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.

In this episode, I tackle the often-asked question: "What's the secret to finding more time for creativity?" I reflect on the importance of planning as a vital component in carving out space for creative pursuits amidst our busy lives. Sharing insights from my Instagram reel and expanding on them here, I explain how crafting a plan and sticking to it is essential for allowing creativity to flourish within our structured days.

With the demands of family, work, and life's unexpected time-wasters, planning becomes paramount. I delve into the necessity of scheduling creative time, just as we do for work commitments and daily routines. By penciling in creativity on my planner, it not only grants me freedom from guilt but also energizes me for tackling other obligations.

I'll share practical tips on how I incorporate creative moments into my weekly schedule and emphasize the liberating power of structured creativity. Whether you're juggling responsibilities as a working parent, like me, or navigating other life commitments, planning can help you prioritize your passions alongside everyday duties. Join me and discover how to harmonize rest, creativity, and playfulness in your life and business.

xoxo, Denise Christenson Rae

Connect with Me:

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review on iTunes or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t forget to screenshot this episode and share it on your social media, tagging @denisechristensonrae. Your support means the world to me and helps spread the joy of creativity, rest, and play.

Thank you for listening!

Join me next time on The Creative Calm Podcast as we continue to explore the transformative power of rest, creativity, and play.

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Creative Calm Podcast. I'm Denise Christenson Rae, and in this episode, I open up about my personal struggle with overthinking and how it's been affecting my creative process and podcasting schedule. As someone who often finds herself caught in the spin cycle of thoughts, I've seen firsthand how this paralysis prevents progress in my creative and personal endeavors.

Reflecting on when I first started the podcast, I remember the simplicity and directness that drove me forward. Recently, though, overthinking has led to a frustrating pattern of starting and stopping. This episode is about breaking free from the hold of perfectionism and embracing action, even when it’s messy.

In a spontaneous decision, I recorded this episode using my phone after realizing I misplaced my regular microphone. This act underscores my commitment to push past the paralysis of overthinking by embracing imperfection.

I encourage you to confront your own limiting beliefs, take action despite imperfections, and pursue the projects and passions that bring you joy. I promise to return sooner with new insights and urge you to embark on your creative journeys with courage.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• How overthinking can stall creativity and productivity
• The power of taking imperfect action to overcome paralysis
• The link between perfectionism and overthinking
• Motivation to pursue your creative passions despite perceived obstacles

Connect with Me:

• Instagram:
• ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/denisechristensonrae⁠⁠

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review on iTunes or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t forget to screenshot this episode and share it on your social media, tagging @denisechristensonrae. Your support means the world to me and helps spread the joy of creativity, rest, and play.

Thank you for listening!

Join me next time on The Creative Calm Podcast as we continue to explore the transformative power of rest, creativity, and play.

In this episode, let's unlock the magic of small, manageable steps in building a daily creative practice. I share my morning ritual of dedicating just five minutes to art and how it’s been transformative in my life. As a busy mom, teacher, and business owner, finding time for creativity seemed impossible, but this tiny habit has ignited a powerful shift.

Join me as I recount my recent creative endeavors—from illustrating in my travel journal to working on an embroidery project—and how these moments of creativity spill over into the rest of my day, bringing more joy and energy. I'll also delve into the backdoor method I use to bypass the mental blocks that tell me it's not enough and prove that it truly is.

I encourage you to carve out just five minutes for your own creative practice, embrace your playful spirit, and witness how these small actions can lead to immense personal growth. Whether you've always dreamed of being an artist or simply wish to add a bit more beauty to your day, this episode is a heartfelt invitation to start small and dream big.

Join me in this exciting journey of fostering creativity through micro-habits and discover how you, too, can find calm and joy in everyday life.

Let's dive in and uncover the beauty of rest, creativity, and play together.

xoxo, Denise Christenson Rae

Connect with Me:

• Instagram:
• ⁠www.instagram.com/denisechristensonrae⁠

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review on iTunes or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t forget to screenshot this episode and share it on your social media, tagging @denisechristensonrae. Your support means the world to me and helps spread the joy of creativity, rest, and play.

Thank you for listening!

Join me next time on The Creative Calm Podcast as we continue to explore the transformative power of rest, creativity, and play.

In this episode, I invite you to sit back and soak in a powerful conversation with the incredibly talented Kellee Kroll. We touch on the importance of weaving creative projects into our daily lives and how they can replenish our emotional and mental resources. Kellee shares her vibrant journey from childhood, where she made charming furniture for her Barbies, to becoming the inspiring owner of "Charm and Grit," a business that specializes in custom designing outdated furniture, restoring thrifted gems, and teaching others the easy steps to a beautiful makeover.

Kellee and I delve deep into the significance of balancing creativity with our everyday responsibilities. Whether it's family, career, or other obligations, finding time for creative pursuits is vital—even if they aren’t your primary profession. I emphasize adding creative projects to our to-do lists to ensure they hold just as much weight as other tasks in our lives.

Kellee lights up when talking about her passions: vintage shopping, hosting cozy gatherings, and creating welcoming spaces that breathe life and joy. Her enthusiasm is infectious, highlighting how these activities not only energize her but also fill her with immense joy. We touch on the creative act of entertaining and making guests feel special, transforming it into an art form.

Kellee’s journey is full of inspirational moments, like the dream she stayed true to despite initial doubts and practical concerns. We share personal stories about creating spaces just for our creative selves—Kellee with her "she shed" and me with my home studio. These personal sanctuaries serve as a testament to the joy and creativity they bring into our lives.

Towards the end, Kellee offers practical advice on refinishing furniture and introduces her accessible online courses, which aim to demystify the process and empower anyone who wishes to embark on this creative journey.

xoxo, Denise Christenson Rae

LINKS FOR OUR GUEST Kellee Kroll from Charm and Grit:

• ⁠Instagram
• Facebook⁠
• Pinterest
• ⁠Charm and Grit Website⁠
• Instant Access online course to learn all the steps to paint furniture.
• Join the Waitlist for the next live course

CONNECT WITH ME:

• ⁠Join me on Instagram⁠- I can’t wait to get to know you and show you some love!

FEEL LIKE BINGING? YOU WILL LOVE THESE EPISODES:

• Ep. ⁠1. The Three Pillars of Creative Calm⁠
• Ep. 18. ⁠From Chaos to Ease: Making Small Daily Decisions that Benefit Your Future Self

In this episode, we're tackling the idea of preciousness in creativity and how it can be a roadblock to our artistic growth. I share my personal struggle with making my art "precious" and how it has held me back from truly diving into creative play and experimentation. I talk about my love for sketchbooks, my fear of making mistakes, and how the concept of "precious" has paralyzed my progress.

I'll open up about my new approach to art – embracing the messy, the imperfect, and the raw – and how it has already started to transform my creative journey. We'll discuss the importance of allowing ourselves to create "bad" art, to learn from those experiences, and to revel in the process rather than the perfect end result. This episode is all about giving yourself permission to make art that isn't "precious," to fail forward, and to enjoy every step of your creative process.

Join me as we learn and grow together, breaking free from the chains of perfection and discovering the true joy and magic that comes with rest, creativity, and play. Let's make a commitment to ourselves to create freely, make mistakes boldly, and celebrate all the art that comes from a liberated, playful heart.

xoxo, Denise Christenson Rae