I’ve heard it many times. I’m sure you have, too.
I’m constantly seeing posts or hearing people say, “You have all the free time in the world now. This is the time to do the things you always wanted, create something, learn a new language, practice an instrument….” It may seem like this is a dream for creative folks, having an unprecedented amount of time to practice your skill. If that’s true for you, great! Please continue to make the world a more beautiful place with your creations. But what if it’s not? A few days ago, I saw a post on social media that really caught my attention. “If you don’t use this time to do what you’ve always wanted to do, it wasn’t time you lacked, it was discipline.” That did not sit well with me. What those people might not understand is the strain this pandemic puts on individuals’ mental health, mine included. I am the first to admit that I haven’t used this time to be extremely creative. I haven’t created enough artwork to line my hallways so they look like an art museum, or practiced enough songs and monologues to transform my house into a theater. However, I did find that intentionally carving out some time to dedicate to one of my creative passions was quite rewarding. Why then wasn’t I doing more of it? Simple: the added pandemic anxiety was consuming all of my thoughts. I didn’t have extra mental space to dedicate to anything else, no matter how much I enjoyed it. Once I realized that, I came up with a solution that helped me tremendously. Maybe it will do the same for you. My solution was meditation. I needed a way to process the extra thoughts that were occupying my mind so I could clear space for my creative side to shine. Taking any amount of time to dedicate to meditation, whether five minutes or half an hour, can work wonders for your mental health. You may wonder what kind of meditation to do. That’s a tougher question to answer. Meditation is a deeply personal practice; what works for me might not work for you. I encourage you to experiment until you find one that works for you. There are tons of resources online, from YouTube videos (see below for some of my favorites) to apps like Calm and Headspace, that can lead you through a guided meditation. My favorite meditation is a self-guided one. I’ll walk you through it. Lay on the floor, the couch, a bed: it doesn’t really matter. Just make sure that you are comfortable and supported. Start at the crown of you head, and imagine a golden light shining on it. Release any tension you’re holding there. Trust that whatever you are lying on is going to support you, and give all of your thoughts and tension away to it. Move the light down to your face and jaw, and do the same thing there. Continue doing this the entire way down your body until you reach your toes. Breathe deeply while doing this. Once you have finished, stay there for a little bit to relax or practice a mantra. That’s it! I find that once I have done this, my body and mind are cleared of tension and excess negative thoughts. Being in that relaxed state helps me to get more in touch with my creative side. It can be challenging to find the time to dedicate to meditation when you are already overwhelmed, but if you can find even a few minutes, I encourage you to try it and see if it helps your creative juices to flow as well! In the end, remember that no matter what you are doing right now, it is enough, and you are enough. Carve out time to do things you enjoy, and continue to make the world a more beautiful place. Some recommended YouTube meditations:
- Sarah Cooper, Center for Creativity Multimedia & Marketing Intern. Sarah is a marketing major/theatre arts minor who is passionate about music and performance and is especially interested in musical theater. She also enjoys exploring life through various art forms.
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