Welcome back to The Creative Calm Podcast! In this episode, I open up about my eight-month hiatus and the deeply personal journey that brought me back to the mic. As a creative wellness coach, mom of four, and business owner, I’ve had to lean into the magic of rest, creativity, and play to find my way through life’s overwhelm—and I’m eager to share my story with you.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Taking a Step Back: Why I needed to step away from the podcast, my newsletter, and many other things—how the pause helped me reflect, and why too much time away didn’t feel right for me.
• Discovering ADHD: Last summer, I realized I might have ADHD after hearing women share their similar experiences. I get into my quest for answers, the intensive neuropsych testing I underwent, and the clarity (and self-compassion) that a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD has brought me.
• Coping with Life’s Messiness: From dealing with a major home remodel to navigating the chaos of a creative drought, I talk about the frustration (and acceptance) that comes with things being in disarray—and how I managed to keep some creativity alive amidst it all.
• Choosing Imperfection Over Inaction: Whether recording in my car or struggling to stick with routines, I openly discuss the pressure to do things “the right way” and my decision to show up, imperfections and all.
• Reconnecting with My Calling: In this season of life, I feel even more strongly called to celebrate and nurture creativity, encourage self-discovery, and be a beacon of hope when the world feels heavy.
• Learning to Honor My Brain and Rhythms: I reflect on how my creative process doesn’t look like everyone else’s, how I’m learning what works for me, and why it’s okay when things don’t happen on a strict schedule.

Here’s What I Hope You Take Away:

• Sometimes stepping away is necessary, but it’s also okay to miss what you love and find your way back
• Self-discovery can reshape how you see yourself and how you show up in the world
• You don’t have to have ADHD to know that understanding yourself matters
• Imperfect action is better than none—creativity thrives when we give ourselves grace
• You deserve rest, creativity, play, and the chance to rewrite your patterns

If something I shared resonated with you, please consider leaving a five-star review or sharing a screenshot to help spread the Creative Calm revolution. Your support means the world to me, and I’m so grateful to have you here on this creative journey.

Let’s keep embracing the beauty of rest, creativity, and play—together.

With gratitude,
Denise

Feeling paralyzed by too many creative ideas? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Creative Calm Podcast, I’m opening up about my own behind-the-scenes struggles with decision fatigue, creative choice paralysis, and that all-too-familiar urge to do everything—or nothing at all.

But what if the answer to creative clarity wasn’t another productivity hack... but a simple coin flip?

Inspired by a fascinating study I discovered during a graduate course, I’m sharing how randomness (yes, really!) can help you bypass overwhelm, connect with your intuition, and start creating with ease and joy again.

✨ What I Cover in This Episode:

• The real reason you might feel stuck—even when you're excited about your creative projects
• Why perfectionism and overthinking are keeping your supplies (and ideas) unused
• What “creative choice paralysis” is—and how to gently move past it
• The science behind decision-making and why flipping a coin actually works
• How randomness can reveal your true desires (spoiler: it’s not really about fate!)
• A peek into how I’m using this technique in both my creative life and everyday choices
• A playful challenge you can try today to get unstuck and create with more clarity

🧩 Your Creative Calm Challenge

Grab a journal and jot down 3–5 creative ideas or projects you're circling. Then use a coin, dice, or cards to make a playful decision. Check in with your gut: Are you excited? Relieved? Resistant? Let that inner reaction guide your next joyful step.

🌟 Mentioned in this Episode

• The University of Basel study on decision-making and coin flips
• Concepts like “decision fatigue,” “choice overload,” and the “nirvana fallacy”
• How I’ve used this trick for everything from crafting to dinner decisions!

💫 Let’s Stay Connected

• 🫶🏼 Follow me on Instagram @creative.calm.studio
• 🫶🏼 DM me to share your coin flip results—I’d love to hear what project you chose!
• 🫶🏼 Don’t miss the next episode—make sure you’re following or subscribed

If this episode helped bring more ease and play into your creative life, I’d be so grateful if you left a 5-star review or shared it on social media and tagged me. Your support means the world.

Deep dive into the topic of overconsumption and how it’s holding back our creativity—something so many of us can relate to, especially in today’s digital world.

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, Denise Christenson Rae explores the often overlooked impact of overconsumption on our creativity and personal fulfillment. Drawing from her own experiences as a creative wellness coach, mother, teacher, and business owner, Denise opens up about the challenges of living in an information-saturated world. She discusses how easy it is to slip from healthy learning and inspiration into the abyss of passive overconsumption—and how this habit steals time and energy that could be used for creative pursuits.

Denise candidly admits she hasn’t mastered this balance and shares her ongoing journey toward spending more time creating than consuming. She examines the main culprits—overconsumption, overthinking, and perfectionism—and offers practical tips for setting healthy boundaries around consumption. From limiting time on social media to the powerful strategy of “create before you consume,” Denise gives actionable ideas for listeners who want to reclaim their time and bring their creative visions to life. Listeners are invited to contribute their own tips and experiences for managing overconsumption, as Denise fosters a sense of community and shared growth.

Highlights:

• The distinction between healthy consumption and overconsumption and why the latter can drain both time and creative energy.
• Denise’s personal struggle with consuming more information than she creates, and her commitment to shifting this balance.
• Identifying the “big three” pitfalls: overconsumption, overthinking, and perfectionism.
• Denise’s strategies for reigning in overconsumption, including setting time limits and prioritizing creating before consuming.
• A gentle challenge to stop consuming and start creating, sharing your unique gifts with the world.

Action Steps:

1. Notice your own consumption habits—are you learning or just endlessly scrolling?
2. Experiment with creating before you consume each day.
3. Set clear time limits for consumption, especially on social media or research-related tasks.
4. Reach out to Denise via Instagram with your own tips or success stories on managing consumption and creating more.
5. Share the episode with a friend to spark a conversation about finding creative calm in an overwhelming world.

Connect with Denise:Instagram: @DeniseChristensenRae

Like what you heard?Leave a five-star review wherever you listen and screenshot the episode to share on social media—don’t forget to tag Denise!

Remember:Prioritize rest. Unleash your creativity. Embrace playfulness.