Coming back from vacation can be hard. Holding on to the balance and ease that time away brought often feels challenging once we return to work. When people ask me how to maintain balance, one of the first things I talk about is clearing the mind.
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” — Often attributed to Pablo Picasso
A Playful Path to Clearing the Mind
These days, meditation and mindfulness are the practices most often associated with that idea. But the moment I mention them, many people tell me they’ve never tried — or if they have, they found it difficult. In my experience, there are many ways to enter a mindful or meditative state. The aim is not to empty the mind completely, but to relax enough to enter a state of ease and flow — and with it, a natural sense of clarity.
One practice I love, but which I think gets too little attention, is drawing as mindfulness.
It’s simple, accessible, and surprisingly effective.
I began this practice after my burnout collapses, when I couldn’t read much because my vision was blurry. Still, I felt a strong need to create, so I picked up some paint. At first, I simply painted stripes — stripes in different colours, nothing more. But it felt wonderful. A free space. No other thoughts than watching the paint move from brush to the canvas.
The Path of Drawing
Since then, my painting has evolved — I make collages, work with watercolours — but it’s never been about creating something “good.” It’s about enjoying the process, losing myself in it, and experiencing the mental clarity that creative flow brings. Over the years, it has become one of my most reliable ways to relax and reconnect with myself.
Recently, while visiting an art museum in Copenhagen, I discovered a book in its shop — The Path of Drawing: Lessons for Everyday Creativity and Mindfulness by visual artist Patricia Watwood. Her words instantly resonated:
“Mindfulness is cultivating awareness of our thoughts and feelings as they unfold, so that we can understand our responses without being governed by them… While contemplative practices like meditation and journaling work well for some, others find the idea of sitting totally still for twenty minutes more like torture than relaxation. You might prefer to work through your hands in a visual, nonverbal way… Drawing can clear your head, calm your nerves, give you joy, and help you reconnect with your inner voice.” 1
Be Playful
Until then, I didn’t know there were books or teachers dedicated to using drawing as a mindfulness practice. I just knew it worked for me — it felt natural, easy, joyful, and deeply grounding. Because I have no goal of becoming “good” at drawing, I feel free to explore techniques simply because I enjoy them. The mental clarity is a kind of guaranteed bonus.
So if meditation feels hard for you, why not try drawing? Pick up a pen and paper, let your hand move freely, and just play. Give yourself two or three minutes — before a meeting, before bed, sitting with your kids, or simply on your own. Laugh, enjoy, and see where it takes you. You might be surprised by the calm and clarity it brings.
I wish you an enjoyable and playful journey into drawing as a mindfulness practice.
Karin
References:
1. The Path of Drawing. Lessons for Everyday Creativity and Mindfulness (2022). By Patricia Watwood. Monacelli Studio. New York. Page 15. ISBN: 9781580935661
This post is part of my #HarmoniousLivingSeries, where I share insights and tools that helped me overcome burnout and cultivate a deeper sense of balance. I hope it inspires and equips you with actionable ideas to bring more harmony into your life and work.
Drawing as a Path to Mindfulness
Coming back from vacation can feel like stepping off a soft cloud onto a busy street. Holding on to that sense of ease can be tricky — but sometimes, the simplest tools for balance are the ones we least expect.