Valuable Self-care Ideas for The Creative Mind

2026 Creative Exchange “Rest is Resistance” Workshop, photo credit: ReallyGoodyStudio

What was the last thing you did to take care of yourself? Something more than meeting Maslow’s bottom tier on the hierarchy of needs. Knowing how to practice self-care is essential for your mental wellbeing. As creatives, we give out a lot of ourselves and as humans it’s easy to forget that we need to pour back in. That’s why burnout often creeps up on us. I’ve put together some self-care ideas that every creative mind can benefit from. You only have so much to give, and we are often the last ones on our minds when it comes to receiving. 

Move Your Body

When working on your craft, it’s easy to get consumed and stay in one space for hours. I’d be a hypocrite if I told you to take frequent breaks (even though you should). As a writer I can easily spend all day at my desk, sometimes even ignoring hunger and bathroom cues. So as counterbalance, regularly get in some physical movement. This allows you to get up, get out of your head, and connect with your body. And I’m not talking about going to the gym or running unless that’s your thing. I personally need more exciting ways to move, like my weekly belly dancing class.

Clean Your Space

It doesn’t have to be your studio, I’m not a monster. But clutter is harmful to the mind, especially for women. And creativity is hard to play with when you’re stressed out. Consider creating a nice organized space in your home to relax and de-stress. For me, it’s my bedroom. For you, it might be your kitchen or your living room.

Have A Hobby

Have another activity that you partake in. Something you do just for the fun of it. I like gaming. It expands my mind, and I’ve met lifetime friends from the hobby. The life of a creative is hard and while I know you love your craft, it’s still work. We don’t have clear road maps on how to create. We're giving a piece of ourselves to the world and hoping that it resonates with someone. This is a vulnerable way to live so remember to have fun. 

Try Meditation

Taking what's inside and putting it out in the world can be taxing mentally. We’re constantly thinking of ideas, or thinking about how we can’t think of ideas. Deciding what medium we’re going to use for our output and how we’ll execute it. The list goes on. All the thoughts and ideas stack up and cause overstimulation. Give your brain moments of clarity and peace with quick meditation. It doesn’t even have to be the typical practice. My favorite way to clear my head is to lay down on my couch with my eyes closed in silence, focusing on my breathing. If you need more ideas, I wrote an article with non-typical tips for meditation here.

Revisit Old Projects

Instead of creating something new take some time to look back at previous work. See how far you’ve come, and try to ignore that voice telling you what’s still left to do. At a certain point in your life you had a passing idea. Nothing special, people get hundreds of ideas a day. But you were able to take a hold of it, polish it, and execute it to the best of your abilities. You gave an intangible thing life. That's important and valuable. So look back with appreciation (not criticism) at what you’ve done and what you’ve accomplished so far. Even the unfinished projects because you had the courage to start it. Even the projects that you decided you never want to touch again because they were so “bad”. I told myself I never want to read my first feature script. It’s not good, and my professor made that very clear to me in an office hour one day. But so what. I wrote a feature screen play. Me. I did that. Appreciate the work you’ve put in.

Take Social Media Breaks

Social media has become an essential tool for creatives. It lets you market yourself, find peers, and inspiration. But when it comes to your mental well-being it can be counterproductive. While scrolling, it’s easy to start comparing yourself to other artist. “Why don’t my post get as many likes as this?” “I wish I was this talented.” Save yourself from the spiral and take breaks from social media. Try setting aside certain times a day or giving yourself time limits. Going in with a clear focus can help as well. Something like making a post and then giving yourself time to scroll. This way you’ll be able to spend less time online while not missing out on the benefits of social media.

These are a small variety of ways that you can practice self-care as a creative. Whether it’s sometime physical like a hobby, or sedentary like meditation. Self-care is available to anyone who wants to access it. Try picking something that calls to you and start from there, making sure to take note of how you feel over time. If you’re looking for more social self-care activities, get to know your local art community and join us for an ABAG event. 

by Leasia Cubberley