Start with the Kettle Boiling
- Elis Wren
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 22
A quiet exploration of mindful creativity in everyday life
Mindful creativity is less about producing something “good” and more about the experience of creating itself. It invites you to slow down, tune in, and stay present with whatever is in front of you — be it a sketchbook, a garden bed, or a loaf of homemade bread. It’s a gentle nudge away from outcome-driven thinking, and a return to process, texture, and feeling.
At its heart, mindful creativity means noticing. It means feeling the pencil glide across the page, watching light shift in the room as the day moves on, allowing your hands to wander without worrying if what you’re making is useful or beautiful. It means showing up without judgment, letting go of expectations, and embracing the imperfect.
How does it look in everyday life?
It’s sketching while waiting for the kettle to boil, or jotting down a silly poem on the back of a receipt. It’s grabbing crayons with your kid and not minding if the sun they draw is green. It’s fixing a button on a shirt slowly, mindfully, as a tiny act of presence. These small acts are not only creative — they're grounding. They're the kind of everyday rituals that root us in the now.
Why does it matter?
Studies show that creative practices can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance well-being. But when combined with mindfulness, the benefits deepen. A 2016 study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that engaging in creative activities can lead to increased positive emotions and a sense of flourishing the next day. And when creativity is practiced mindfully, it becomes a form of meditation — calming, centering, and deeply human.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer in mindfulness research, once said, “Wherever you go, there you are.” Mindful creativity applies this idea to making: wherever your hands go, let your mind follow. Be there, fully.
How to practise mindful creativity
Here are some gentle steps to get started:
Start small. You don’t need hours or special tools. A pencil and a scrap of paper are enough.
Set the mood. Light a candle, put on a calming playlist, or sit in your favourite chair to signal a shift into creative time.
Notice your senses. What do you hear? What textures do your hands feel? What smells surround you? Tune in.
Let go of results. Not everything needs to be framed or shared. Let yourself play.
Pause and reflect. After a creative moment, sit with how it felt. Were you more present? Did you enjoy the process?
Bring it into the everyday. Stirring soup, brushing your hair, writing a list — all can be mindful creative acts when done with intention.
Want to go deeper?
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert explores the joy and fearlessness of creativity.
“The Creative Act” by the music producer Rick Rubin offers poetic reflections on living creatively.
“Mindfulness for Creativity” by Dr. Danny Penman blends science and mindfulness practice in accessible ways.
Explore The Greater Good Science Center’s creativity and mindfulness articles for more evidence and practical insights.
Whether it’s colouring in the kitchen or scribbling on the back of a receipt, mindful creativity doesn’t ask for much. Just a willingness to be here — fully, freely, with whatever you’ve got.
And maybe, a pencil.
References
Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003).
The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822
Conner, T. S., DeYoung, C. G., & Silvia, P. J. (2018).
Everyday creative activity as a path to flourishing.
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(2), 181–189.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1257049
Kabat-zinn, J. (1994).
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life.
Hyperion.
Levitin, D. J. (2014).
The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload.
Dutton.