Can you stay creative when basic needs aren’t met?

I don’t know about you, but one thing I’ve noticed about myself during this pandemic and physical isolation is that my creative brain is sometimes hard to kick start into action. The act of creating still manages to be relaxing and a great form of stress relief, but getting started on the designing portion proves to be difficult right now.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs helps explain what’s going on with me right now. Everything happened so fast and was changing minute by minute my focus was on making sure my basic needs and those of my family are met. That’s always the first thing that needs to be taken care of, but right now it’s proving to be more difficult as grocery store shelves are emptier than normal and how to keep yourself and those you love safe changes every day. There is confusing and terrifying news coming at us every day. I don’t feel like I am doing a very good job meeting the basic physiological needs. Food (at least healthy) is sometimes difficult, rest is non-existent and safety and security needs are really confusing right now. The shortage of hand sanitizer increases feeling unable to provide a safe and sanitary environment for your family and feeling out of control.

The next level is all about belongingness and love which is very much effected by the physical distancing, staying at home, and lack of interaction with friends, extended family members, and just people in general.

It’s no wonder my creativity is hard to find most days. How I am ever going to get to the top of the pyramid where creativity lives when every day is filled with new struggles to meet the most basic needs?

Here is what I have been doing:

• Getting inspiration from Pinterest boards, people’s blogs, and split coast stampers
• Creating with kits
• Sorting through cards already started and completing them and sending them to other
• Connecting with people online–email, Facebook, or Zoom
• Limiting amount of news I hear daily–and trying to make it facts not just opinions
• Trying to maintain a routine
• Focusing on meeting basic needs of family (cooking, fun, relaxation, chores, school, etc)

Stampin’ Up! has some great products available to keep you creating when you have trouble accessing creative brain power.

The kits are amazing and you have options:

• Paper Pumpkin subscriptions–get a box mailed to you each month with everything you need for amazing projects (except scissors and regular adhesive)
• All-inclusive card kits==Contains everything you need to complete your projects (except scissors and regular adhesive)
• Card kits–All paper products and embellishments you need. All stamps, ink, stamp blocks, scissors, and regular adhesive
• Product Medley— The medley includes stamps, paper, dies, and accessories for creating cards and more. Product medleys do require a bit more creative inspiration, but you can find ideas to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) on Pinterest, splitcoaststampers.com, stampers blogs or Facebook pages, etc.

And, there are kits available in the Last Chance Products if you’re looking for one.

The Botanical Prints Product Medley is currently 40% off. It’s curently $42.00 and a last chance products that’s only available as long as supplies last.

Seriously the Best Project Kit is also currently 40% off. It’s currently $18 and a Last Chance Product.

My favorite kit on the last chance products list is Notes of Kindness All-Inclusive Kit. This kit not only has everything you’ll need to make amazing cards, it also make great thank you cards to help spreading gratitude and joy. It is currently $35.

I’m not even going to pretend to have any of this figured out. Everything changes so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. Your energy is all used up just trying to keep your basic needs met. At least mine is.

So, give yourself grace. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get everything done you’d like to. None of us have been through a global pandemic before and none of us know how to react. None of us know what to expect tomorrow and we’re all just doing our best to get through a day safely and maybe spread a little joy while we’re doing it.

I’ve been using the Genuine Gems stamp set for sentiments on cards for people during this pandemic. It is a last chance product and is on sale right now for only $8.00

There are a couple of stamp sets on the last chance products list that I used as featured stamps and created online classes to go with them. I am pretty sad that those are going away. I loved them enough to make them featured stamp sets and I want you to get to create with them too. So, if you order Music from the Heart or
Wish for It All or Doily Wishes Dies from my store, I will send you the online class for free.

/If your order is under $150 please use the host code above and I will send you host rewards worth 10% of your order (before tax and shipping). If you order is over $150, DO NOT use the host code so you can choose your own host rewards and they will ship directly to you with your order.