What you enter crisis mode, it’s easy to abandon art or learning. But if you do, you cut yourself off from opportunities to heal.

“Look!” I pointed outside, “it’s snowing!”

“No way,” Pedro said as he carefully turned towards the windows a few days after his surgery.

“Not only is it snowing in southern California, but it’s also sticking! I’m headed outside to take photos. Will you be ok?”

“Absolutely,” he replied. After living through more than one health crisis together, Pedro knows the importance of having a healthy caregiver who doesn’t abandon art or other forms of self-care during a crisis. In fact, I’d taken photos of something beautiful every day during our two-week stint in Redlands, CA, during Pedro’s surgery and recovery.

Now I would add snow on oranges and avocadoes to my photo library of beautiful and unusual things I noticed during my latest caregiving stint.

During Pedro’s first cancer journey (twenty years ago), I felt I had to abandon art and every other self-care form while caring for him. That attitude didn’t serve me well. I gained weight, got really grumpy, developed lupus, and struggled with key relationships. It took me almost a decade to recover.

So, whether you face a little crisis or a big crisis, don’t abandon art or learning. These five hacks will help you find ways to stay creative when life feels overwhelming.

Watch this TEDMED talk as psychology researcher Jennifer Stellar explains the importance of awe.

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