Why Creativity Is Saving Me in Midlife (And Might Save You Too)
There’s a certain kind of fog that settles in midlife. It’s not dramatic. It doesn’t crash in like a storm. It just arrives slowly – in between school runs, caring for your elderly parents, dental appointments, endless emails and the feeling that your body is changing, even though you didn’t give it permission. And one day you wake up and realise you’ve been so busy holding everything together, you forgot to hold yourself.
Rediscovering Your Creative Self: A Personal Journey
That’s how I felt. Not broken. Just… absent from my own life. The strange thing is, I wasn't unhappy, after all, this was the life I signed up for. I was just gone – buried under roles, routines, and responsibilities. And in the middle of all that, I found something unexpected: a glue stick.
It started with scraps of paper. Then an old pair of scissors. Then a piece of French linen I’d been hoarding since 2014. I wasn’t trying to make anything special. I was just making. And somehow, that small act of creation felt like a breadcrumb back to myself.
The more I talk to other women in midlife, the more I hear the same thing:
“I used to be creative.”
“I used to draw.”
“I used to write.”
The used to carries weight. It’s often followed by a sigh. And I want to say this clearly: that creative part of you is not gone. She’s just been quiet, waiting. And sometimes all she needs is a tiny invitation – and a safe place to begin again.
“Creativity is not about being an artist. ”
It’s about being alive. It’s about reconnecting with the part of you that knows how to play, to follow a thread of curiosity without needing a reason or a result. Especially in midlife – when we’ve spent decades being useful and productive – we need to reclaim the joy of doing something just because.
(Find out more about the Artist Way here!)
Simple Ways to Reignite Your Creative Spark
You don’t need a big plan. You don’t need a talent. You just need one hour. One hour that isn’t about solving anyone’s problems, overthinking, performing or proving anything. A quiet moment where no one’s watching. Where the end product doesn’t matter. If it turns out messy, ugly, chaotic – who cares? You can throw it away. But you’ll notice something: you’ll feel better. More grounded. More human. More like yourself again.
Because it was never about making something beautiful. It was about making space.
Mindful Crafting: Your Gateway Back to Creativity
That’s why I created my Mindful Craft Kits. They’re small, simple kits for women who don’t need another project – but who long for a quiet hour that’s just theirs. No expectations. No comparison. Just tactile beauty and a reminder that you still get to make something.
These kits aren’t about perfection or productivity. They’re not for Etsy. They’re not for Instagram. They’re for you.
For your kitchen table, your Sunday afternoon, your rainy Tuesday when everything feels off and you don’t know why.
Inside each box is a gentle pause: vintage papers, fabric, ribbon, clay – something you can touch with your hands while your mind slows down.
Because in midlife, creativity isn’t a luxury.
It’s a way back to presence.
To remembering who you were before the world got so loud.
To expressing something you can’t always say with words.
It’s a way to return to yourself.
You don’t have to be “creative” to begin. You just have to be curious. Maybe a little lost. Maybe just ready to stop scrolling and start stitching. You can start with one feather, one page, one fold. That’s all it takes.
If you’re craving that kind of quiet, that kind of re-connection, maybe one of these little kits is your invitation.
Or maybe you don’t need a kit at all. Just a moment, a glue stick, and a bit of space where no one needs anything from you.
Let’s make something that doesn’t need to be useful – just true.
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Absolutely not! Creativity isn't a talent you're born with - it's a muscle you can develop at any age. Many women discover their most authentic creative voice in midlife when they're finally free from others' expectations.
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Start with just 10 minutes a day. Creativity doesn't need hours - it needs consistency. Even doodling while your tea brews or arranging flowers can awaken your creative spirit.
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The beauty of midlife creativity isn't about perfection - it's about the process. Every "terrible" creation is actually your creative voice learning to speak again. Embrace the messiness!
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Not at all! Some of the most meaningful creative work happens with simple materials. A notebook and pen, kitchen ingredients for baking, or even rearranging your living space can be deeply creative acts.
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Creative activities activate the same neural pathways as meditation, reducing stress and anxiety. The rhythmic nature of crafting, drawing, or writing can be incredibly soothing during hormonal fluctuations.
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Your creative practice is self-care, not selfishness. Explain that this time helps you show up as a better version of yourself. Sometimes we need to model what it looks like to prioritise our own needs.
About the Author
Cecile Harris is the founder of The Slow Life – a mindful gift shop and blog for women in midlife. She created this space after realising that what she needed most wasn’t another self-help book, but small, tangible rituals to slow down and reconnect. Through curated gift boxes, creative kits, and honest writing, she invites women to honour the messy, beautiful in-between of midlife.
Cecile lives in the English countryside with her two children, a cat and a dog, too many teacups, and a quiet longing for more connection, more meaning – and a cottage in France.
Follow her journey at www.the-slow-life.co.uk or on Instagram
