomorrow, or for the whole week or month ahead. Just today.

Write down all those random thoughts and ideas. Do a brain dump, close out some of those tabs that are cluttering your brain.

And give yourself a positive affirmation. Speak encouraging, empowering words to yourself.

And then go have a beautiful day, you bright, warm ray of sparkling sunlight.

Creative Happy Homework: Start a 5-minute daily check-in.

With each episode, I hope to nurture a community of creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation. If this episode got your creative wheels turning, join me over on Instagram. Share a story, tag #creativehappylifepodcast, and let me know what you’d like to hear in future episodes!

Are you going to give this daily five minute personal check-in a try? I’d love to hear from you so I can send you some encouragement!

Chatbooks

Mama, it’s time to get those photos off of your phone and into the hands of your family!

Chatbooks makes designing and printing photobooks so ridiculously easy. Whether you want to upload from your computer or straight from your phone (which I prefer), their one-image-per-page layout takes the guesswork out of designing a whole book, so you can simply select your favorite photos, pick your cover and book size, press order, and wait with excitement for your book to arrive!

Chatbooks are square, customizable and come in a variety of soft or hardcovers with designs for all years, seasons, holidays, special occasions and milestones. I love them for our yearly family photobooks, although, confession time: I do two books per year because I have the hardest time narrowing down my favorite pictures!

I love flipping through our Chatbooks with Lily and Roo, reminiscing over our favorite everyday moments from over the years. There’s just something so special about holding a physical book of personal photos in your hands - a feeling that scrolling through your phone just can’t capture.

Save $10 on your first Chatbooks order.

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