Art Helps Me Complete The Cycle (About Burnout).
Stress, and causes of it, is something I know & as I'm learning more about burnout I know ART helps me!
I’ve had a pretty nasty virus over the past 10+ days and whilst I have understood that I need to look after my physical body, I have had symptoms of stress too.
This form of stress in me is familiar.
I recognised that I go 'down unhelpful rabbit holes’ of rumination and future fears. It’s like my mind wants to add to the mix of unwellness.
But here’s where this recent bout of illness (RSV, story here) has been helped by my acknowledgement of what I now know I’ve been doing by instinct.
And with more time to both listen and engage with the written words, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, here in Burnout….I am realising that what I do by:
instinct
feel
and attraction, is to go and create art.
And it doesn’t matter what, or why and nor is it for anyone to be shown but I am happy to share.
The actual art of moving my hands and arms, across a page, and using the choices of colours and media is particularly soothing. I like special kinds of thick paper which does not bleed and I like media to be easy to use and rich in colour…
a few recent examples.
How do I know I am completing the cycle now?
I feel better inside. I do not feel as worried as I was. I have a better relationship with myself. I am less likely now to overdo things. I care about my health.
What do you find helps you complete the cycle?
For my husband, he shares that he uses walking in nature, making music and doing something like a jigsaw using mind and hands.
And for good measure, some quotes from the Burnout book.
Gosh I so wish I had known what I was going through back in 2002 as a school principal was burnout ….but the term was very new…it seems.
Take care everyone, and to be understanding of your own stressors can help. I am still learning and this last few weeks has been a good teacher for me.
Warm wishes,
Denyse.