I closed my eyes as I inhaled so deeply I could taste my coffee just from the fullness of the smell. I took another sip and felt such satisfaction as I reviewed my schedule for the day.
The day’s agenda was focused on a lot of making things and tasks related to sharing those makes. Another sip of coffee and I smiled at how often I get to have a schedule focused mostly on creating. But it wasn’t always like this…
I once was filling my days with everything but creating. Most of these things were necessary, part of life, and still things I do currently. However, back then, I was left feeling crunchy, grumpy, stuck, bored, exhausted. At first I couldn’t figure it out and all I knew was that I couldn’t keep going on like this. As I started taking inventory of the things I was doing vs the things I enjoyed, I could see just how little I was creating on a regular basis. I decided I had to find a way to put creativity back into my routine.
Choosing to do more making and creating on a regular basis took a good amount of effort in the beginning. Some things gave me immediate energy, like waking up earlier to have time to work on making things. While other things were a longer game and not so immediate. Such as planning/prepping ahead to take sewing projects when traveling. Or paying off debt so I’d have more freedom to do the things that filled me up. However, most things required me to have a mental shift of how I saw them. Like how I looked at cooking or landscaping; seeing them as opportunities to create with my hands instead of mundane, time consuming tasks.
Over the last several years two major things I’ve come to realize. One is that making things is a part of who I am. It’s part of what fills me up, allows me to fully enjoy my current situation and helps me grow to my best version. Being creative helps me stay in the present moment, express my perspective and rid myself of the mental/emotional cob webs that can accumulate. It keeps my mind fresh, open and sharp. It’s literally is a part of who I am.
And two, I have the option to have as much creation in my routine as I want. I can choose to turn boring, stale tasks into opportunities for creativity or I can physically alter my days to have more space for the things I love. It takes work and I’m not always successful at it. But as I continue to practice these shifts, a little at a time, I’m embracing much more of my weeks and many of the “same old” tasks that fill my planner.
I’d love to know how creating impacts your days and if there’s any specific creation that fuels you, you can share with me here.
And since I know I’m not the only one that needs making and creating in their everyday, I created this Button Collection to recognize you other creators.