Let’s get nostalgic for a minute, remember when you were younger and you’d sit for hours making a little beaded bracelet or cutting out the photos in a magazine to make a collage or making perfume from the roses in your Nan’s garden. No pressure for it to be perfect, no necessity for it to be profitable, just creating something for the sake of creating something. Isn’t it sad that we lost that? Somewhere in the world of social media, we became so much more concerned with consuming over creating.
Have you ever reached the end of an evening and wondered where the time actually went? You watched a few videos. Scrolled through social media. Read a couple of articles. Maybe even saved ideas for a project you’ll start “one day.” None of those things are bad. In fact, consuming books, films, podcasts and content can inspire us, teach us and help us relax.
But sometimes, we become so busy consuming other people’s lives that we forget to create our own. If you’ve been craving a little more joy lately, it might not come from finding something else to watch. It might come from making something instead.
at a glance:
🤍 best for: anyone who feels stuck in a cycle of scrolling, consuming or comparing, and wants to reconnect with hobbies, creativity and intentional living.
📝 you’ll leave with:
- a fresh perspective on the difference between consuming and creating
- simple ways to bring more creativity into your everyday life
- gentle encouragement to spend less time scrolling and more time making
☕ reading time: ~6 minutes
why do we spend so much time consuming?
Modern life makes consuming incredibly easy. Within seconds we can watch another video, listen to another podcast or scroll through hundreds of beautifully curated photos. Our brains are constantly offered something new, which is why it’s so easy to spend hours taking in information without even realising it.
The problem isn’t consuming itself—it’s when consuming becomes our default. We collect inspiration, save ideas and learn new things, but never quite make the leap into creating. Before long, we’re watching everyone else live interesting, creative lives while convincing ourselves we’ll start tomorrow.
why does creating feel so different?
Creating asks something different of us. Instead of watching someone else’s story, we begin writing our own. We stop comparing and start experimenting. We become curious rather than critical.The beautiful thing about creating is that it doesn’t have to be impressive. It simply has to bring you joy.
Maybe that’s baking a cake on a Sunday afternoon. Writing in your journal before bed. Rearranging your bookshelf. Learning to crochet. Taking photographs on your morning walk. When we create, we’re reminding ourselves that we’re capable of adding something meaningful to the world instead of simply consuming what’s already there.
you don’t need to be super creative.
One of the biggest myths about creativity is that it’s reserved for artists. It isn’t. Creativity lives in everyday life. Cooking a comforting meal is creative. Decorating your home is creative. Planning a thoughtful birthday surprise is creative. Planting flowers, making playlists, knitting a scarf or writing a handwritten letter all require imagination in their own way. You don’t need expensive supplies or years of experience. You simply need the willingness to make something that didn’t exist before.
create for joy, not for perfection.
Not everything you make has to become a business. Not every hobby has to earn money. Not every photograph needs to be shared online. Some things are allowed to exist simply because they make you happy.
When we let go of the pressure to be productive all the time, creating becomes playful again. It becomes something we look forward to rather than another thing we feel we have to achieve. Joy has value, even when nobody else ever sees what you’ve made.
some ideas to get you started.
for the writer.
- Start a blog/Substack/newsletter.
- Write short stories or poems.
- Write reviews for albums, books or films.
- Start a commonplace book.
- Do some stream of consciousness writing.
for the music lover.
- Learn a new instrument or play one you already know.
- Write a song / add a verse to a song you love.
- Make a themed playlist.
- Try mixing songs.
- Do some online singing lessons.
for the academic.
- Make your own personal curriculum to study.
- Research a topic that interests you.
- Take a free online class / course.
- Create a visual summary of something you’ve learned.
- Study a theme or trope.
- Research an era in history that interests you.
for the artist.
- Try a new art style.
- Sketch or illustrate something you find beautiful.
- Make a collage or vision board.
- Design your own personal logo.
- Paint / draw using a new medium.
- Create your own magazine.
for the crafter.
- Try out knitting, sewing or crocheting.
- Make something out of clay.
- Try out a Lego set.
- Make your own bracelet or keyring.
- Start a junk journal or scrapbook.
for the organiser.
- Build a personalised organisation system.
- Redesign your weekly routine.
- Create a habit tracker for a new habit.
- Create your own reset checklist.
- Plan the next few months out.
- Create a five year plan.
for the curator.
- Make a list of recommended films, books and albums.
- Create a ‘museum of my life’ collage.
- Build a seasonal watching / reading list.
- Create a themed film night list.
- Make an album for quotes that inspire you.
for the philosopher.
- Write an essay on a value that’s important to you.
- Study different archetypes such as muse, siren, scholar etc.
- Create a list of your own personal philosophies.
- Record voice notes / write about your thoughts.
for the mover.
- Choreograph a dance to a song you love.
- Create a workout based on your goals.
- Make a playlist specifically for your workouts.
- Put together a yoga flow.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ cosy curriculum task ˖ ࣪ ⊹
Write a list of ten things you enjoy making, creating or doing with your hands. Circle one and make time for it this month.
There will always be another video to watch, another post to scroll past and another idea to save for later. But your life isn’t built by consuming. It’s built by the things you choose to make, experience and create for yourself.
Love ya, Cait xo
