Category: lifestyle

Posted in art, creativity, lifestyle

Tips to Unlocking the Full Spectrum of Your Creativity – Guest post by Linda Chase

Posted on by Laura

Today, I’m sharing another guest post from Linda Chase where she considers ways in which you can unlock the full range of your creativity. I hope you find the tips useful and, as always, I would love to hear any feedback you have, which I will be sure to pass on to Linda.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Nowadays, maintaining a steady flow of creativity can be a challenge. However, rejuvenating your creative spirit is not only possible but crucial for personal growth. This article, courtesy of Keeping it Creative, offers practical advice to help you rediscover your creative spark so you can flourish in all your endeavors.

Seek Inspiration from the World

Observation is a powerful tool for creative inspiration. By paying close attention to your environment and experiences, you uncover unique insights and ideas that can transform your creative endeavors. The world around you is a constant source of inspiration, from the intricate patterns of nature to the dynamic expressions of urban life. Engaging with this diversity encourages you to see the ordinary in extraordinary ways, fueling your imagination and enriching your creative output.

Harness the Power of Photography

Expanding your creativity through photography opens new avenues for artistic expression, especially by colorizing your photos to breathe new life into them. Utilizing Photoshop allows for the meticulous editing of old black-and-white photographs, transforming them into vibrant pieces of art. Additionally, specialized tools that add color to black-and-white photos offer the ability to revive cherished family portraits or infuse them with artistic flair, featuring automatically selected colors and customizable settings for a personalized touch.

Foster a Curious Mind

Curiosity is the engine of creativity. By nurturing a constant desire to learn and understand the world in more profound ways, you uncover a wealth of new ideas and possibilities. This relentless pursuit of knowledge keeps your mind active and open to innovation, inspiring you to explore beyond the surface and discover the unseen connections that spark creative thought.

Cultivate a Rich Literary Palette

Broadening your literary horizons is a foundational step toward enriching your creative well. Exposure to a diverse array of genres and styles introduces you to new ideas, perspectives, and sources of inspiration. Each book, article, or poem you engage with adds depth to your understanding and appreciation of the world, thereby expanding your creative potential. This practice encourages you to draw from a vast pool of knowledge, fueling your imagination and pushing your creative boundaries.

Unleash Thoughts Through Writing

Setting aside time for unrestricted writing is a powerful technique to unlock your creative potential. This practice allows thoughts and ideas to flow freely, without judgment or restriction. By writing down whatever comes to mind, you tap into your subconscious, uncovering insights and perspectives that can inspire new creative projects. This unfiltered exploration of thoughts serves as a catalyst for innovation, encouraging you to think outside the box and approach challenges with fresh eyes.

Embrace the Art of Experimentation

Exploring the depths of creativity invites you to venture beyond familiar boundaries and immerse yourself in diverse artistic expressions, igniting a spark of innovation. Experimenting with various mediums is less about acquiring new skills and more about uncovering hidden talents and passions, awakening a sense of discovery. This journey, free from the pursuit of perfection, encourages the creation of unique and groundbreaking ideas, celebrating the freedom to innovate without constraints.

Embrace Unconventional Thinking

Taking risks is integral to the creative process. Stepping out of your comfort zone to explore unconventional ideas can lead to innovative solutions and artistic breakthroughs. The courage to pursue the path less traveled not only distinguishes your creative work but also propels you towards personal and professional growth. It’s in these moments of uncertainty and experimentation that true creativity flourishes, revealing new perspectives and challenging the status quo.

Design Your Creative Sanctuary

Creating a space dedicated to your artistic endeavors is crucial for achieving deep creative work. A focused environment, free from distractions, allows you to immerse yourself fully in the creative process. This sanctuary is not just a physical space but a mental one as well, where you can explore your thoughts and ideas without interruption. Such an environment fosters concentration, facilitating a flow state where creativity can thrive.

As you embark on this journey to rejuvenate your creativity, remember that every step you take is a move toward unlocking your full potential. Embrace the process with an open mind and a willing heart, knowing that creativity is not just a skill, but a way of life. Your renewed creative spirit will not only enrich your life but also inspire those around you.

Don’t miss out on the latest creative strategies. Join the Keeping It Creative community today and get inspired!

Posted in Bullet journaling, goal setting, life hacks, lifestyle, Planning and journaling, Setting goals and intentions, wellbeing

Monday Matters: A guide to creating your own seasonal bucket list for Spring 2024

Posted on by Laura

For Autumn 2023 and Winter 23/24, I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from creating my own personalised bucket lists and adding my seasonal ideas to a two page spread in my bullet journal for inspiration and reference. For each of the seasons, I also handmade and stitched a pretty TN wide size notebook to go in my TN journal where I added photographs, text, a variety of stickers, ephemera and tip ins to record my achievements over the months. I’ve found the bucket lists a great way to plan in some interesting and exciting activities, set some goals and ensure my husband and I make the most of each season of the year. So, today, I’m sharing my bucket list for Spring 2024, in the hope that you will be inspired to create your own and live your life to the full.

What is a bucket list?

A bucket list is a number of items that a person would like to achieve, experience or bring into fruition over a given time frame. This could be over a lifetime, a year, or, as with mine, during a specific season. There are many benefits of creating and working towards things on your bucket list including:

  • Helping you to reflect on what is important to you as an individual and what you really want from life
  • Offers you a number of things to look forward to over the chosen time frame, increases your excitement levels
  • Providing you with a visual reminder and the focus and motivation you need to move towards your goals
  • Creating a sense of accomplishment
  • Pushes you out of your comfort zone which is really good for your personal growth

You can create one which is just for you, or you could make plans with your partner, a close friend or even sit down as a family to come up with some ideas together.

My Spring 2024 Bucket List

Here’s my bucket list for this season in my bullet journal. The words and images were all made into stickers using Cricut Design Space and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I’ve included a little ceramic bunny I purchased, the wooden egg which I got in the Hobbycraft sale last year and the jigsaw I picked out which I can’t wait to get started with. I’m yet to make the handstitched notebook but I have lots of floral papers which will be suitable for the cover.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

So, how do I get started with my Spring seasonal bucket list?

There’s plenty of seasonal bucket list inspiration online but I like to spend some time in quiet contemplation first. That way, what I add to my list is all about what I want rather than what others believe would make a good Springtime.

Consider your core values and what really matters – Spend some time thinking about what is most important to you in your life or what you wish to focus on more. You might want more fun and adventure, better balance between work, rest and play, opportunities to develop your creativity, new experiences or the chance to learn a new skill. You might want to experiment more in the kitchen, spend lots of time in nature or plan some different day trips to places in your local area. Living in alignment with your personal values is key to improved psychological wellbeing which includes your general happiness levels and outlook.

Think about the particular season you are making plans for – consider the weather associated with Springtime and any particular holidays or events which take place during the season. So, for example, in Spring, the temperature is starting to rise during the day but the evenings are still pretty cool. In Britain, the weather can be calm and dry, but, showers are also pretty common and it can often be a bit breezy. Buds and blossom begin to appear and early blooms such as snowdrops, crocuses, iris and daffodils begin to pop up in the flower beds. Spring is also the time for observing and listening to wildlife too. Bumblebees and butterflies start to make an appearance and hibernating animals such as bats and hedgehogs can be seen from dusk into the night. You might find frogspawn in ponds and watch tiny froglets appear in a matter of weeks. Birds are noisier and livelier as they pair off and start to nest and spring visitors such as swifts, swallows and house martins begin to arrive.

Mother’s Day and Easter both fall in the Springtime and there are, of course, a few Bank Holidays to look forward to. And if you want to find out about events specific to your town or city this website is a great source of information.

Write down every idea that comes to mind – Make a list of potential ideas, big and small, inexpensive and more costly, time consuming and quick. This could include a visit to Pinterest and other sites to look at bucket list ideas and inspirational images.

Refine your list – Having written a long list, it’s time to decide which items are the best fit for your values and priorities. Try to choose some activities which you enjoy each year and are somewhat traditional, but also make sure you include some which are completely new and will push you out of your comfort zone.

Choose a place to store your list – Having a finalised record of your bucket list is important if you want your aspirations to become a reality. Depending on your personal preferences, you might choose to put your list in your planner or journal or have a digital document in Notion of Microsoft Word. There’s even a website and online community dedicated to bucket lists! And, if you relish every opportunity to get creative, like I do, you can make a physical copy of your list with fancy lettering, motivational phrases, sketches, stickers and inspirational images. You might even find you’re excited to share it with your friends and family too.

Remember things can change – Your finished bucket list is a set of items that you hope to experience this Spring but, it’s not a list of commitments or things that you must do or achieve over the time period. You may find that priorities or circumstances change and that some of the items become less important or need to be put on hold for another year. You might also learn of some new opportunities as the season progresses which you want to add to your list or replace an item with.

Previous Bucket Lists

I think I’ve previously shared my Autumn and Winter bucket lists but thought readers might like to see them again for examples of the kinds of thing you could add and how you might decorate a spread in your notebook or bullet journal.

I achieved everything on my Autumn one but didn’t get to play in the snow over the Winter time as it was mostly wet and often quite mild. I still included all of the items in my Traveler’s Notebook journal. but I wrote a few lines about the weather and the impact it had on the season.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Final words…

Creating a bucket list for the season is a wonderful way to plan in some interesting, fun and different activities for the coming months. I also enjoyed making stickers to go with the items on my list but if you prefer, you could have a go at drawing and colouring in some little pictures instead.

Let me know a couple of items that you want to add to your list for Spring 2024. I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas and hope you thoroughly enjoy creating some new memories.

Posted in compassion, grief, lifestyle, pets, wellbeing

Monday Matters: Tips for coping with pet loss and how to support others through their grief

Posted on by Laura
Photo from a selection on Unsplash

This morning, I’ve been doing a little bit of work on my general blog pages (about me page, FAQs etc.) to check that they’re up to date. When reading my bio on my home page, I noticed that it said that I share my home with my husband and my little hamster Millie. Unfortunately, hamsters only live for up to one to two years of age and she passed away several months ago now. Both of us were upset at our loss and it was sad to see her decline over the last few weeks of her life. To us, she was not just ‘our hamster’, she was a much loved member of the family, and her funny antics and personality provided us with so much joy. Today, I want to share some tips for coping with pet loss, because, whether your pet was small or large, they’re sure to have left a big hole in your life and much sadness. I also want to discuss some ways in which you can support family members or friends who have experienced a recent loss.

Tips for coping when your pet dies

Accept your emotions, feelings and thoughts without judgement

Following your loss, all kinds of strong emotions and feelings may come up. For example, at different times, you might experience sadness, anxiety, disbelief, shock, anger, guilt and regret. You could also find that your thoughts are completely preoccupied with your loss, leaving you unable to think of anything else. Whatever you experience, try to simply be aware of the different emotions, feelings and thoughts as they come and go, accepting them as a normal part of the grieving process. Remember, as well, to be compassionate and kind to yourself in a way that you would be towards a loved one who was experiencing such as loss.

Surround yourself with supportive friends and family

As you come to terms with your loss, it’s good to seek out friends and family members who you know will be supportive, rather than diminishing how you are feeling. This could include someone who has lost a pet in the past or has a cherished pet (or pets) of their own. You might also turn to individuals who are good listeners and often have the ability to make you feel better with their words or gestures.

On the other hand, some people will struggle to understand your intense feelings of sadness and may not offer the empathy you need or could even seem dismissive of the situation. Rather than getting angry, frustrated or upset with them, try to accept that they just don’t get it, brush them off, and find others, possibly outside of your social circle, who do recognise your suffering.

Embrace your memories

Talk and think about fond memories of your pet with family members and understanding friends. Look back over photographs and videos of fun times and reminisce over your own and shared experiences. And if difficult emotions arise, just accept them and know that it’s okay to be upset.

We have a cute video of Millie playing in her digging tower where we are waiting in anticipation of her emerging out of the bottom covered in wood-shavings. We never tire of watching her appear, and the video even has audio of me encouraging her to dig her way out! We also have photos of many of our hamsters when they were little babies and some moments where they’re enjoying a snack or exploring. Most of them are a little on the blurry side as they very rarely stay still but they’re still lovely reminders of our furry friends throughout the years and we have treasured memories of each and every one of them.

Try seeking out online or in person support

There are a range of support groups available online and this includes websites specifically dedicated to pet loss such as the Blue Cross organisation which has a Facebook community and trained volunteers you can speak with. You can also seek the help of a therapist who can offer counselling and coping strategies.

I’ve been a part of the ‘hamsters’ group on Facebook for many years now. It has over 6K members and there’s always someone on there to offer a kind word following the loss of your furry friend or when you need some emotional support regarding difficult decisions with regard to ailing hamsters.

Practice self-care as you mourn your loss

Although it might be difficult, try to look after yourself as best you can during your period of mourning. This can include eating a balanced diet, getting some exercise each day, trying to ensure you get a good night’s sleep, keeping up with basic hygiene and even pampering yourself a little such as with a massage, manicure, bubble bath or a new haircut.

Try journalling

Journalling about your pet and your loss can be a great way to explore how you are feeling and is also a lovely way to help you remember how unique and special they were. You could do some free writing to explore your thoughts but, if you’re unsure what to write, this website has some great journalling prompts to choose from.

Don’t rush to replace your pet

Although it might be tempting to get another pet straight away, it is usually better to mourn your old pet first and wait until you are emotionally ready to welcome a new animal into your home. There’s no right time to get a new pet, but experts suggest that you should wait until you have worked through your grief adequately enough to be able to look forward to a new addition rather than still be in the process of deeply mourning your loss.

Ways to support someone who has recently lost their pet

  1. Send a sorry for your loss card to let them know that you care and are thinking about them.
  2. Be a good listener when they talk about their feelings, emotions and ways in which their loss is affecting them. Think about supportive things you might say in reply – maybe that you were sorry to hear about x, or that your here for them if they want to talk. Also, knowing what not to say is just as important. Phrases such as ‘he was old anyway’, ‘she’s in a better place now’ or ‘you can get another one’ might be well meaning but they’re also dismissive at the same time.
  3. Let them know that it’s normal to be upset and it is okay to cry, feel sad or even become lonely or a little depressed. It’s important to allow time to grieve and heal – and it takes as long as it takes.
  4. Remind them to be self-compassionate and encourage them to look after their basic needs. You could also offer support with this such as getting some shopping in for them, making a nutritious meal to take around or doing some errands. Ask them if there’s anything you can do and make suggestions so that they know that the offer off help isn’t just something to say.
  5. Check in with them regularly after your initial conversation. Text or phone them to ask them how they are getting on and if they need anything.
  6. Help them to seek out further support by looking into dedicated websites for pet loss or by finding leaflets or books on the topic. Some resources are specifically aimed at particular pet owners, for example The Kennel Club offers advice on coping with losing your dog.

Final words…

If you have found and are reading today’s blog post because your pet has recently died, I am so very sorry for your loss. Losing a beloved pet can be a very difficult time as they are very much a part of the family. I hope you find the above suggestions useful and they help you to cope with your grief. Remember that, if needed, there are therapists available who are trained to support people through any type of grief, including pet loss, and they will help you talk through your feelings, normalise your emotions and any difficulties you are experiencing and offer coping strategies.

Posted in art, bullet journal, Bullet journaling, creativity, lifestyle, Planning and journaling, watercolour painting

Setting up my Bullet Journal for February 2024: Valentine’s roses and hearts theme

Posted on by Laura

For the month of February, I decided to do some more watercolour painting. There’s lots of tutorials online for loose watercolour roses, so I thought I’d give it a try and then use my new skill to create a front cover. I searched for easy and beginner tutorials but I used more than ten A5 sheets of watercolour paper developing my technique so it definately wasn’t a breeze for me and my perfectionist self!

For the rest of my spreads I made stickers using my Cricut Joy Xtra. I would love to turn my watercolour images into stickers but I’m not sure how easy it is to do, so, for now, I’m just using pictures from Cricut Design Studio which I subscribe to. I hope you like my finished pages and I look forward to seeing everyone else’s themes and approaches on WordPress, YouTube and Instagram.

Watercolour rose

My intention for the front cover was to paint three roses in different colours – pink, red and peach, and add leaves. However, every time I attempted the final piece, I would create two lovely roses that I was happy with and one which went completely wrong! In the end, I decided to do just one rose to place in the centre of my page. In a bid to save watercolour paper, I used a piece that I’d already practised on. Unfortunately, I didn’t watch where I was putting the leaves and had to fix my mistake with a carefully placed title on my cover page as you will see shortly!

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Front cover

After my painting session, I scanned my artwork and printed it using my Canon Pixma printer. The colours aren’t quite the same but they look okay. I added the image to a page in MS Publisher and hid the top part of the other rose by adding a title using a text box with white background. As I eventually opted for just one rose and some leaf decoration, I had some space at the top and bottom of the page. I found a washi tape that worked perfectly. This one is from MT which are always superb quality.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

The monthly calendar

When I popped to Hobbycraft the other week, they were having a 20% off Cricut consumables sale so I treated myself to some transparent sticker paper to use with my Cricut Joy Xtra. Unfortunately, when I got to the till, I discovered that the product I had chosen was one of the only items that wasn’t part of the offer – typically eh! Needless to say, I bought it anyway. I love how bright and colourful this double page turned out and it was super quick to create all of the stickers as both the roses and the hearts had a white border offset on them already!

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Finances record

I absolutely loved the watercolour heart envelope so I made it into a large sticker. Of course, it means that I’ll have to try not to have too many expenses for February or I’ll run out of room to record them!

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Weeklies

I opted for a Dutch door layout again this month but there was still plenty of room for the stickers I created. My daily events are recorded in the boxes on this double page and then overleaf, I have a running task list.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

A Valentine’s mood board

This is another decorative spread which I think turned out really nice. I found the middle image on Cricut Design Space but when I’d printed and cut it, I had no idea what do do with it! Then I though, I know, I’ll make a kind of mood board which makes me smile every time I see it.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Final words…

Thank you for taking the time to look at my bullet journal spreads for February. The pages took me quite a while to create, but I’m pleased with how they all turned out. I hope you like them too and they’ve given you some inspiration for your own BuJo.

Wishing you a happy and healthy February and a month filled with self love and kindness,

Posted in lifestyle, mental health, Mindfulness, Planning and journaling, reflective journalling, wellbeing, wellness

Monday Matters: 4 Ways to Destress after a Busy Day

Posted on by Laura
Photo from Unsplash

Most of us lead very busy lives and it can be incredibly difficult to switch off and relax in the evening in preparation for a good night’s sleep. Today, I’m sharing four excellent ways to wind down after a stressful or busy day. The following activities are great for your mental health and wellbeing and I’m going to be offering lots of different options to choose from depending on your preferences.

Do a journalling activity

After a busy or particularly stressful day, it can often be super difficult to calm our mind. Your head can be full of all kinds of clutter in the form of thoughts (both positive and negative), ideas or feelings. Maybe you’re busy analysing or deconstructing everything that has happened and going through things that were said. Perhaps you’re worrying about your mounting to do list and what didn’t get crossed off today because of x,y and z which took priority. Or, you might be looking towards tomorrow, thinking about the events in your diary or how you can be super productive and get more done whilst making it a calmer, less stress inducing day. If any of the above apply, you might be wondering if you will ever be able to switch off and sleep tonight. This is where getting your thoughts and feelings out of your head and onto paper can be super helpful. Just ten minutes of free flow or structured journal writing can make all the difference.

I learnt the following method for putting the day to rest when I was teaching, when every day was a busy day and I was really struggling to relax and sleep.

Putting the day to rest activity

  • Set aside 20 minutes in the early evening (I used to do this at 7.30pm)
  • Sit down somewhere quiet
  • Think about your day today and how it has gone, what you did and how you feel about it
  • Write it down in bullet points or free writing if you prefer
  • Write down anything you didn’t get done off your to-do list
  • Think about tomorrow – do you have any particular events coming up? what are looking forward to? are there any worries you have about what’s happening?
  • Write down a loose or structured plan for your day depending on your own needs (you can always modify this as you learn what works best for you.
  • When it comes to later evening and bedtime, if thoughts about today or tomorrow pop into your head, remind yourself that you’ve already evaluated your day and planned for tomorrow, so you don’t need to think about it any more.
  • If new thoughts come into your head at bedtime, jot them down on a piece of paper or on a notepad.

Other types of prompt based journalling might also work for you and there are some lovely ones on the market which can be used before bed. I’m a big fan of The Five Minute Journal but there are plenty of much cheaper options if this doesn’t fit with your budget. How much you want to write is up to you but it’s good to develop a consistent practice which becomes a positive habit to end your work time or day with.

Try a Mindful or Meditative Practice

Any type of activity that requires a high level of concentration and uses different senses is great for helping you to forget about the busyness of your day. Here’s some ideas for mindful and meditative activities which you might like to try:

  • Meditation – this can simply be sitting quietly and focusing on your breathing or using a guided practice. I recently found this account on YouTube that has some lovely ones with different foci that you mind find helpful. When choosing a guided session, it’s important to find someone who’s voice you find soothing and relaxing so you might like to try out a few to establish your preferences.
  • Crafting – there are so many different crafting options such as papercrafting, watercolour painting, knitting, sewing, crochet, model making and so on – why not give a few beginner projects a go to see which you prefer.
  • Some kind of puzzle e.g. a jigsaw, wordsearch, crossword etc. – great for keeping your mind active
  • Games – this could be something on your computer that you play by yourself such as Angry Birds, Candy Crush, Word Cookies or Patience, or one you play with others such as Boggle, Yahtzee, Gin Rummy, Scrabble or Jenga.
  • Enjoy a scented bubble bath and use your senses to fully appreciate the experience.
  • Cook a meal from scratch – measure out your ingredients with care, fully engaged with chopping / dicing / peeling etc, smell the different flavours as the dish cooks, taste the mixture to check the seasoning and so on. Mindfully enjoy the results at your dining table. Share your experience with others.
  • Watch something engaging on TV – comedy, drama, nature, historical interest or reality. Whatever you enjoy, give it your full attention and leave your phone or tablet in another room so you don’t get distracted. If you’re anything like me at this time of year, you’ll want to get your PJs on and snuggle under a warm blanket with your feet up for this one!

Read a book or magazine

Spending time reading a novel, information book, or favourite magazine is a great way to unwind and get yourself all relaxed and ready for bed. I love Psychologies magazine, as it’s full of positive ideas, and I can learn new ways of managing mental health and wellbeing at the same time.

Some people argue that you shouldn’t read in bed, but I find reading a few chapters of my Kindle novel (or for about 30 minutes) helps me to drift off really quickly. Try reading just before bed and reading in bed to see which works best for you.

Spend quality time with a loved one

Arranging an after work activity to do with a co-worker, friend, family member or partner can also help us destress. This could involve going out for an after-work drink, doing an evening class, watching a film at the cinema, seeing a comedy show or visiting a new or favourite restaurant. Alternatively, you might plan something fun to do together at home such as making popcorn to eat whilst watching a film, playing a board game or learning something new such as massage or reflexology.

Spending time with a pet is also great way to destress and calm the mind. This could include something you know they enjoy such as throwing a ball for your dog to catch at your local park (depending on the time of year), stroking your cat as they sit curled up on your knee, or watching your hamster as they zip around the house in their exercise ball.

Final words…

So there you have it, four ways to take yourself out of work/busy mode and into a relaxed state for the evening. I hope today’s post has given you food for thought and you’ll try one or two of the activities listed to see how they help. If you have any other preferences for your wind down routine, let me know in the comments.