Create a Self-Care Inventory List including 20 Things You Love

Creative Self-Care Inventory

In my experience, most of us know what lights us up, what nurtures us, what makes us feel alive, and what self-care means for us as an individual. I’ve found it’s generally more difficult to give ourselves permission (or find the time, or prioritize ourselves, etc) to live a daily creative self-care practice! Daily habits and routines can also take time to cultivate and change.

With current social distancing in place due to COVID-19, we may also need to adjust how we approach our daily self care. This may mean changing some of the activities we consider for self-care, and it may also mean doing less and being more. This is a time to be gentle and compassionate with ourselves. <3

Below is a simple Writing Exercise to clarify your Creative Self Care needs:

Photo by Jess Bailey

creative self-care journaling prompts:

• Create a list of 10 to 20 self care activities that feel nurturing and restoring for YOU (that would be possible for you to do in this moment)

• Place a star next to your favorites (2 or 3)

• Underline any self care practices you've completed in the last 30 days

• Circle any you've completed in the last week (or for an extra challenge today!)

Are you surprised by how little or how many self-care practices you do daily, weekly, monthly? What about your favorites self-care activities? Did you struggle to write what self-care feels like for you?

I notice this list (like our breath) is constantly ebbing and flowing, and that's okay! Also, sometimes our self-care activities are possible, or not, by things outside of our control. Social distancing, as a result of Coronavirus, is a perfect example of this.

If you have a lot of amazing self-care activities on your list, but it's been a while since you've explored them, choose two or three items you can do. What would you need to possibly change to make them a reality? What self care item(s) on your list can you do now (and possibly save some others for another time)?

For more Mindful Art Activities and Creative Self Care inspiration, sign up for my Mindful Creative Muse Newsletter here and check back on the blog.

p.s. I’d LOVE to hear some of your favorite creative self care activities. Please comment so we can connect. :)