I'm sure I'm not the only one suffering some overwhelm at this stage of the year! But I think we can all safely say that this is no different from any other Christmas lead up and maybe if we remember how we managed to get through it every year before, we might just feel empowered rather than on the verge of break down!

A little mindful creativity (hello mindful colouring book!) even a few minutes a day can also do wonders in keeping us on an even keel during the silly season.

• Subscribe to my mailing list
• Send me an email
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Order my colouring Book - It Starts With A Heart

TRANSCRIPT:

Well, hello everyone and welcome back to another episode. Thank you so much, everybody for listening in. Gee, we're really getting so close to the end of the year and I think I'm not the only one that just starts to feel this incredible overwhelm at this time of the year. I mean, it happens every year. Doesn't it? And I just don't know why it always has to be like this. Every year I approach, you know, get into sort of October seeing what's on in November and December. And I try so hard to really just make it easy, but for some reason there is just so much that we always want to do before the end of the year. I don't know why the end of the year is the important time to do all the catching up and all the things, the parties. We should just be having parties all year round. I don't know why we have to catch up with people before Christmas. Because there's a lot going on before Christmas. You know, kids are finishing school and they've got their graduations and their last, this, and their last to that. And you know, work things of course and end of year, this and that. And I get it. It's always the same. I would love it to be different. I'm not sure what I can do to make it different in my own life, even though I, I think ahead for it. But here I am again feeling completely overwhelmed with things to get done by the end of the year. And on top of everything, we are moving house, not just moving house, but relocating to another state. We're in Brisbane at the moment and we're heading down, back to Canberra in Australia. We're in defence and we have packers come to pack up our house, which I really appreciate because it takes a few guys a whole day to do it. But there are certain things that just need to be organized beforehand. I always have a compulsion to really tidy up and clear things out before they arrive, because what I don't want is to unpack at the other end with just a whole lot of things that I feel a bit resentful about. Why do I even have these things? Or why didn't I just chuck that away before we, we moved? So that's always a bit of a project. There is one good thing about moving fairly often and we have actually moved. I just realized it's like four times, this is the fourth move in four years. So because we have moved fairly frequently I can say that we don't have a lot of major decluttering to do. We've sort of done that pretty regularly. And in the last few years, or in the last two years, since we've been here, we haven't accumulated too much. But even saying that there were still things that I have now that I just, I just know I don't need anymore. And that's just a thing I've decided in the last two years. So will I get rid of them? I'm not sure. It's big things like a sewing machine and mannequins and things that I used to use when I was doing textiles. But...

Anyway, this is a bit of a sidetrack. Just all to say that yeah, I am with you all in feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes going for days on the verge of tears, just because of the things that there are to do. How could we change this? Well, I think there is something to be said for just calming the hell down and realizing that we do get through this every year. Every single year, it's busy. And every year things get done when they need to get done and if they don't get done, then maybe they didn't need to get done. And just have that Faith in our own ability to manage everything that needs to be managed. And not to stress about it because yeah, maybe the stress, the mounting to-do list causes us stress. That maybe it doesn't need to cause us stress. Maybe we just need to feel more empowered that we are very capable of managing high tempo periods, like the lead up to Christmas, and we always do it and we always manage it and we always succeed. So just sort of having that knowledge of what's happened in the past will happen again.

So with that, I do want to talk about what we can do to help us in those times of complete overwhelm where your heart starts racing and you feel a little bit short of breath and you feel that tightness in your chest. I mean, that's all stress that is anxiety for sure. And of course stress is a good thing in some situations These other bodily functions that kick in for us when we are actually in immediate danger. Physical danger. But unfortunately our brains can't distinguish the difference between physical danger, like running from a burning building or swerving to avoid a collision in the traffic. It can't distinguish between that and how you feel about your mounting to do list. Or the difficult conversation, you know, you can have with a family member at Christmas time. Or the anxiety that you feel about your child going into their exams and how are they going to go? And will they get into their uni course? Will they have the success that you wish for them. All of those things. Our brain doesn't know the difference between running from the burning building and the things that are not imaginary, but not an actual threat to well immediate physical safety.

So it does help to have some strategies to manage in those actual real life moments when you just feel panicky about what you need to do and what's happening and what you're worried about. Meditation is a very good tool. I meditate most days and the days that I don't meditate, I really feel very out of sorts so I make that a priority in the morning sometimes not first thing in the morning, but usually, and that really does set me up for the day. There are plenty of online tools and apps to help you with that. Or of course, face-to-face classes. Well, even just taking three long slow, deep breaths will really help in those moments.

But I understand not everybody is open to meditation and this is where creativity comes in because you can get into a beautifully, mindful, relaxed state, which is almost meditative by just sitting down and getting into creative flow. And if you do have a creative practice, then you'll know this, and this is why I'm always encouraging people to go back to their creative practice. Not because it's just a fun hobby or you like creating paintings or knitting jumpers or scarves, not just because it's a fun thing to do, but because it's essential for your wellbeing, it really is, If that's the thing that gets you into the creative flow. If you're not locked onto a particular creative practice, or you just don't feel like knitting, or you don't have your paints out or your sewing machine or whatever it is. Then there are just really easy ways to get into creative flow and one of them is mindful colouring. And I have mentioned a couple of times on this podcast that I have published a mindful colouring book, which I'm really proud of. I still look at the pages and think how beautiful those designs are. There is a range of levels of difficulties. So there are a couple of pages that are really chockers of little fields to colour in If you really want to get into something that's going to really challenge you for a few good hours. And there are also other ones that are a lot more sparse that you can just probably get done in about 10 minutes. If you're colouring quickly. And colouring is a really great thing to just have on hand. All you need is a couple of pencils or textas or anything that you're using to color. And have the book if you can have it in your handbag. It's a much more socially acceptable thing than maybe closing your eyes in meditation, if you're with other people. For example, if you're sitting with your kids doing homework or at your lunch table at work. It's not a bad thing to just bring out the colouring book and colour in a few bits and pieces, just to get you sort of in a calmer state of mind. And of course I'll link my colouring book in the show notes for you, if you want to purchase one. And of course it makes a wonderful Christmas present for anybody who needs a little bit of Mindful colouring, through Christmas and the new year. Great for kids as well. So I'll link that in the show notes.

Another thing that's just a very easy thing to do. As soon as you feel a little bit of anxiety, stress, heart racing...Mind about to explode, just grab a piece of paper and a pen. It doesn't matter what it is, what quality or anything, and just start making repetitive marks on that paper. It doesn't matter what it is. It could be dashes. It could be crosses. It could be circles, just any mark that you can put down repetitively. And just fill the page with it. You can always start doodling with this and make something really beautiful. That's how doodles start. I always doodle. I've got them happening all the time. I bring a sketchbook wherever I am. So if I'm waiting at an airport or I've got time at work, downtime at work, I know that I'm going to have a few hours because some of you might know I'm a vocalist. And quite often we go to a gig and we've got a sound check and then we've got hours before the actual performance. So I love to have a sketchbook in my green room so I can pass the time.

And it's so much better than scrolling through the phone because that action of your eyes tracking the scrolling is actually a bit anxiety inducing as well. So instead of that, of course, we're all going to look at Instagram in our time off. I get that, but maybe not all the time. Maybe you give yourself a limit of a few minutes and then grab your sketchbook and just do some repetitive lines or some doodling. It really does calm you down. I can guarantee this.

So I just encourage you all to just do what you can to take it easy during this lead up to Christmas and have faith that everything that needs to be done will get done. Because you always did it before. And when you are really in those crazy moments of just on the verge of tears because of overwhelm, just grab a colouring book and a couple of colours. And just sit and relax for 10 minutes will make the world of difference. Or a piece of paper and a pen, if you don't have that colouring book on hand. And yeah. It's just give yourself that grace give yourself 10 minutes to just reset. And if you do this every day or a few times every day, I really do guarantee that you will get through this thing, this Christmas thing, just so much less scathed and frazzled because you've put your wellbeing on the top of your to-do list.

So I hope that you find that advice useful. And before I go, I do want to remind you that I have my studio sale going live this Sunday, the 24th of November at 7:00 PM Brisbane time. So that's an hour earlier than the rest of Australia. And I've got about 26 pieces actually, one of them's already been snapped up by a friend who just um before they've even gone live. She said that one I want it. There's probably all now about 25 pieces. They're just beautiful little experiments and process pieces that I've done during the year. They're mixed media pieces on paper. Most of them around A5 some of them are around A4. Some of them are smaller, so they'd fit into a beautiful little frame. Or you could hang them up with a bulldog clip and some string or a nice piece of ribbon and just hang them on any little hook or something. But yeah, I really am looking forward to sending these pieces off to good homes. They have been done with so much love. And they've definitely been part of my mindful experience throughout the year. It's the first time I've really worked with watercolour and ink, and I'm really loving it. And I'm looking forward to. Continuing this practice in the future. What I really want to do is once I get my next studio set up, I'm looking forward to maybe trying some ink or watercolour on canvas. Because apparently that's a cool thing to do too. So all of these experiments and samples that are in my studio sale are just a whole culmination of the workings and the process that's going to lead me to what I'm going to do next year. So, if you would like to be part of that, I really invite you to sign up to my mailing list because I'm sending the link out through my newsletter. And that will come out on Sunday night. And yeah, it will be a private link and you'll have first access to all the pieces and I'll send them out.

They're all $35, which is really an affordable way to get into some original art or add to your original art collection. And, postage is free as well, anywhere in the world. I'm just going to wear that, because I just want these pieces to go fly around the world and around Australia. So Yeah. I'm looking forward to Sunday night.

So yes, of course, sign up. The link to sign up is in my show notes. And my friends just have faith, keep calm and we'll all get through this with a bit of mindfulness. Until next time. I'll see you in the next episode and keep creative. Bye.

Welcome to The Joyful Creative.

2

I'm Deborah O'Toole.

3

I'm a multi passionate creative

and I believe regular creativity

4

is essential for well being.

5

Whether you love painting, writing,

knitting, music, gardening, or any

6

other creative pursuit, here you'll

find the inspiration and support

7

to make your creative practice a

joyful priority in your busy life.

8

So let's get creative.

9

Well, hello everyone.

10

And welcome back to another episode.

11

Thank you so much,

everybody for listening in.

12

Gee, we're really getting so

close to the end of the year.

13

And.

14

I think I'm not the only one that just

starts to feel this incredible overwhelm

15

at this time of the year.

16

I mean, it happens every year.

17

Doesn't it?

18

And I just don't know why.

19

It always has to be like this

every year I approach, you

20

know, get into sort of October.

21

Seeing what's on in November and December.

22

And.

23

I try so hard to really just.

24

Make it easy, but for some

reason there is just so much

25

that we always want to do before.

26

The end of the year.

27

I don't know why the end of

the year is the important time

28

to do all the catching up and.

29

All the things, the parties, and we should

just be having parties all year round.

30

I don't know why we have to catch

up with people before Christmas.

31

Um, Because there's a lot

going on before Christmas.

32

You know, kids are finishing school and

they've got their graduations and their

33

last, this, and their last to that.

34

Um, and you know, work things of

course is end of year, this and that.

35

And I get it.

36

It's always the same.

37

I would love it to be different.

38

I'm not sure what I can do to make

it different in my own life, even

39

though I, I think ahead for it.

40

But here I am again.

41

Um, feeling completely overwhelmed with

things to get done by the end of the year.

42

And on top of everything, we are

moving house, not just moving house,

43

but relocating to another state.

44

We're in Brisbane at the moment.

45

And we're heading down, back to Canberra.

46

In Australia.

47

And yeah, there's just.

48

We're in defense and we have Packers

come to pick up our house, which I

49

really appreciate because it takes

a few guys a whole day to do it.

50

But there are certain things that

just need to be organized beforehand.

51

I always have a compulsion to

really tidy up and clear things

52

out before they arrive, because

what I don't want is to unpack.

53

At the other end with just a whole lot of

things that I feel a bit resentful about.

54

Why do I even have these things?

55

Or why didn't I just Chuck

that away before we, we moved?

56

So that's always a bit of a project.

57

Um, there is one good thing about moving

fairly often and we have actually moved.

58

I just realized it's like four times,

this is the fourth move in four years.

59

So because we have

moved fairly frequently.

60

I can say that we don't have a

lot of major decluttering to do.

61

We've sort of done that pretty regularly.

62

And in the last few years, or in

the last two years, since we've been

63

here, We haven't accumulated too much.

64

But.

65

Even saying that there were still

things that I have now that I just,

66

I just know I don't need anymore.

67

And that's just a thing I've

decided in the last two years.

68

So will I get rid of them?

69

I'm not sure.

70

It's big things like, um, sewing machine

and mannequins and things that I used

71

to use when I was doing textiles.

72

But.

73

Anyway, this is a bit of a sidetrack.

74

Just all to say that, um, yeah, I am

with you all in feeling overwhelmed.

75

Sometimes going for days on the

verge of tears, just because of

76

the things that there are to do.

77

How could we change this?

78

Well, I think there is something

to be said for just calming the

79

hell down and realizing that we

do get through this every year.

80

Every single year, it's busy.

81

And every year things get done.

82

When they need to get done and.

83

If they don't get done, then.

84

Maybe they didn't need to get done.

85

Um, yeah.

86

And just have that.

87

Um, Faith in our own ability to manage

everything that needs to be managed.

88

And not to stress about it because yeah,

maybe the stress, the mounting to-do list.

89

Causes us stress.

90

That maybe it doesn't

need to cause us stress.

91

Maybe we just need to feel more empowered.

92

That we are very capable of managing

high Timbo periods, like the lead up to

93

Christmas, and we always do it and we

always manage it and we always succeed.

94

So just sort of having that knowledge

of what's happened in the past.

95

Will happen again?

96

So with that, I do want to talk about what

we can do to help us in those times of.

97

Complete overwhelm.

98

Uh, where your heart starts racing and

you feel a little bit short of breath and

99

you feel that tightness in your chest.

100

I mean, that's all stress

that is anxiety for sure.

101

And of course stress is a good thing.

102

In some situations, these other

bodily functions that kick in for us.

103

When we are actually in immediate danger.

104

Physical danger.

105

Um, But unfortunately our brains.

106

Can't distinguish the difference

between physical danger, like running

107

from a burning building or swerving

to avoid a collision in the traffic.

108

I can't distinguish between that

and how you feel about your.

109

Mounting to do list.

110

Or the difficult conversation,

you know, you can have with a

111

family member at Christmas time.

112

All the anxiety that you feel

about your child going into their

113

exams and how are they going to go?

114

And will they get into their unique horse?

115

Well, they have the success

that you wish for them.

116

All of those things.

117

Our brain doesn't know the difference

between running from the burning

118

building and the things that are.

119

Not imaginary, but not an actual threat

to well immediate physical safety.

120

So it does help to have some strategies to

manage in those actual real life moments.

121

When you just feel.

122

Panicky.

123

Uh, about what you need to do and what's

happening and what you're worried about.

124

Um, meditation is a very good tool.

125

I meditate most days and the

days that I don't meditate, I

126

really feel very out of sorts.

127

So I make that a priority.

128

In the morning.

129

Um, sometimes not first thing in

the morning, but usually, and that

130

really does set me up for the day.

131

There are plenty of online tools

and apps to help you with that.

132

Or of course, face-to-face classes.

133

Well, even just taking three

long slow, deep breaths will

134

really help in those moments.

135

But I understand not everybody

is open to meditation

136

and this is where creativity

comes in because you can get into

137

a beautifully, mindful, relaxed

state, which is almost meditative.

138

By just sitting down and

getting into creative flow.

139

And if you do have a creative practice,

then you'll know this, and this is

140

why I'm always encouraging people to.

141

Go back to their creative practice.

142

Not because it's just a fun hobby

or you like creating paintings or.

143

Knitting jumpers or scarves, not

just because it's a fun thing to

144

do, but because it's essential

for your wellbeing, it really is.

145

If that's the thing that gets

you into the creative flow.

146

If you're not locked onto a particular

creative practice, or he just

147

don't feel like knitting, or you

don't have your paints out or your

148

sewing machine or whatever it is.

149

Then there are just really easy

ways to get into creative flow on

150

one of them is mindful coloring.

151

. And I have mentioned a couple of times

on this podcast that I have published.

152

Um, mindful coloring book, which

I'm really proud of, uh, still

153

look at the pages and think how

beautiful those designs are.

154

There is a range of

levels of difficulties.

155

So there are a couple of pages

that are really chuckers of

156

little fields to coloring.

157

If you really want to get into

something that's going to.

158

I really challenge you

for a few good hours.

159

And there are also other ones that

are a lot more sparse that you can just

160

probably get done in about 10 minutes.

161

If you're coloring quickly.

162

Um, coloring is a really great

thing to just have on hand.

163

All you need is a couple of

pencils or texters or anything

164

that you're using to color.

165

And have the book.

166

If you can have it, any handbag.

167

It's a much more socially

acceptable thing.

168

Then maybe closing your

eyes in meditation.

169

If you're with other people.

170

For example, if you're sitting

with your kids doing homework

171

well at your lunch table at work.

172

It's not a bad thing to just bring out

the coloring book and color in a few bits

173

and pieces, just to get you sort of in a.

174

Karma state of mind.

175

And of course I'll link my

coloring book in the show notes.

176

For you, if you want to purchase

one, and of course it makes a

177

wonderful Christmas present for

anybody who needs a little bit of.

178

Mindful coloring, through

Christmas and the new year.

179

Great for kids as well.

180

So I'll link that in the show notes.

181

Another thing that's just

a very easy thing to do.

182

As soon as you feel a little

bit of anxiety, stress.

183

Heart racing.

184

Mind about to explode, just

grab a piece of paper and a pen.

185

It doesn't matter what it is, what

quality or anything, and just start

186

making repetitive marks on that paper.

187

It doesn't matter what it is.

188

It could be dashes.

189

It could be crosses.

190

It could be circles, just any mark

that you can put down repetitively.

191

And just fill the page with it.

192

, you can call, start doodling with this

and make something really beautiful.

193

That's our doodles start.

194

Uh, I always doodle.

195

I've got them happening all the time.

196

I bring a sketchbook wherever I am.

197

So if I'm waiting.

198

At an airport or.

199

Uh, I've got time.

200

At work downtime at work.

201

I know that I'm going to have

a few hours because some of

202

you might know I'm a vocalist.

203

And quite often we go to a gig

and we've got a sound check and

204

then we've got hours before.

205

The actual performance.

206

So I love to have a sketchbook in my

green room so I can pass the time.

207

And it's so much better than

scrolling through the phone

208

because that action of your eyes.

209

Tracking the scrolling is actually

a bit anxiety inducing as well.

210

So instead of that, of course,

we're all going to look at

211

Instagram in our time off.

212

I get that.

213

Um, but maybe not all the time.

214

Maybe you give yourself a limit

of a few minutes and then grab

215

your sketchbook and just do some

repetitive lines or some doodling.

216

It really does calm you down.

217

I can guarantee this.

218

So.

219

I just encourage you all to just

do what you can to take it easy.

220

During this lead up to Christmas.

221

I have faith that everything

that needs to be done.

222

We'll get done.

223

Because you always did it before.

224

And when you are really

in those crazy moments of.

225

Just.

226

On the verge of tears

because of overwhelm.

227

To scrub.

228

A coloring book and a couple of colors.

229

And just sit and relax.

230

Ava for 10 minutes will make

the world of difference.

231

Or a piece of paper and a pen.

232

If you don't have that

coloring book on hand.

233

And yeah.

234

It's just.

235

Give yourself that grace give

yourself 10 minutes to just reset.

236

And if you do this every day or

a few times every day, I really

237

do guarantee that you will.

238

I get through this thing, this

Christmas thing, just so much.

239

Less scathed and frazzled.

240

Because you've put your wellbeing

on the top of your to-do list.

241

So I, that you find that.

242

Advice useful.

243

And before I go, I do want to remind

you that I have my studio sale going

244

live this Sunday, the 24th of November.

245

At 7:00 PM Brisbane time.

246

So that's an hour earlier

than the rest of Australia.

247

And I've got about 26 pieces.

248

Actually, one of them's already

been snapped up by a friend who just

249

stunned before they've even gone live.

250

She said that one I wanted.

251

Um, Yeah, this is probably

all now about 25 pieces.

252

They're just beautiful little

experiments and process pieces

253

that I've done during the year.

254

They're mixed media pieces on paper.

255

Most of them around eight five.

256

Some of them are around a four.

257

Some of them are smaller, so they'd

fit into a beautiful little frame.

258

Or you could hang them up with a

bulldog clip and some string or a

259

nice piece of ribbon and just hang

them on any little hook or something.

260

But yeah, I really am looking forward to

sending these pieces off to good homes.

261

They have been done with so much love.

262

And they've definitely been part of my

mindful experience throughout the year.

263

It's the first time I've really

worked with watercolor and

264

ink, and I'm really loving it.

265

And I'm looking forward to.

266

Continuing this.

267

Practice in the future.

268

What I really want to do is once

I get my next studio set up.

269

I'm looking forward to maybe trying some.

270

Inc or watercolor on canvas.

271

Because apparently that's

a cool thing to do too.

272

So all of these experiments and

samples that are in my studio sale.

273

Uh, just a whole culmination of

the workings and the process.

274

That's going to lead me to

what I'm going to do next year.

275

So, if you would like to be part of

that, I really invite you to sign up

276

to my mailing list because I'm sending

the link out through my newsletter.

277

Uh, and that will come

out on Sunday night.

278

And yeah, it will be a private link and.

279

You'll have first access.

280

To all the pieces and I'll send them out.

281

They're all $35, which is

really an affordable way to.

282

Get into some original art or add

to your original art collection.

283

And, postage is free as

well, anywhere in the world.

284

I'm just going to.

285

Where that, because I

just want these pieces to.

286

To go fly around the world

and around Australia.

287

So.

288

Yeah.

289

I'm looking forward to Sunday night.

290

Um, so yes, of course, sign up.

291

The link to sign up is in my show notes.

292

And.

293

My friends just have faith, keep

calm and we'll all get through this.

294

With a bit of mindfulness.

295

Until next time.

296

I'll see you in the next

episode and keep creative.

297

Bye.

298

I hope you enjoyed this

episode of The Joyful Creative.

299

If you did, be sure to subscribe

so you catch them every week.

300

And if you can, please take a moment

to leave a review or share it with a

301

friend so the podcast can reach more

people who need support and inspiration.

302

Thanks for listening and keep creative.