I Do Art to “Get the Crazies Out”
Recently I came across a hilarious t-shirt: I Run to Burn Off the CRAZY.
I loved it because it really speaks to why running makes me happy. I run on my own, but also as part of a club, so it’s exercise, community, and social life all wrapped into one. That’s a lot of motivation for self-care.
Of course the arts are another huge outlet for me. Whether I am painting, making a book, or a spirit stick, art helps me tune into the moment and tune out the incessant brain chatter we live with all day.
I started thinking, the folks creating these t-shirts could expand. I would change the wording slightly to match a variety of activities:
I do art to get the crazies out.
I cook to get the crazies out.
I dance to get the crazies out.
I sing to get the crazies out.
Let’s just admit it. We are all a wee bit crazy sometimes. Our job is not to strive for perfection, but to do our best to take care of ourselves and those around us.
Being emotionally healthy is about being able to tune into what you really need. Not what you think others want you to do, or will make someone else happy, but what really makes you feel good. Have you asked yourself lately?
Is it spending time with friends? Cooking? Taking walks? Being with your kids? How can you make some space for that in your life?
What would your t-shirt say?
Art as Self-Care
If you are looking for an artsy way to get the crazies out, check out my online Art Journaling course. Art journaling is one of the best ways I know to use art as self-care. You can do it at your own pace. You can do in stretches of 5 minutes or 500, and it’s not expensive to get started. You just need a journal and some markers to do some really basic but totally fun stuff.
The class is available for immediate purchase, just follow the link below:
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A whole day of cooking and baking without interruption is the best way for me to get the crazies out. I think I’m due for one soon!
Nicole
HI Nicole:
Can I come over? What are you making? Geez, if I was near you, I might just stress you out a little so that I could reap the benefits!
Happy Baking!
Amy
P.S. I like a chocolate chip cookie with walnuts and coconut. 😉
YES! Art to get the crazies out! If I don’t sculpt at least once a week (all day, 8+ hours), I get fidgety and hard to live with. Or so I’m told. 😉
Also, nature. Sunshine, trees, birds… An hour in the park is worth 10 anyplace else. Well, some parks, anyway.
Hi Melissa:
Wow! That’s a long stretch of art making! And I hear you on the park issue. Getting out for a hike or a good trail run is magic for me. Or a good long painting session (4 is my limit!)
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Amy
I love this Amy! In fact, I hopped onto Pinterest to see if I could find a “I do yoga to get the crazy out.” meme. Couldn’t find one, so clearly one is needed.
In my family, we also call it “getting your zoomies out,” which actually refers more to a physical release but it is two birds with one stone for me, really.
Thanks for a great article! Off to do some yoga, cooking, walking the dog, dancing in the kitchen to get my zoomie/crazy out!
Hi Allison!
It’s great to see you here on the blog! I do yoga to get the crazy out – I really like that one!
Zoomies! HA! We use that for our pooches, I will have to try it with the little people too! Dancing in the kitchen while cooking, playing, etc is definitely also one of my favorites. It looks like you have a great list of self-care tools in this crazy season. Especially given the work we do and what you hold for clients struggling with the holidays, that is so important.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. I hope to see you again soon.
Cheers,
Amy
A walk in Nature quiets the crazies!
Creating gifts for others calms the chatter! (Big theme with the upcoming holidays. I am working on floral notecard sets using my own art, funky paperclay ornaments, and a dream catcher with feathers cut from my massive stack of background papers.)
GREAT POST!!!
Such great ideas Eileen! xo Amy