This is the second week where I start to write an article, I do research and then I stop halfway. I didn’t want to do like last week and not post. These personal posts are at the same time easier and harder to post. Easier because there is no research involved, harder because they are much more personal. But I’m starting to have the same symptoms I had last year before my burnout and I’m […]
Tag Archives: Creative
Art journaling
Art journaling is a way to visually express thoughts and emotions. It can be through abstract shapes, lines, colours and words. The good thing about this is that anyone can do it even the less artistically minded person. Benefits: Like regular journaling, this type of journaling can have the following benefits: It is a good activity that has multiple benefits and linked to the topic that I covered last week. Children and adults both get […]
How to use a colouring book mindfully?
Now as I mentioned last week (see here), to get the benefits of colouring it is important to understand the difference between mindlessness and mindfulness. When someone is mindless, they are using a form of escape. To escape what? Often it can be as simple as escaping boredom or as complex as escaping our thoughts, feelings or even behaviours. Using mindless activities to procrastinate for example. When someone is mindful, they are rooted in the […]
What is colouring for adults?
I’ve recently been watching a fantastic artist on YouTube. She does a lot of colouring in colouring books but her final results are amazing. It made me think of a fad a few years ago (that is probably still going on… though because I no longer work at an art supply store I can’t really say anymore) about adult colouring books. Are they relaxing or are they stressful? Is there benefit to doing this regularly? […]
On the journey – Part 4
I’ve hit somewhat of a roadblock and I’m not sure where to go from here. I started this journey 36 weeks ago. I’ve had some rough weeks and some easier weeks depending on the subjects and have kept my focus mostly on content. I did try to get some affiliate links that could be useful, but with not much luck there. With a full-time job and other interests, it becomes harder to focus enough time […]
On the Journey, Six-month update
This post will mark my 26th week working on this blog. That means I’m halfway through my first year. Already. I’m back full time at work after a few months of time off for my burnout. Things are a bit better now I’ve been given different tasks. The reaction of my colleagues to my absence that I had been dreading didn’t happen. That just goes to show that the stories we tell ourselves, and the […]
What is stress and pressure?
As mentioned last week, to change our perceptions of pressure we first need to lower our stress response that is usually triggered by this pressure (see here if you missed it). This is very difficult to do because we essentially must learn to re-program our brains. To understand why we react to certain pressures and not others we have to understand what causes us to stress. Pressure is just another word for stress, and we […]
How to increase motivation and how to mitigate the overjustification effect.
You can boost your motivation for a task in many ways, but always start by acting first. Even if it is five minutes at a time, as long as you start, it can be a good way of boosting motivation that is already there. Understanding the difference between the internal motivation factors and external motivation factors is important here because piling on more rewards isn’t always the best way to move forward. (See my What […]
What is motivation?
When we think of motivation, we think of the drive, the energy, the persistence to tackle a task and get it done. No matter what it is. Crafting, creating, going to the gym, and even cleaning your house all feel like they require motivation to do. But what if I told you, that was the wrong way to go about it? The writer or artist waiting for the muse to strike is the perfect example […]
What is anxiety? – Part 3: Treatments and Creativity
What are the treatments for anxiety? Since there are so many different types of disorders and anxiety can be more difficult to treat depending on the type, it is important to keep trying until you find something that works for you. There are many strategies that professionals can use to treat anxiety disorders. Knowing what they are can help you ask the right questions to your professional and get at the right treatment quicker. These […]