5 for 5 Self-Care Challenge: Get Outside

5 for 5 Self-Care Challenge: Get Outside

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: It’s the last day of the challenge! How has your week been? I have been loving the connection, engagement, and stories that you have shared. I’m always so inspired by you during these challenges. Today’s challenge is to...

5 for 5 Self-Care Challenge: Exercise

Hello Wonderful, Creative You: How was your Self-Care Challenge day 1? I hope you loved seeking out beauty as much as I did. Today’s challenge is exercise. Exercise is such a vital part of a good self-care regimen. You might have realized that I love to run and...

Natural Anxiety Relief: Make Art from Nature

By: Amy Maricle Why is Making Art from Natural Materials Grounding? Nature is evocative, intoxicating, invigorating, fascinating. Experiencing the varied textures, scents, colors, and sounds of natural materials helps us to slow down our bodies, minds, and breathing....

Calm Your Anxiety with Guided Visualization

I’ve been focusing a lot on anxiety lately. (If you missed my recent posts on coping tools for anxiety and panic, you can click on these links.) One of the things that I have noticed throughout the years working with clients is that guided visualization works....

When Do You Let Fear Go?

By: Amy Maricle   A lot of us are scared. Worried. Anxious. We have good reason; there is a lot to be anxious about. Lots of things scare me. Terrorism, serious illness, growing old and losing the people I love. I try to remind myself that it’s the...

8 Simple Steps to Better Sleep

By: Amy Maricle This is part one of a two-part post on improving the quality and length of sleep. This week I will address “sleep hygiene” or how to prep for sleep, and next week I will address what to do when you try to fall asleep and can’t.  ...

Self-Care Challenge Day 2: Writing It Out

By: Amy Maricle I have found that if I don’t want my feelings to completely run my life, I need some outlets for them. Sometimes five minutes is all I need to purge my worries, whether before bed, first thing in the morning, or in the middle of the day.  Being...

5 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Stress

Control your breath, control your feelings Have you ever noticed when you are in an emergency situation how you take quick, shallow breaths from your chest? This is a wonderful physiological response, called the  stress response, which allows us to quickly fight or...

5 Minute Self-Care Techniques

By: Amy Maricle This is part two in my series about ways to take care of yourself in just 5 minutes. You can find my last post here, which shows you how to use a portable art kit, and simple doodling methods to relax and re-energize. This week I want to talk about...

Do You Love You?

Do You Love You? By: Amy Maricle I know it’s a bit of a strange question, but, do you? We have no problem saying we love our spouse, our children, our best friend, or even our favorite ice cream, but we would never say, “I love myself!” Why not?   It sounds...

What if You Said How You Truly Feel?

By: Amy Maricle What if you said how you truly feel instead of hiding, denying, or avoiding your emotions? I know that saying how you really feel can be scary, but with a little practice, you may find that emotional authenticity has some profound effects in your life....

5 Reasons Art Therapy Might Be for You

By: Amy Maricle Are you thinking about art therapy as an option for yourself or a loved one? It’s important to do some research both about the approach and the therapist you are considering. Getting the right “fit” can make the difference between meeting your goals or...