Self-Care Crafting

As we come out of this pandemic, I am seeing that there is more and more emphasis on self-care. And, to be honest, I am here for it. I have spent the last year just trying to keep my head above water, trying to somehow balance the new tasks, responsibilities, and stressors that were thrown onto my plate. I felt a bit like a brand new waitress at a diner, balancing 10 different plates up and down my arms while simply trying to deliver a glass of milk to a crying child. It was difficult.

I have always loved crafting as a form of self-care. The materials inspire me, the colors energize me, and the feeling of accomplishment when I complete a project always gives me a boost. But, in the midst of everyday life in a pandemic, I often found myself so lacking in energy that I just couldn’t craft. That might sound odd considering that I run a YouTube channel based on crafting, and that I generally have daily posts of new projects on my Instagram account. But, that’s my job, and I don’t believe your job or career can also serve as your self care. Don’t get me wrong, I am passionate about my job. I love creating content for others, hopefully inspiring them on their creative journey. But, that just isn’t the same as crafting for the love of creating. While they share some common threads for sure, the difference comes in where the energy is flowing.

When you are doing an activity as a form of self-care, the energy should be flowing into you. For instance, for some of us, being around friends at a dinner table can be extremely energizing. Being around other people we care about is a form of self-care in that instance because it is benefitting the energy we carry. For others, being around a group of friends can be draining on their energy. This doesn’t mean they don’t desire being around others or that they don’t need that connection in their lives, it just means that they have to find their own unique form of self-care. They need a form of self-care that brings them energy, replenishes their spirit. It is going to look different for everyone!

While I love that my day job is filled with opportunities for creativity and connection, it can often take a lot out of me. I may simultaneously be so excited about what I’ve created during a day of work, but also drained. Being a mom is very similar to me. I can be simultaneously so grateful and happy about a day I got to spend with my children while also feeling exhausted and quite ready for them to go to bed. Turns out we can have two conflicting feelings at once, and it is perfectly normal!

Okay, so back to self-care. For me, self-care crafting looks very simple. Often, it is cutting out beautiful images from a magazine that I plan to collage in an art journal. It may look like putting stickers in a planner, or rearranging my decorative planner dashboards to give me a little boost. Sometimes it is creative journaling, not for photos or videos, but just for myself. It might even be taking the time to do a Bible journal entry simply for me, without turning on the camera and filming my process. I don’t need a whole day for self-care crafting (although I wouldn’t turn it down!). Generally 30 minutes of quiet, simple crafting helps calm my mind and energize my spirit. Sometimes it can be hard to start, but I know that by the end of that 30 minutes, I will feel more like myself than when I started.

In a social media world, we are so tempted to constantly share everything we do. We want to show what we are accomplishing in a day, or as creatives, we like to share everything we make. But, I’d encourage you to find 30 minutes or so in the next few days and do a little self-care crafting. Make it simple, and don’t worry about creating a final product. Simply lose yourself in the task for just a bit. Don’t photograph it, in fact, keep the time (and the result) to yourself, like a secret treasure meant just for you. While you lose yourself in the crafting, you may just rediscover a small part of yourself that was feeling lost.

Keep it creative,

The Scrappy Wife