When overthinking kicks in, it can feel like your mind grabsthe steering wheel — and your creativity (and calm) disappear.
In this episode, you’ll try a simple art journaling practice designed to help your nervous system soften and help you shift from control into gentle flow.
You’ll:
You'll need paper + pen/pencil (optional color)
Prompt: Write one line on your page:
If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle—links are below.
A Garden for the Soul Journal – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
The Joy of Journaling Circle – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.
Background music:
"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).
"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)
If the new year (or any new season of life) brings pressure, mixed feelings, or a loud “should” voice, this episode is a soft place to land.
In just a few minutes, you’ll create a simple two-part artjournaling page:
What I’m releasing… and what I’m choosing.
No big resolutions. No pretending you’re excited. Just a gentle reset that helps your nervous system unclench and gives you one supportive word to carry forward.
You’ll need: any paper + any pen/marker (optional: 1–2 colors)
Today’s prompt: Draw a line down the page. On the left, write what you’re releasing. On the right, write what you’re choosing. Circle one word you want more of—and make it visible.
Reflection:
If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle—links are below.
A Garden for the Soul Journal – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
The Joy of Journaling Circle – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery:
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.
Background music:
"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).
"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)
If the holidays feel difficult this year—lonely, exhausting, complicated, or heavy—you’re not alone.
In this episode of Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care, Barbara offers a gentle space to be honest about what you’re feeling and create a simple art journaling page that supports your nervous system.
You’ll choose one prompt:
…and then soften the page with color and kindness.
If you’d like a little more support as you practice, here are a couple of gentle places to continue:
Inside the Joy of Journaling Circle, I’ll post a Holiday Honesty check-in where you can share one word for how this season feels and one small kindness you’re offering yourself in the next 24 hours.
Disclaimer:
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.
Background music:
“Meditation Relaxing Music” by Dana Music (Pixabay).
“Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature” by Tung Lam (Pixabay).
Christmas is less than two weeks away—and if life feelsloud, messy, a little out of control, and you’re craving even five minutes of calm, this episode is for you.
And if you’re listening at another time of year, you’restill in the right place. Chaos doesn’t wait for a calendar.
In From Chaos to Calm, we’ll slow down just enough tocatch your breath, soften your nervous system, and let some of that swirling stress land on the page instead of on your shoulders. You’ll be guided through a gentle art journaling prompt that helps you release what’s heavy and comeback to a steadier, quieter center—one simple mark at a time.
If this episode helped you shift from chaos to calm—evena little—here are a couple of ways to keep going:
📖 A Garden for the Soul Journal – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
✨ The Joy of Journaling Circle – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, Iencourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.
Background music:
"Meditation Relaxing Music" by DanaMusic (Pixabay).
"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature" by Tung Lam (Pixabay)
Does your brain love to speed up right when you’re finallyready to rest?
If your mind feels like it’s juggling 37 open tabs—conversations, to-dos, worries, and “don’t forgets”—this episode is for you.
In this gentle, guided session, we’ll use art journaling togive some of that mental noise a softer place to land. You’ll move through a short grounding practice and then create a simple “mental container” on the page that helps you:
You don’t need to be “artistic” to do this. A pen, a bit ofpaper, maybe some colored pencils or crayons, and a few minutes of willing attention are enough.
This is a great episode to return to on nights when yourthoughts won’t settle, or anytime you notice your mind spinning and need a gentle reset.
Grab your journal or a scrap of paper, get comfy, and let’screate a little more space inside your mind—one page at a time.
If this episode helped your mind slow down even a little, here are a couple of ways to keep going:
📖 A Garden for the Soul Journal - My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
✨ The Joy of Journaling Circle - A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery
Background music:
"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).
"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)
If you’ve ever looked at your journal (or your life) and thought, “I’m so behind… what’s the point of even starting now?” this episode is for you. Instead of waiting for the perfect day, perfect mood, or perfect plan, we’ll gently practice what it means to truly start where you are.
In this episode, you’ll:
You don’t need to be an artist or have fancy supplies—anynotebook or piece of paper will do, plus a pen and maybe a little color if you have it. This is a kind, low-pressure way to begin again with the life you actually have, not the one you wish you were living.
Take a breath, grab your journal, and let’s start from here—together.
If you’d like to explore more with me:
🌿 Artfulbarb Creations Website - Learn more about my art, classes, and resources
📖 A Garden for the Soul Journal - My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
✨ The Joy of Journaling Circle - A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery
Background music:
"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).
"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)
This short bonus episode of Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care is a gentle pause for Thanksgiving week. No pressure to feel a certain way—just an invitation to notice one small thing you’re grateful for and how it makes you feel.
Grab your journal (or simply listen along) as Barbara guides you through a simple prompt:
Today, I’m grateful for ________, and it makes me feel ________.
Use this as a soft landing in the middle of a busy, lonely, or complicated week.
Links mentioned:
🌸 A Garden for the Soul – Meditative Art Journal
A guided art journaling companion with gentle prompts and watercolor imagery to support your calm and self-care practice.
👉 https://www.artfulbarb.com/a-garden-for-the-soul
🌀 Joy of Journaling Circle
Barbara’s online community for sensitive, creative souls who want encouragement, prompts, and support as they build a regular art journaling practice. 👉 https://www.skool.com/the-joy-of-journaling-circle-8654
Connect with Barbara and explore more of her work: https://www.artfulbarb.com
Background music: “Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature” by Tung Lam (Pixabay).
A short welcome from Barbara, your host. In this trailer, you’ll hear what Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care is about, who it’s for, and what you can expect from each episode.