Something that comes up a lot in discussions with fellow creatives is how often our creativity can feel like a battle as we juggle it along with all the other things. I’ve been there many times! If this is you - before you doubt yourself further, stay with me because I'm here to help you see just how capable and resourceful you are as a human and share some ways to get back to enjoying your creative path. 

Something that can keep us in this place is sensory overload. As a creative, generous person you want to maximise the hell out of every experience and you don’t want to miss a thing. I know how it feels!

Yet… if we struggle to channel these sides of us we can end up overwhelmed, losing track of what's truly important to us and missing the chance to provide more valuable products and services through our work.

So how can we enjoy the fullness of life, do meaningful creative work that supports the life we want, and be connected to our creative flow without getting worn out? 

I love this quote from Virginia Woolf that touches on this:

“My own brain is to me the most unaccountable of machinery - always buzzing, humming, soaring roaring diving, and then buried in mud. And why? What's this passion for?” - Virginia Woolf

That passion - your creativity, and your generous nature are so needed, so we must treat these qualities with care. 

The sensory world is powerful and relentless! With so much grabbing for our attention, it’s easy to forget that we’re the ones in charge of our time and energy. 

Swapping mental distractions for mental space is an act of self-compassion and self-respect. Here are a couple of ideas to do that.

1. Schedule sensory breaks. 

Known as Pratyahara in yoga, moving your focus away from the senses and towards your inner experience has a subtle power. It’s a practice of shifting attention away from sensory stimulation and moving it inwards to objectively look at our thoughts, emotions, behaviours and habits. Then we can choose our healthiest, most helpful and focused next step.

Although subtle, it takes skill to step back and disengage from the forward momentum of life long enough to meaningfully reset and refocus. Quick ways to try this:

• Observe silence for set periods. Notice what comes up in that distraction-less time.

• Practice periods of fasting - from food, social media, phone and laptop notifications.

“When the mind is guided by the wandering senses, then it carries away one’s understanding, as does the wind a ship on the water…”

- the Bhagavad Gita’s description of the pursuit of sensation at the expense of our physical, emotional, and mental health.

2. Control social media so it doesn’t control you.

This 15-min video shares ways to master social media to save time & beat self-doubt. As a major time-drainer this could give you some fresh ideas to get back some creativity headspace. Watch here. (Start at 1.33 to get straight to the talk.)

I’d love to hear from you on this. Is sensory overload something that you experience? Please share in the comments, below - you never know who might benefit from your perspective.

I believe that your creativity and generous spirit, when channelled, are the making of you and the life you crave - and I’m cheering you on every step!