When you’re stressed and overworked, even the simplest of daily tasks can seem like a chore. It’s not even about the work itself, but the pressure of a constant list of chores being there in your head, telling you that you absolutely have to get up. But you just can’t.
If this sounds like you, it won’t get any better no matter what you do, at least not until you give yourself some space and relax. Put all the things you’re doing aside, and do something simple and fun. At times like this, arts and crafts – especially doodling, can really help you out. Why? Well, there are a lot of theories, but most people agree that it’s probably because of how the calm and low-pressure repetitiveness of doodling can help calm your fight or flight response.
Don’t give into the pressure of creating something masterful or “beautiful”, but that’s the fun thing about doodles – they’re conventionally amateurish and “doodle” like. This means that you can just sit there with your cup of tea or a favorite drink, and spend your time making flowers and hearts and maybe even a cute little house! There really is no end to the possibilities.
Doodles Don’t Have to be Just Doodles
One of the best things about doodling is that you can turn it into a really fun activity too. Don’t just throw the doodles away, but turn them into our own pieces of useful art. You can even turn doodles into art of many kinds. Let’s talk about some of the things you can turn your doodles into.
Window Clings
Window clings are some of the most fun stress-relieving tools we know of, and it’s so easy to make them with some simple doodling. Craftwhack talks about how easy it is to make them in their blog about puff paint window clings methods in the following words: “It’s so easy … Like Sunday morning.” sounds like the perfect stress release combo!
Frame Your Doodles
You can totally doodle with a paintbrush and a bunch of paint, or just use sharpies in all kinds of colors on things like a piece of plastic, wood, or even cardboard. Once you’re done and it looks pretty you can have it framed and stick it to a wall or a side table.
Make a Fashion Statement
Who says you just have to doodle on a piece of paper? Get the right kind of markers and you can doodle on your own clothes. Who wouldn’t love a t-shirt that’s hand painted with a bunch of flowers and cute drawings?
Make Chalkboard
With a special kind of paint, you can turn any plain surface in your house into a chalkboard. Then, whenever you’re stressed you can just erase your previous work of art and get started making a new one. Since you’ll know the doodles aren’t even permanent you’ll be able to really let loose and take advantage of the surface, and you can even have your kids join in on the fun if you want!
Keep Calm and Have Fun
Whatever kind of art you end up using for your stress, just make sure you have fun and actually find joy in the process. You don’t have to be an expert or even someone who’s halfway decent – no one else has to see the things you’re making except for you, so just focus on making shapes that truly bring you joy and don’t let perfectionism ruin it for you!
*This is a collaborative post