Many people feel inspired to pursue creative projects, even multiple ones at the same time. One potential downside is physical and emotional burnout.
Good self-care is taking steps daily, even hourly, to stay replenished with the energy and positive attitude needed to be productively creative.
One way is to slow down or shift our thinking about having “too much to do.”
Entrepreneur coach Molly Gordon writes about this kind of shift:
“People are always asking me how I get everything done. There are many answers, but one in particular arose in the midst of one of my morning meditations.
“As usual, my mind was prancing around like a young puppy, willing to heel for only a moment or two before racing off to explore some enticing scent in the bushes.
“Also as usual, one of these enticing scents was my ‘To Do’ list. As I gave a gentle tug on my mental leash, I experienced a sudden shift in perception.
“It was as if I had slipped through the looking glass to discover that I was living in a world of abundant possibility as opposed to one of temporal scarcity.
“I no longer had the problem of not enough time and balancing my life with my work; I had the gift of more than enough to do.”
From my article Multiple Passions and Talents But Potential Burnout.
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“It is also good every so often to go away and relax a little for when you come back to your work your judgment will be better, since to remain constantly at work causes you to deceive yourself.” Leonardo da Vinci
This need to “get away” from work and perhaps other people, even our own overactive minds, can be helpful for anyone, but may be especially important for introverted and/or highly sensitive people, who are often creators and innovators.
From article What is our rush? Freeing yourself from pressure.
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Cheryl Richardson coaches and writes about taking care of ourselves, to be more alive and creative.
A description of one of her programs The Art of Extreme Self-Care: On Demand Course noted:
Extreme Self-Care generally involves:
• Living and working in a soul-nurturing environment.
• Developing a greater appreciation for, and connection with, nature.
• Doing work that provides an opportunity to express your greatest gifts and talents.
• Caring for your emotional, physical, and spiritual health in a way that’s aligned with who you are and what you most need.
• Surrounding yourself with people who are smart, self-aware, and only interested in two-way relationships.
In her related book The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time, she writes that her mentor Thomas Leonard (founder of Coach University) advised her that “making pleasure a priority was critical for Extreme Self-Care – real pleasure, not just a massage every couple of months, an occasional bath, or a yearly vacation.
“It meant leaving work in the middle of the day to get out into nature, enjoying a great massage once a week, and developing daily habits that made me feel happy and nurtured, including listening to the music I loved, drinking my favorite tea, or ordering fresh flowers for my office.”
She admits, “At first I had great resistance to the idea of Extreme Self-Care. A massage once a week? How could I ever afford that when I had to pay my rent?”
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Concluded in Be More Creative With More Self Care Part 2
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[Photos of woman writing in bathtub are from the Facebook page for WellGrounded Life by Lisa Grace Byrne – read about her programs in Part 2.]
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Audio Program by Cheryl Richardson:
Take Time for Your Life – “A Complete Program for Getting Your Life into Balance and Honoring Your True Priorities.”
“When your life feels like one long list of things to do, your true priorities—your most authentic aspirations and dreams for your future—can get lost.
“On Take Time for Your Life, the inspiring author and life skills coach Cheryl Richardson helps you restore balance and sanity to your daily schedule, allowing you to put your energy into the projects and people you believe in the most.”
[Follow link to hear audio sample.]
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Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the The Creative Mind series of sites which provide “Information and inspiration to help creative people thrive.”
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