With the warm summer weather upon us, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be wanting to spend as much time outdoors as possible. This season is so fleeting, especially if you live in a northern climate. And even amidst a busy summer of work, I see this season as a chance to creatively recharge and practice self-care outdoors as much as possible.
This blog post focuses on the seasons of creativity, embracing the cycle that you’re in. At the end of the post, I share a whole list of self-care ideas that can all be done outdoors to creatively and energetically recharge this summer.
The Importance of Time to Recharge + Practice Self Care…
Creativity isn’t something that you’ll feel tapped into and aligned with 24/7, even when you’re extremely passionate about your work. Breaks are necessary! If even for an afternoon, it’s important as a creative soul to actively plan breaks in your schedule to get out, self-care, recharge and allow yourself to refill your creativity well.
After all, we gain the inspiration to create by living and getting out in the world. Just like one of my all-time favourite movie characters says…
“You just gotta keep livin’, man… L-I-V-I-N,” Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey), Dazed and Confused
The Seasons of Creativity
As the old phrase goes, to everything, there is a season. We can think of our energy and creativity as we think of the cycle of the seasons of the weather. In fact, both our energy and creativity are greatly impacted by the seasons. Spring can be seen as a time of new opportunity, renewal and rebirth. Summer a time to nourish and bask in the glory of your creations. Fall a time to harvest and deeply create. Finally, winter a time to rest, prepare and learn
Of course none of this is necessarily linear, and you and your creativity may move in a different rhythm than the physical seasons of your environment. That’s why it’s important to…
Embracing the Season You’re in
What’s important to note that even though it may be physically summer, you may be in an inner winter, such as burnout. Honouring where you are is essential. You can then tailor your self-care according to what you personally, creatively and artistically need right now in your life.
With that reminder to make this your own, here is a list of self-care ideas for artists and creatives that can all be done outdoors, enjoying the beautiful benefits of summer weather and sunshine.
Self-Care Ideas for Artists + Creatives
- Pick out your favourite rock while on a walk and bring it home to paint it outside
- Take a hike in nature
- Swim in freshwater
- Pull a tarot or oracle card for yourself
- Create a piece of art with limited supplies and see what happens
- Go geocaching (it’s like a grown-up scavenger hunt!)
- Go on a walk and collect a few items like leaves that speak to you and make a piece of art with them
- Write a short story
- Play a game you loved as a kid
- Skip rope
- Draw with sidewalk chalk
- Create a face mask and have a backyard spa day
- Meditate with the sunrise or sunset
- Re-read your favourite fun book
- Go bird watching
- Gather your besties and have a picnic in the woods
- Visit a beach
- Have a bbq with friends
- Learn to knit or crochet and do so in a park
- Hug a tree
- Colour or paint just for fun
- Take up a new sport or activity
- Go on a walk with a friend and just check in with one another
- Invite your friends to a potluck at your favourite park
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