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Mindfulness and Creativity

lightbulb sketched on top of a paint splatter of yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and pink

 

Mindfulness Videos

  • Mindful Breathing: This video offers instructions on how to feel more settled or calm by focusing on your breath. This video is about three minutes long. (Credit to Stop, Breathe & Think)
  • Body Scan : This video leads you through a body scan. Body scans are to help you feel more settled and calm by bringing awareness to each part of your body and noticing your experience with a sense of curiosity and openness. Sometimes body scans can be difficult for people who have experienced trauma. It is ok to take a break or stop engaging with the video. This video is about eight minutes long. (Credit to Stop, Breathe & Think)
  • Mindfulness Meditation: This video leads you through a mindfulness meditation. The image on the screen is of a lake and mountains, but you can close your eyes or choose any image you find helps you in your practice of mindfulness. This video is about ten minutes long. (Credit to Calm) 

Coloring Pages

Coloring can be an excellent way to be creative and take a break. The SuperColoring website offers a variety of coloring pages and activities. You can print them out or color online. While you are coloring, you can practice mindfulness by thinking of a favorite quote, taking deep breaths, or even trying to color with your non-dominant hand! Remember that it does not need to be perfect, whatever you do is enough. 

Step-by-Step Painting 

These step-by-step painting tutorials by Bob Ross can be a great way to get creative and practice self-care. You can also try having a virtual paint night with loved ones by all watching the video at the same time in your different spaces. Find a playlist of step-by-step painting tutorial videos on Youtube.

Journaling

Not everyone may feel comfortable painting or drawing, and that's okay! There are many ways to be creative using creative journaling prompts. Pick the ones that you think would be most helpful for you, or make changes to the prompts if you would like.