Simple Living and Creativity

Why I believe creativity is key to building a simple and fulfilling life

Hello friends. I hope this post finds you well.

I’m sorry for my absence last week. It was a tough week at our house, with my love unexpectedly having to travel interstate to be with his beautiful grandmother during her last earthside days.

This grief, alongside recent news headlines, has made the world feel a bit dark these last couple of weeks. I have frequently found myself despondent about the future and ruminating on terrible “what ifs”.

I have the type of brain that is always seeking a problem to solve. If something is troubling me, my brain will fixate on trying to “fix” the issue, well beyond the point of usefulness. When my brain can’t find any immediate threats to fret about, it often just invents them. More frequently than I would like to admit, I find myself consumed with worry over scenarios that may never come to fruition.

I have tried many strategies to help me manage this, but the thing I find that most consistently helps is not meditation, therapy or even medication (though those are all important, useful tools). It might sound strange, but the thing that I have found actually has the biggest impact on my mental health, is being creative.

It took many years for me to recognise this, but the times in my life I felt most lost, anxious and depressed, were the times I wasn’t making space for creativity. Creative projects give my overactive brain challenges to solve and give my ambitious streak goals to chase. They allow me to immerse myself in something outside of my worries, disengage from the noise of the external world and reconnect with my true self.

Creativity is crucial not only to my wellbeing but also to my understanding of simple living. Creativity empowers me to see the world—and my life—differently. To reimagine what "enough" looks like and to cultivate a lifestyle that feels fulfilling and intentional.

I believe that it is through creative thinking that we can truly embrace the essence of a simple lifestyle; making thoughtful choices, finding joy in the everyday and crafting a life that is rich in meaning, over possessions.

Creativity Helps us to Reevaluate our Priorities

At its heart, creativity is the ability to approach life with a fresh perspective. In a world that is dominated by expectations and societal norms centred around the acquisition of wealth, creative thinking allows us to challenge these constraints and design a life that aligns more authentically with our true values. Through creativity, we can:

• Redefine our needs: Simple living isn’t about what we lack, it’s about recognising that what we truly need is often simpler than we’ve been led to believe. Creativity helps us see how we can thrive with fewer material possessions or at a slower pace. It allows us to reimagine how we meet our emotional, social, and physical needs.

• Find joy in the ordinary: A creative mindset helps us appreciate the beauty and richness of everyday life. Instead of waiting for grand moments or purchasing things for pleasure, we can learn to savour the small, simple moments of joy; a cup of tea, a quiet walk, a handwritten note. Creativity helps us rediscover the wonder in these moments.

Creativity Cultivates Mindfulness and Presence

In a culture constantly pulling us in multiple directions, creativity is an antidote to distraction. When we engage in creative practices—whether it be writing, painting, sewing, cooking, or anything else—we immerse ourselves fully in the process. This helps with:

• Fostering presence: Creative activities encourage focus and flow, helping us disengage from the noise of the external world and reconnect with our inner selves. It’s in these moments of focused creativity that we can experience the deep satisfaction of simply being.

• Connection to nature: Many creative activities, like gardening or nature photography, help us reconnect with the natural world. Studies have proven exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even increased empathy and cooperation.

Creativity can Change the way we Consume

Being mindful of how I consume is a fundamental part of how I define simple living—considering how my purchases impact the world I live in, as well as my family’s finances. Creativity can help us to:

• Solve problems with what we have: Instead of always looking for new solutions in the form of purchases or technologies, creativity helps us use what we already have in new and innovative ways. It encourages resourcefulness, from cooking meals with limited ingredients to crafting homemade gifts or finding low-cost alternatives to entertainment.

• Make better choices about what we buy: Creativity allows us to approach consumption differently. Rather than mindlessly purchasing things, we start to ask questions. Can I make this myself? Can I find a local, sustainable option? Creative thinking promotes conscious choices in alignment with a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle.

Creativity Makes Simple Living Feel Fulfilling

When we think about simple living we often focus on parring back and giving things up, but creativity enriches our lives and allows us to build a lifestyle that is deeply fulfilling.

• Building a personal sense of joy: Hobbies, creative projects and special interests weave joy into the fabric of our daily lives. By engaging in creative activities, we can nurture our passions, find purpose, and create a sense of achievement that is independent of external possessions or status.

• Creating community and connection: Creativity often brings us into contact with other likeminded souls. Whether it’s joining a local quilting group, connecting with other writers here on Substack or simply sharing a delicious homemade meal with loved ones, creative expression can deepen our bonds with others and help foster a sense of belonging and community.

For me, creativity is not just a luxury or an optional extra in living a simple life. Creativity is at the very core of simplicity itself and it is crucial to my mental wellbeing. It helps me to strip away the excess, to see the beauty in the ordinary, and to find new ways to live more consciously, mindfully, and sustainably. It is through creativity I build a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.

Creativity is the spark that makes a simple, slow lifestyle feel rich and vibrant. When the world feels dark and my heart feels heavy, it is in making, imagining and creating, that I find light.

And so, I tinker with a new recipe for cookies. I write some words that might one day be part of a children’s book. I make a batch of scented candles in recycled jars.

And in these moments of quiet creation, I am whole again.

Katie xx