Creative Anchors: How Small Acts of Art Can Ground Us in Tough Times

When I’m overwhelmed or ungrounded, I feel it in my whole body. My head gets foggy, I can’t think clearly, sometimes even my temperature regulation goes off. It feels like I’m wearing a tight peel-off mask I can’t remove — a layer of tension I just can’t shake.

In moments like these, I turn to small, repetitive acts of creativity. Knitting. Stitching. Doodling. Colouring. These are my anchors — steady, gentle actions that help me return to myself.

One of my favourite go-to activities is zentangle-style doodling. It’s all about filling spaces with repeating shapes. There’s no right or wrong — just patterns, rhythm, and calm. The process is meditative, and even if I’m struggling to focus, I can usually manage a few lines at a time. It’s enough.

When I was a teenager with a lot of anxiety, I used to carry my knitting everywhere. I’ve since realised that doing something with my hands — especially during social situations or anxious moments — helps me regulate. These days it’s not always knitting. Sometimes it’s collage. Sometimes it’s embroidery. Sometimes it’s scribbling in the margins. But it all helps.

I’m going through a particularly tricky time right now, but I know that my creative routines — however small — will help carry me through.

Over to you:

What small creative things help you to feel grounded?
When’s the last time you allowed yourself to create just because?

If you need a place to start, I’ve got free colouring pages and gentle creative inspiration over on Instagram — and if you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll get a bundle of calming downloads to try. 🌿