Pen After the Storm

In a world that glorifies ‘the hustle,’ and in a world where many people are depressed in the face of unrealistic perfection standards, the concept of self-care can often feel like another item on an ever-growing to-do list.

But what if we reframed self-care not as a task, but as an art form? A creative and deeply personal practice that nourishes our minds, bodies, and souls, regardless of how packed our schedules are, how our mental health is doing, or what personality type we identify with.

This guide is for the go-getters, but also for the free spirits, parents, addicts, and the quiet observers; for the artists, the entrepreneurs, and anyone who feels they’re too busy (or too depressed) to care for themselves. It’s time to get creative with your well-being and build a self-care routine that truly serves you.

Why Self-Care is Non-Negotiable, Especially for Creatives

For writers, artists, and creators of all kinds, our minds are our greatest asset. We pour our energy, emotions, and experiences into our work, which can be incredibly fulfilling but also emotionally and mentally draining. Burnout, creative blocks (fear of the blank page), procrastination, and mental health challenges are common struggles in the creative community. This is where a robust self-care practice becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity. It’s about replenishing your creative well, so you can continue to produce meaningful work without sacrificing your own well-being. Parenting could also be considered creative work!

Key Points of Elevated Self-Care

Concept	Description
Personalized Practices	Self-care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Tailor your activities to your personality type (A, B, or C) for maximum effectiveness.
Integrate, Don’t Add	Weave self-care into your existing schedule through “micro-moments” of wellness, rather than trying to find large chunks of free time.
Learn from the Best	Incorporate self-care strategies from highly successful individuals to enhance your own well-being and productivity.
Continuous Growth	If you’re not currently in school or working, try reading some self-care books! You can also do this if you just love to read. For people who don’t read, I’ve included a list of motivational videos you should watch and audiobooks you can listen to at night in bed.

The Art of Self-Care: A Guide for the Over-Scheduled and Every Personality Type

Understanding your personality type can be a game-changer in designing a self-care routine that you’ll actually stick with. Let’s explore some creative ideas for Type A, Type B, and Type C individuals. Which type are you?

If you’re a Type A personality, you’re ambitious and organized. You like everything to be just so. You may struggle with perfectionism and then eventually getting exhausted and needing to catch up on sleep.

If you’re a Type B personality, you’re like a chameleon when you need to adapt, but sometimes you lack motivation and focus. You may procrastinate, but people forget how adaptable and clever you really are!

If you’re a Type C personality, you’re thoughtful to others and you notice everything, but you’re not quite type A or B- you’re more like a blend of both, with some traits of each. You may struggle with some anxiety, and it’s important to you to meet your needs. For example, if someone interrupts your sleep, you might find that a little frustrating.

Based on your personality type, choose a self care approach.

Personality Type	Self-Care Approach
Type A	Scheduled, goal-oriented, and productive self-care
Type B	Spontaneous, flexible, and go-with-the-flow self-care
Type C	Detail-oriented, calming, and mindful self-care

For the Ambitious Type A

Type A personalities are often characterized by their ambition, organization, and drive. The downside? A tendency towards stress and burnout. Your self-care needs to be structured and productive to feel satisfying.

If you’re a Type A personality, you thrive on schedules, goals, and a sense of accomplishment. The idea of “unstructured” self-care might even stress you out. So, let’s lean into your strengths. Schedule your self-care just as you would a client meeting or a studio session. Block out time in your calendar for a daily walk, a 15-minute meditation, or an hour of uninterrupted reading. The key is to treat these appointments with the same level of importance as your work-related commitments.

Think of self-care as a way to optimize your creative output. A well-rested mind is a more creative mind. A nourished body has more energy to create. So, frame your self-care activities as part of your creative process. For example, instead of “taking a break,” you’re “gathering inspiration” on a nature walk. Instead of “wasting time,” you’re “recharging your creative batteries” with a power nap. It’s all about the mindset.

• Scheduled Disconnection: Literally block out “doing nothing” time in your calendar. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb, and notify anyone that needs to know – you are presently unavailable.
• High-Intensity Relaxation: Engage in activities that require focus and burn off excess energy, like a challenging yoga class, rock climbing, or a competitive sport. A good place to start is to google classes near you.
• Skill-Based Hobbies: Learn a new skill that isn’t related to your career at all, such as pottery, coding, writing poetry, or playing a musical instrument. The structured learning process will appeal to your goal-oriented nature.

For the Adaptable Type B

Type B individuals are typically relaxed, adaptable, and go-with-the-flow. The challenge for you can be a lack of structure, leading to self-care falling by the wayside. Gentle nudges and flexible routines work best.

So if you’re a Type B personality, you’re all about going with the flow. The thought of a rigid self-care schedule might feel stifling. So, let’s embrace your spontaneous nature. Keep a “self-care menu” of activities you enjoy, and pick and choose what feels right in the moment. This could be anything from dancing around your living room to your favorite song, to trying a new recipe, to calling a friend for a chat.

The key for you is to have a toolkit of self-care practices at your fingertips, so you can easily access them whenever you need a boost. You might create a “self-care jar” filled with ideas on slips of paper, and pull one out when you’re feeling a bit blah. Or, you could create a “self-care playlist” of your favorite feel-good tunes. The possibilities are endless, and the only rule is to do what feels good to you.

• Spontaneous Self-Care Jar: Write down a variety of self-care activities on slips of paper and put them in a jar. When you have a spare moment, pull one out and do it. If you’re low motivation, you can always draw another one from the jar, or set a timer for 5 minutes and just do it for that long.
• Nature as Your Playground: Spend time in nature without a specific goal. Wander through a park, lie in the grass, or sit by a body of water. Let your senses guide you. Explore.
• Creative Mess-Making: Engage in expressive arts without an end product in mind. Think dance, journaling, or painting a portrait of someone from imagination. The process is the point.

For the Detailed Type C

Type C personalities are often thoughtful, analytical, and cautious. You may find comfort in routine and predictability. Your self-care should be calming and allow for quiet reflection.

If you’re a Type C personality, you’re a deep thinker who values details and calm. You might find solace in activities that allow you to focus your mind and engage your senses. Think mindfulness practices, like a guided meditation or a mindful walk where you pay close attention to the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Or, you might enjoy a calming hobby that requires attention to detail, like knitting, calligraphy, or tending to a small garden.

For you, self-care is about creating a sense of inner peace and tranquility. It’s about finding activities that help you quiet the noise of the outside world and connect with your inner self. You might find that a simple cup of herbal tea, savored in a quiet corner of your home, is the perfect way to reset and recharge. Or, you might find solace in the repetitive motion of a creative hobby, like pottery or painting.

• Mindful Routines: Turn everyday activities into mindful moments. Be mindful during your morning coffee, pay attention to the sensation and temperature of water in your shower, or do a guided meditation before bed.
• Solo-Care Retreats: Plan a “date with yourself.” This could be a solo trip to a museum, a quiet afternoon in a bookstore, or a peaceful walk in a botanical garden.
• Themed Journaling: Explore your thoughts and feelings through themed journaling. You could focus on gratitude, future aspirations, or a specific challenge you’re facing.

Weaving Self-Care into a Packed Schedule

The “I don’t have time” excuse is the biggest barrier to self-care. But what if you didn’t need to “find” time, but rather, “weave” it into your day? Here’s how:

• Micro-Moments of Bliss: Identify small pockets of time in your day (5-10 minutes) for a quick self-care boost. This could be stretching between meetings, listening to a favorite song on your commute, or stepping outside for some fresh air on your work break.
• Habit Stacking: Pair a new self-care habit with an existing one. For example, while your coffee brews, do a few minutes of mindful breathing. After you brush your teeth at night, write down three things you’re grateful for.
• Tech for Good: Use technology to your advantage. Set reminders on your phone to take breaks, use a meditation app, or listen to a calming podcast.

What if I’m Depressed and Have No Motivation?

You can be any type and at any level of life, and still have depression. I personally struggle with deep depressions, leading to sleeping 20 hours out of the day and procrastinating all my responsibilities because I can’t work up the energy. I’m Type A, but that all falls apart the minute I get depressed.

Here are 10 self-care ideas specifically for those days:

• Warm Reset — Hold something warm (mug of coffee or tea, heating pad, warm towel). It signals safety to your nervous system and slows your breathing.
• Micro‑Movement — One minute of gentle movement: shoulder rolls, neck circles, or standing up and stretching your arms overhead.
• Light Shift — Change your lighting: open a curtain, turn on a lamp, or step outside for 60 seconds of daylight.
• Name Three Things — Say out loud three things you can see, hear, or feel. It interrupts depressive spirals.
• Tiny Tidy — Pick one micro‑task: throw away one piece of trash, fold one item, clear one surface. Small wins matter.
• Compassion Sentence — Write one gentle sentence to yourself, even if it’s simple like “I’m doing the best I can today.”
• Slow Sip — Drink water slowly while taking three deep breaths. Hydration + breath = nervous system reset.
• Anchor Object — Hold a familiar object (stone, keychain, soft fabric) and describe its texture. Grounding reduces overwhelm.
• Future You Note — Write one sentence from your future self encouraging you through today.
• Two-Minute Freshen — Wash your face, brush your teeth, or change into clean clothes. Small hygiene actions can shift mood fast.

Self-Care Secrets of the Successful

Even the most successful creatives have their own self-care rituals. Maya Angelou, for example, famously rented a hotel room in her hometown to write, surrounding herself with a dictionary, a Bible, a deck of cards, and a bottle of sherry. It was her sacred space, where she could be alone with her thoughts and words. Arianna Huffington, a champion of wellness, makes sure to get a full eight hours of sleep every night, and even has a no-phones-in-the-bedroom rule. And Oprah Winfrey, a powerhouse of productivity, starts her day with 20 minutes of meditation, followed by a workout on the treadmill.

The takeaway here is that self-care is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a deeply personal practice that should be tailored to your unique needs and preferences. So, take inspiration from the greats, but don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works for you.

So many highly successful people prioritize self-care as a cornerstone of their success. Here are a few examples to inspire you:

• Oprah Winfrey: Prioritizes a morning routine that includes meditation and gratitude.
• Bill Gates: Famously takes “Think Weeks” twice a year to disconnect, read, and think deeply.
• Arianna Huffington: After collapsing from exhaustion, she became a fierce advocate for sleep and has a strict no-phones-in-the-bedroom policy.

A Reading List for an Elevated Life

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of self-care and personal growth, here are a few books to add to your reading list:

For Creativity

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: A 12-week experiential program designed to guide individuals through the process of unblocking their creative potential and overcoming self-doubt.
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert: An exploration of how to embrace curiosity and tackle the emotional hurdles that prevent people from living creatively.
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle: A memoir examining the process of shedding societal expectations to reconnect with one’s authentic inner voice.
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown: A guide focused on cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection necessary for wholehearted living.

For Career & Productivity

• Deep Work by Cal Newport: A framework for mastering distraction-free concentration to achieve professional excellence in a noisy world.
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey: A principles-based approach to personal and professional effectiveness through character ethics and proactive habits.
• Atomic Habits by James Clear: A practical guide detailing how tiny behavioral changes compound into remarkable personal and career transformations.

For Relationships & Connection

• The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman: A framework analyzing the distinct ways individuals express and receive emotional affection in relationships.
• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: An examination of how vulnerability serves as the core foundation for deep human connection and courage.
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: A classic manual on fundamental techniques for handling people, improving interpersonal communication, and building rapport.

For Personal Growth & Mindfulness

• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: A spiritual guide advocating for present-moment awareness as the ultimate path to transcending psychological pain.
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: A psychological memoir and philosophical treatise demonstrating how finding a sense of purpose sustains the human spirit through extreme suffering.
• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero: A self-help manifesto offering blunt motivation to shift self-sabotaging mindsets and create an empowered life.
• Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown: A mapping of meaningful human experiences, emotions, and language that empowers self-awareness and creative connection.

My personal favorite from this list of books is Atlas of the Heart.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

Here’s a curated list of 10 podcasts and audiobooks that nurture emotional balance, mindfulness, and motivation — each one short enough to fit into your daily rhythm. Listen on your commute or while getting ready for bed to support wellbeing.

Podcasts

• The Happiness Lab — Yale psychologist Laurie Santos explores science‑backed habits for happiness and resilience.
• Ten Percent Happier — Dan Harris and guests unpack meditation, self‑compassion, and practical mental health tools.
• Therapy Chat — Real therapists discuss trauma healing, boundaries, and emotional regulation in accessible ways.
• On Being — Krista Tippett’s soulful interviews on meaning, spirituality, and human connection.
• Mindful in Minutes — Short guided meditations for grounding and gentle self‑care.
• The Creative Penn — Joanna Penn dives into writing, publishing, and creative entrepreneurship with practical inspiration.
• Design Matters — Debbie Millman’s long‑running interviews with artists, designers, and thinkers about creativity and courage.
• Creative People Podcast — Honest conversations with artists about process, doubt, and staying inspired.
• Song Exploder — Musicians deconstruct their songs, revealing the emotional and technical layers behind the art.
• The Accidental Creative — Todd Henry shares strategies for thriving under creative pressure and building sustainable routines.

Audiobooks

• The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk’s essential guide to understanding trauma and reclaiming calm.
• Radical Acceptance — Tara Brach’s compassionate blend of mindfulness and self‑forgiveness.
• Untamed — Glennon Doyle’s raw, inspiring reflections on authenticity and emotional freedom.
• The Happiness Trap — Russ Harris introduces Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for everyday peace.
• Big Magic — Elizabeth Gilbert’s luminous guide to living a creative life without fear.
• Steal Like an Artist — Austin Kleon’s manifesto on embracing influence and originality.
• The War of Art — Steven Pressfield’s classic on overcoming resistance and finishing what you start.
• Show Your Work — Austin Kleon again, teaching how to share your creative process authentically.
• Keep Going — A gentle, motivating follow‑up for artists navigating burnout and self‑doubt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between self-care and self-soothing?

Self-care is about long-term well-being and involves activities that are good for you in the long run (like exercise, healthy eating, and setting boundaries). Self-soothing is about immediate comfort in a moment of distress (like watching a comfort movie or eating a favorite snack). Both are important, but a good self-care plan focuses on sustainable practices.

How can I practice self-care on a tight budget?

Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive! Many of the most effective practices are free. Think taking a walk in nature, journaling, meditating, taking a bubble bath, or simply taking a few deep breaths. It’s about intention, not expenditure.

What if I feel guilty taking time for myself?

Guilt is a common feeling, especially for those who are used to prioritizing others. Reframe self-care as a necessary part of being able to show up for others. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Start small with just a few minutes a day and notice how it positively impacts your energy and mood.

How long does it take to see the benefits of a self-care routine?

Some benefits, like reduced stress after a meditation session, can be immediate. Other, more profound changes, like increased resilience and overall happiness, come with consistent practice over time. Be patient and compassionate with yourself.

Can my self-care routine change over time?

Absolutely! Your needs will change depending on your circumstances, energy levels, and what’s going on in your life. A flexible and adaptable self-care routine is a successful one. Check in with yourself regularly to see what you need in the present moment.

Your Creative Well-Being Awaits

Embracing self-care is an act of self-love and a commitment to your creative journey. By understanding your unique needs and weaving these practices into the fabric of your life, you can cultivate a sense of balance, joy, and resilience that will not only enhance your well-being but also fuel your creative fire. Start small, be consistent, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. You are worthy of the same care and attention you pour into your art.

Questions to Think About

Reflect on these questions, either in your head or on paper.

1. What does “self-care” mean to me personally, beyond the trends and expectations?
2. If I had an extra hour in my day, dedicated solely to myself (or myself and my best friend!), how would I spend that time?
3. What is one “micro-moment” of self-care I can incorporate into my daily routine from this blog post, starting tomorrow?
4. Which self-care practices from the past have I enjoyed, and how can I bring them back into my life?
5. What boundaries can I set to protect my time and energy for self-care?

More Ideas for Self-Care

If you want more ideas, download this free pdf list of pleasant activities to do from the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy official workbook.

For more self-care and wellbeing tips, including journaling prompts and free worksheets, subscribe to Pen After the Storm. Our blog is all about using the healing power of writing and visual art.