Usually, summer is the time when my creative art practice slows down. This is often caused by the hot weather and the fact that heat makes me really tired and unable to focus on creative work for longer periods of time. Over the years, this time was a perfect opportunity for me to just rest physically, creatively and mentally instead of developing projects
I did a lot of admin tasks, tidy up my websites (they always need work) and finish any of the loose ends I had before the next September.
In 2023 I graduated with an MA in Public Art & Performance. That summer I also left my very unsatisfying, brain and energy draining museum job. Two years in higher education and the need to recoup my energy after my museum job led me to introduce slow creativity into my daily practices. I needed the time to rest, re-group and build up my creative energy storage as I felt completely depleted by both studying and working.
When I began my journey, I knew very little about reflective practices and in all honesty for many years I thought reflective practices were in contrast to my hands-on doing attitude and approach towards art and developing projects. I also didn’t consider the creative process as part of the creation as I was solely focused on the outcome.
So once my final MA project was finished and the final show ended (September 2023) I gave myself time to think, be, walk and just focus on slowing down.
The effects of engaging with reflective practices were almost instant. My brain relaxed, I had the breathing spaces I so longed for, and my creativity had the calmness it needed to flourish.
Don’t get me wrong, when I started working again some of the calmness I gained evaporated almost instantly as my brain became busy with work-related activities (tasks, worries learning new skills).
I don’t always get it right, and as my friend pointed out to me not that long ago “do you ever listen to your own advice”. Sometimes I do, but sometimes I don’t when I get carried away by fear and anxiety that I’m not “producing” enough or that my work is totally irrelevant because it’s not visible.
It’s not easy to slow down in the world that praises visible output above anything else. At times even if the summer is unbearably hot, I still catch myself pushing towards the outcome, instead of slowing down, looking around and being as much in the moment as I possibly can enjoying the process.
Reflective practices I follow (it doesn’t mean I do them daily, but those practices are with me when I need them):
- Walking in the forest or a park without any distractions such as podcasts, audiobooks, etc.
- Walking instead of taking public transport.
- Looking after my balcony garden.
- Watching my favourite shows or films. (Mostly from the 90s and 2000s)
- Hot drinks such as tea, hot chocolate, decaf-coffee.
- Journaling.
- Working on my art projects using materials I have easy access to. (So, the price tag of buying art & craft materials is not a barrier.)
- Writing in my diary.
- Going to Scotland.
- Slow travelling.
- Baking
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Not engaging in the political/news sphere.
Space, time and slowing down in my creative art practice is like a movable, breathable organism that needs looking after, needs kindness and clutter-free time and space.
I would love to hear from you how you create space and time to slow down in your creative practices. I believe there is something powerful in sharing our experiences, learning from one another and finding ways of working that prioritise reflection, creativity and wellbeing. In a world that often values speed and constant productivity, creating space to slow down can feel like a small act of kindness towards ourselves, our creativity and our communities.
PS. I’m Made by Dyslexia, so expect small typos and big thinking.
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