5 Self Care Tips for Creatives
While the self- care tips are pretty much applicable for everyone, at the same time I also know that creatives are a unique group of people who are especially prone to overworking because they have a tendency to push themselves to the brink of exhaustion before deciding to rest. More so during periods of intensive creating periods or when inspiration strikes. I’ve learnt over the years to indulge that intensely creative phase when it comes but also making time for rest. If this is something you struggle with, here are some tips for self-care that I do for myself which may come in handy for you.
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Schedule time to recharge
As an introvert I need lots of quiet time by myself to recharge. Be it a solo movie night, or a very long walk in the park or a night of playing games, these are essential to my mental health. Find an activity that your enjoy doing and schedule in rest time so your mind and body has a chance to switch off and recharge. I’ve recently taken to long walks, partly because I want to clock my daily 10,000 steps (which is a somewhat difficult task actually, but I’m trying), and partly because the long walks clear my mind. It gets rid of any underlying anxieties or stress I have about my work and I come back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the work. The crisp forest air is refreshing and helps to clear my head, and walking as an exercise is not too rigorous that it will tire me out completely after that but it’s also just enough to help me sweat it out and re-energize me.
2. Schedule time for organizing
Be it a studio organization or tidying up your home, it is essential to schedule in time for these seemingly “boring” but necessary adulting activities. When your space is cluttered, your mind feels cluttered. The only way to free up that mind space is to free up some physical room space. Take time to declutter things you don’t need, and reorganize the things you have. Find an organization system that suit your needs. When your supplies are all neat and easy to find, you’ll thank yourself for taking time to neaten up the place! I love organizing my space and I’m always trying to find that perfect layout/system that works for me. It’s always a work in progress and it helps to refresh my work space.
3. Take care of your body
It is very important to keep yourself hydrated and eat healthy food. When I make a conscious effort to snack less on unhealthy food and eat more fruits instead, I can feel my body feel more energetic as well. When you’re thirsty, drink more water, not caffeine. Caffeine dehydrates you, especially if you don’t take in more water after caffeine. When we don’t prioritize our health and body, we tend to feel sluggish and low on energy which leads to us feeling uninspired at work and we’ll just burn out faster. I keep a 1 litre bottle with me at my table at all times to remind myself to drink lots of water throughout the day.
4. Take multiple stretch breaks
Chiropractors and physiologists have recommended that you do not sit for more than 30 minutes at a time and rightly so! Sitting is now the new smoking, which is just a timely reminder that we should not be sitting the whole day. Since our minds are only wired for a maximum of 90 minutes of focused work, this is a good opportunity to take that stretch break often! Stand up, stretch, go make a tea, slice yourself some fruit, and prep lunch. If you work at home, you can even hop on the yoga mat for a quick 10 min stretch in between work.
5. Get enough sleep
I cannot stress this enough. Sleep is so important. When we sleep, our body and mind rest and recharge. It’s what prepares us to face the next day, so if you’re always low on sleep, feeling grumpy and having brain fog, please get in at least 7-8 hours every night. Everyone has a different energy capacity and some of us may feel the need for a 30 min nap in the afternoon to recharge. If possible, please take that nap. Learn to listen to your body and start taking care of yourself. Take good care of your body, so your body can take good care of you.
