For many people, creativity and wellness go hand in hand. In fact, a study that analyzed various artistic expressions showed that there are clear indications that artistic engagement has significantly positive effects on health. Who knew a set of watercolors or a sketchpad could be so powerful?
That said, here’s your reminder to do a mental health check-in! Are you feeling overwhelmed, uninspired, or simply looking for a new, uplifting way to de-stress? Pick up a paintbrush, grab some markers, or tear into an old magazine — creative self-care is calling! This blog is packed with fun, calming, and colorful activities that turn simple craft time into moments of peace and joy. Between mindful doodling and confidence-boosting collaging, every project is a chance to pause, breathe, and connect inward.
Open your mind. Let your hands lead the way. Dare to make mistakes. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you later!
Wave “Hello!” to 7 creativity-sparking self-care activities like these GOTR girls!
Gratitude Garden Drawing
Grow your inner thankfulness with positive words and pops of color.
You’ll need:
Paper, pencils, markers, crayons, or sidewalk chalk
Steps:
- Think about the best garden you’ve ever seen or imagine your perfect garden. Draw large flowers, trees, blades of grass, leaves, or even vegetables (they grow in gardens, after all) on a piece of paper or poster board. Ensure they are big enough to house words or phrases.
- Write or draw something you’re thankful for in each petal, leaf, vegetable, trunk, or blade of grass.
- Bring your drawing to life by adding colors, patterns, bugs, birds, or anything else that makes your unique garden bloom and feel beautiful.
- Post the drawing in a public place to remind yourself of all the goodness in your life and leave intentional space for adding new things that fill your heart with gratitude!
Although this activity does require literal gardening, use this photo of GOTR girls hard at work doing a Community Impact Project planting seeds at their school as inspiration to create something beautiful!
Kindness Rock Painting
Spread smiles with kind words on firm foundations.
You’ll need:
Small(ish) rocks, paint or paint pens, sealant, and primer (optional)
Steps:
- On your next nature hike or walk around the neighborhood, look for smooth, solid rocks big enough to fit a few words. Once you have a collection to your liking, rinse and dry the rocks and, if needed, prime their surfaces.
- Next, paint the rock’s surface a vibrant background color, then let it dry.
- Add a simple, day-making message that would make anyone smile, such as “You matter,” “You got this,” or “Keep going.”
- Customize your rock with cheerful smiley faces, hearts, stars, or any other icon or shape that sparks delight and turns up the joy factor.
- Optional: Make your rock weatherproof by coating it with a sealant or Mod Podge.
- BONUS! Spread cheer and positivity by placing rocks back into natural spaces or giving them as gifts!
This GOTR team painted colorful rocks at their practice site to bring smiles to fellow community members.
Mindful Doodling
Let your pen wander without reservations and watch your mind calm.
You’ll need:
Paper, pens, pencils, markers, or highlighters
Steps:
- Find a comfy, well-lit spot with a sturdy surface. Take a few deep breaths.
- Put your pen to paper and embrace the unknown. Challenge yourself to enter the activity without any plans or rules.
- Start with one shape or line and allow your hand to flow freely. Lean into trying new, imaginative shapes, even ones that look imperfect.
- Need a few examples to get your creative juices flowing? Try out these classics: spirals, zigzags, dots, hearts, bubble letters, or stars! Consider incorporating words of empowerment to enhance the experience and positive vibes.
- Resist the urge to erase or judge your designs. Just doodle your heart out and enjoy the self-care ride!
Grab a marker (like these GOTR Superstars working on their Star Power board), find a relaxing spot, and let the shapes and self-care flow!
Affirmation Notecard Writing
Turn paper notes into powerful inspiration.
You’ll need:
Index cards, sticky notes, cardstock, markers, washi tape, and stickers
Steps:
- Reflect on affirmations you’ve said to yourself that have recently helped you overcome a challenge or encouraged you to not give up. Or, on the flip side, think of the words you would have LOVED to hear during a difficult situation.
- Keep those in mind as you write one affirmation per card. Examples could include: “I am enough,” “I can do hard things,” or “My voice has value.”
- Add flair to each card with your favorite colors, doodles, or stickers.
- Place your cards in high-visibility areas. Common places include the bathroom mirror, bedside, lunchbox, wallet, or computer monitor.
- Bonus: Consider making a deck of customized affirmation notecards as a gift for a friend and package them in a small box or jar!
GOTR teams often enjoy making affirmation cards for their schoolmates as their Community Impact Project. Way to extend the power of this self-care activity with your school, team!
Nature Collaging
Create a masterpiece with bits of Mother Nature’s masterpiece!
You’ll need:
Leaves, flowers, twigs, paper/canvas/cardboard, glue, and scissors
Steps:
- Go on a nature walk, stroll around the neighborhood, or explore the backyard and collect small treasures from nature. Be careful to avoid anything harmful, sharp, or poisonous. Research the area (if unfamiliar) before touching anything, and remember: no picking from living plants, gated areas, or private property!
- Gently lay your findings on a piece of paper or canvas and arrange them into a picture, pattern, word, or design.
- Lock down your masterpiece by gluing everything in its place on sturdy paper, canvas, or cardboard backing.
- Pepper in drawings, words, or background colors if it aligns with your vision.
- Let it dry and display it in a location that you’ll see often.
- Bonus: Create quarterly nature collages based on seasons or holidays!
Respectfully make the most of Mother Nature’s resources as you craft your way into self-care!
Mood Boarding
Clip and glue your way to a visual that helps bring your dreams to life!
You’ll need:
Old magazines, construction paper, tape, scissors, glue, poster board/paper, and stickers
Steps:
- First, consider what you want to feel or focus on with your mood board. Do you want it to be about a specific goal or vision? Do you want it to zoom in on a theme, such as gratitude? Or do you want to make it more about a particular part of your life, such as family?
- Flip through magazines (that you are sure no one needs any longer) and cut out anything that speaks to you, such as specific colors, words, people, places, scenes, animals, and more!
- Arrange your clippings into groups based on their focus, then begin to form a collage that matches the concept of your board.
- Glue them down and add your own drawings, stickers, notes, printouts, or photos.
- Hang your board up in your bedroom or kitchen for a daily dose of motivation and self-care.
Follow this Camp GOTR team’s lead and lean into colorful paper, crayons, and accessories for your mood board!
Inside-Out Self-Portrait
Highlight what makes you, YOU on the outside and inside!
You’ll need:
Paper, crayons, paint, chalk, or markers
Steps:
- Draw the outline of a self-portrait or trace an outline of yourself (if you have extra-large paper or are working outside with chalk)
- Once your outline is finished, sketch a line down the center. On one half, draw what is observable on the outside, such as hair, facial features, clothes, accessories, etc.
- On the other half, draw or write about all the incredible parts of you that aren’t visible (and are actually even more important), such as your emotions, personality, how you treat others, hopes, thoughts, dreams, favorite things, or ideas.
- Use colors, symbols, shapes, or small words to illustrate your inner world.
- As you fill out each side, reflect on how it feels to see both sides of you, and how important it is to embrace every part, both on good days and bad!
Like the ‘Team Agreement’ board this GOTR girl is helping fill out, making an Inside-Out Self-Portrait challenges you to look inward before putting pen to paper!
Which creative self-care activity are you going to try out? Show off your creations and let us know at @girlsontheruninternational on Instagram! We’d love to share your brilliant artistry with the GOTR community!
Looking for more fun activities for you and your girl? Check out our Parent Resources page!
