Is Working Really Self-Care? Well… What If Being Creative Is My Self-Care? 🤷‍♀️

We hear it all the time.

“Stop working and practice self-care.”

“Take a break from your computer.”

“You need to relax instead of being productive all the time.”

And I get it. I really do.

But here’s the thing…

What if the thing that helps me relax is also considered work?

I’m an artist, writer, graphic designer, and creative business owner. I spend a lot of time designing, blogging, creating digital products, building websites, and working on my little corner of the internet.

To some people, that probably looks like I’m constantly working.

And technically? I am.

But there’s something they don’t always understand.

Being creative is how I decompress.

When I’m drawing, designing, writing, or bringing an idea to life, I’m not necessarily thinking about deadlines, money, or productivity.

Sometimes I’m simply enjoying myself.

I’m expressing emotions I can’t always explain out loud.

I’m giving my anxious brain something positive to focus on instead of letting it spiral into a million what-ifs.

I’m doing something that makes me feel like me.

And isn’t that part of self-care?

Just Because I’m Not Making Money Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Working

Here’s another thing I wish more people understood.

Work doesn’t always come with a paycheck.

Just because my creative projects aren’t constantly bringing in money doesn’t mean I’m not putting in real work.

I’m still learning new skills, practicing, designing, writing, maintaining websites, and building something I’m passionate about.

It takes time, effort, patience, and a whole lot of trial and error.

And while I hope to make money from some of these projects, money isn’t always the reason I’m doing them.

Sometimes I create simply because it helps my mental health.

It keeps my mind busy, focused, and engaged in something meaningful.

Instead of sitting around overthinking everything that could possibly go wrong, I’m concentrating on colors, designs, words, and ideas.

My brain has something to do besides worry.

And for someone whose mind doesn’t always know how to quiet down, that can be incredibly comforting.

So yes, I’m working. And yes, sometimes that work is also my self-care.

The two don’t have to cancel each other out.

When Your Hobby Becomes Your Work

Here’s where things get a little complicated.

I’ve turned many of my creative hobbies into a business.

My art becomes products.

My writing becomes blog posts.

My designs become things people can purchase.

So where exactly do I draw the line between working and taking care of myself?

Honestly, I’m still figuring that out.

Because sometimes I create with a purpose, and sometimes I create just because I feel like it.

Sometimes those two things overlap.

Just because something is productive doesn’t automatically mean it isn’t restorative.

But I’ve also learned that there’s a difference between creating because I want to and creating because I feel like I have to.

One fills my cup.

The other can empty it.

When Self-Care Makes Me Forget About… Self-Care

Now here’s the ironic part.

Sometimes I get so lost in my creative work that I completely forget to take care of myself.

I’ll sit down to work on one little design, and suddenly hours have passed.

I forget to take breaks.

I put off eating.

I stay up later than I probably should.

And sometimes I don’t even realize how exhausted I am until I finally close my laptop.

Oops.

Apparently, I can get so caught up in my version of self-care that I accidentally neglect the basics of self-care.

The irony isn’t lost on me.

Creativity helps me manage my emotions, but that doesn’t mean I should ignore what my body needs.

I still need sleep.

I still need food and water.

I still need movement, fresh air, and time away from a screen.

And sometimes I need to give my brain permission to do absolutely nothing.

Because keeping my mind busy can help me cope with anxiety, but constantly keeping myself occupied isn’t always the same as giving myself a chance to rest.

That’s something I’m still learning.

Self-Care Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone

For some people, self-care is taking a bubble bath, watching television, or doing absolutely nothing.

For others, it’s gardening, baking, cleaning, reading, or going for a walk.

For me?

Sometimes it’s opening my laptop at 10 p.m. because I’ve suddenly had a creative idea.

Sometimes it’s spending an hour designing something cute.

Sometimes it’s writing down thoughts that have been taking up way too much space in my head.

And sometimes it’s closing the laptop, cuddling with my pets, and getting some much-needed sleep.

Because yes, even creative people need actual rest.

Creativity can be self-care, but it shouldn’t become another obligation disguised as self-care.

Maybe Self-Care Isn’t About Doing Less

Maybe it’s about understanding what genuinely makes us feel better while also recognizing when we’ve had enough.

I don’t believe every hour spent working on something you love is automatically unhealthy.

But I also don’t believe we have to turn every hobby into a side hustle or make every relaxing moment productive.

There’s room for both.

For me, art and creativity have always been ways to process emotions, escape the noise, and find a little peace in my own head.

The fact that I’ve built a business around those things doesn’t take away their personal meaning.

And the fact that they aren’t always making money doesn’t make the work any less valuable.

Not everything valuable comes with a dollar sign attached. Sometimes the reward is simply feeling a little more like yourself.

I’m learning that I can love my creative work and still need a break from it.

I can be productive without measuring my worth by productivity.

And I can use creativity to support my mental health without expecting it to meet every single one of my emotional and physical needs.

Because apparently, even my self-care has a side hustle. 😂

Still figuring it out. Still creating. Still doing my best-ish.

💭 What about you? Do you have a hobby, passion, or creative outlet that feels like self-care even though it’s technically work? And do you ever get so absorbed in it that you forget to take an actual break?