Once upon a Friday (because who ever starts stories on a Monday?), I found myself clutching a mug of tea like it was a lifeline, staring at a blinking cursor with all the inspiration of a damp Weetabix. It wasn’t writer’s block no, it was something deeper. I had creativity fatigue, a condition best treated with snacks, a playlist of 90s R&B, and an emergency nap.
Let’s be honest – being creative is often glamorised as this euphoric, lightbulb-popping experience where you skip down the street in a beret with a sketchbook under your arm, humming Mozart. Reality? You're more likely to be wearing pyjamas at 2pm, knee-deep in biscuit crumbs, wondering if you can expense scented candles as a "mental health resource".
But here’s the truth: creativity and wellness are actually madly in love like Richard Curtis rom-com kind of love. They’ve just got a communication problem. Let’s unpack that, shall we?
🎨 Creativity Needs Wellness Like the UK Needs a Brew
Studies from the University of Westminster show that engaging in creative activities for just 45 minutes a day significantly reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. That’s right your doodling, songwriting, or awkward interpretive dance in the living room might actually be more beneficial than that pricey mindfulness app you downloaded and forgot about after the free trial.
In the UK music industry, artists like Stormzy and Arlo Parks have been vocal about the importance of mental health and creative expression. Parks, in particular, explores themes of vulnerability and emotional clarity through her lyrics a blend of poetry and pain that makes you want to text your therapist and say, “You up?”
And in film? The British Film Institute (BFI) has supported numerous initiatives focusing on mental health in the creative industries. Remember "Rocks" (2020)? That beautiful, raw coming-of-age film? Its production involved wellness workshops and prioritised emotional safety for the young cast proving that when you care for the creators, the work glows differently.
🧠 Wellness Isn’t Just Bubble Baths and Affirmations
Though we all love a bubble bath and a cheeky lavender essential oil (who doesn’t enjoy pretending they’re in a Lush ad?), wellness for creatives needs to go deeper. It’s about boundaries, breaks, and believing that "resting is productive" which sounds like a Pinterest quote until you realise burnout makes even choosing socks feel like quantum physics.
Try this: next time you’re stuck, don’t force it. Go for a walk. Blast your favourite grime tune. Binge-watch Taskmasterguilt-free. Laughing that big, belly-jiggling, tear-down-your-face kind of laughing releases endorphins that reboot your creative flow faster than you can say “Ctrl+Alt+Delete”.
🎬 A Few Tips from the Creative Trenches (and My Own Slightly Chaotic Life)
- Talk to yourself (nicely) – Your inner critic needs a cup of tea and a timeout. You’re not failing, you’re fermenting. Creative ideas are like sourdough: messy, slow, but ultimately delicious.
- Use music as medicine – Ever tried writing with a Hans Zimmer soundtrack in the background? It turns sending an email into an epic saga. Or throw on a bit of Adele if you need a good cry and creative cleanse.
- Schedule ‘creative chaos’ time – Give yourself permission to make terrible art, unfinished lyrics, or weird TikToks. Not everything has to be polished. Ask any songwriter, the first draft often sounds like a toddler with a tambourine.
- Get community – Creativity can be lonely. Join local creative hubs (like JPR Creative Consultancy cheeky plug), workshops, or online spaces where people get your mix of brilliance and bonkers.
💡 Final Thought: Creativity Is Wellness
It’s not separate. It’s not a side hobby. It’s not a luxury. Creativity is how we process, protest, connect, and cope. Whether you're composing a film score in your head while boiling pasta, or scribbling bars on the back of your Tesco receipt that’s your soul talking.
So, the next time you find yourself in creative despair, remember: even Beyoncé has off days. And if all else fails, put on your fluffiest socks, dance like no one’s watching (but maybe shut the curtains), and remind yourself that your imagination is your superpower slightly sleep-deprived, maybe, but still magical.
Stay well. Stay weird. Stay wonderfully creative.
With rhythm, rest, and ridiculous laughter,
Jasmine Pollard-Romain
✨ Founder & Strategic Designer – JPR Creative Consultancy
