We were just a couple of days into the school year when we were called in for an emergency meeting.  Collectively, the team decided to attempt the majority of schoolwork at home while slowly building up positive experiences at school for our second grader. The goal was to help his nervous system feel safe enough to be present in the classroom.

And then our third grader, who had a strong start, faced big changes a few weeks into the school year, leading to months of adjustment and recalibration. My husband and I were juggling two jobs, tag-teaming schoolwork with our second grader, and frequently rushing to pick up our third grader when he became dysregulated.

To say fall of 2023 was hard is a major understatement.

We quickly put new systems and supports in place to move forward. My logic brain could see the hope, see the tiny progress, and knew we were on the right path.

But then someone would ask me a simple, “Hey, how ya’ doing?” and I’d fall apart. That’s when I realized I wasn’t really okay.

A parent coach reminded me of the importance of art in my life, and while I’d processed everything logically, my body needed to process the stress physically too. Art had similarly helped me through the stress of COVID lockdowns, and I needed this reminder. So, I made it a priority to spend a few minutes each day creating. I turned to my pottery wheel to make tea cups as gifts for friends—free from any pressure to make a sale.

And guess what? That path we were on took us exactly where we needed to go with the right support in place for each kid. It took the full school year, but we got there. And all that physical processing through art? My brain & body were able to process the stress, see the progress, and feel safe. 

We are whole people, body and brain, and stress and big emotions lives in our bodies. While logic helps change the stressful situations, it doesn’t do much to convince our bodies that we’re safe. After all, our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline which need to be physically processed – they can’t just be “logic-ed” away.

This is where creative activities, like art, come in. Engaging in a creative process allows you to turn off your logical brain and establish a brain-body connection, which is key to physically processing stress.

Research shows that creating art can provide stress relief, speed up physical healing, reduce cortisol levels, ease pain, lower anxiety, improve mood, and enhance your sense of control. Sounds amazing, right?

And here’s the best part—it’s the process of creating, not the final product, that delivers these benefits. This means that anyone can tap into these benefits, whether you’re an experienced artist or haven’t picked up a pencil since elementary school.

 Another great thing? You don’t need a lot of time. Just a few minutes each day—or right after a particularly stressful situation—can help you build that crucial brain-body connection and support your mental wellbeing.

I know the idea of starting something new can feel overwhelming, especially when time and energy are limited. That’s why I’ve put together a quick start guide to show you the simple doodling technique I use each morning to refresh, refocus, and start my day with calm. You can access the free tutorial here! 

Peace and art,