(Written by your physician-ally, Dr. Wells, who sees you, hears you, and picks up her paintbrush alongside you.)
1. Hello, Fear. Meet Your Paintbrush.
You’re tired. On your feet. Mentally juggling and physically dragging. The idea of starting something new—like picking up a paintbrush or opening a sketchbook—can feel extra. What if the result looks bad? What if you fail? What if you don’t even like it after five minutes? That hesitation is real. But here’s the good news: the fear isn’t a stopping signal—it’s a sign of something worth doing. Your brain knows you’re stepping into the unfamiliar, and unfamiliar often means growth, rest, regeneration.
2. Science backs you up: Art isn’t only for “artists.”
Research shows that engaging in creative, visual art-making supports emotional regulation, stress reduction, and mental wellness—not necessarily because you produce masterpieces, but because you create. For example, the American Psychological Association notes that art-making helps “redirect the mind away from rumination to the present moment.” Psychology.org+1 Another study found that simply doing guided art sessions lowered negative emotions and increased positive ones among women with health challenges. American Psychiatric Association+1 So you don’t need to worry about if you’re “good enough.” The benefit is in showing up.
3. Starting is easier than you think (yes, even with your schedule).
Here’s a beginner-friendly, laughter-permitting plan:
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Grab a your first “launch kit”: one canvas (or a sheet of heavy paper), a cheap set of acrylics (or even washable paints), a brush or two, and a cup of water. You can buy all-in-one kits here.
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Schedule 15 minutes tonight: Write “Art Escape” in your planner (phone, journal, sticky note—whatever). For 15 minutes you are disconnected from email, chores, responsibilities. You are the artist.
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Turn off the inner critic: Resist the urge to compare, judge, delete, “fix.” You aren’t trying to sell this. You’re trying to express you.
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Reflect if you want: “How did it feel to get paint on me? How does my brain feel now compared with before I started?” Let’s say you feel lighter—that’s a win.
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Consider next step: Tomorrow? Do 10 minutes. The day after, maybe shift to a different medium: chalk pastels, coloring book, collage with magazine cut-outs. Variety helps—and keeps it fun.
4. Why this matters for you, right now.
You’ve carried more than you often acknowledge: workload, family demands, community contributions, health concerns, mental load. Starting artisan time isn’t just “hobbying.” It’s healing. It’s a signal: “My creativity matters. My rest matters.” By stepping into something new, you’re reclaiming space for your inner life—and that matters physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Plus: when you begin—and laugh at your own “looks kind of weird but I did it” piece—you send a message to your nervous system: “Hey, we can try things. We can play. We can rest.” That switch is powerful.
5. Final pep talk — because you deserve it.
Tonight, just pick up one brush. Or even a crayon. Let your hands wander. Let your mind reboot. Let your soul have a moment of “I-made-something.” The fear of starting? It’s actually courage in disguise. It means you’re moving toward yourself. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. It’s about saying: “I matter, my creative self matters, my rest matters.”
And when you wake up tomorrow, look back on your little piece of color and think: “Yep—I showed up.” Guess what? That counts. That counts big.
Your mind and body will thank you. Your creativity will whisper, “More of that, please.”
