My August List for Creatives

For many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, August represents summer’s last lingering hoorah. There is a noticeable shift in the quality of the light, the feel of time, and even our moods in this liminal space. This week, we had a torrential downpour where I live, the kind we only seem to get when we are deep into summer. Since then cicadas have filled the air with a familiar closing refrain that signals September’s approach. This month seems to hold both an ending and a beginning. Sylvia Plath sums up this particular stretch of time quite perfectly for me:

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”

It speaks to the unsettled feeling of realizing that summer has slipped through our fingers and that time is, inevitably, moving on. But I’d also argue that this juncture offers an opportunity, an invitation even, to be intentional about what we make space for in these next few weeks.

Leaning into the energy and feel of mid-August this week, inspired me to push aside the first idea I had for this article. It feels better suited to September anyways. Instead, here is a list of things for artists and creatives to consider making space for in this last stretch between summer and the arrival of September - with links to some free resources and past articles that might be of interest.

Let’s give ourselves permission to kick back and do a bit of nothing without thinking of it as time wasted. There is real creative value in embracing leisure, a case I explored in Leisure as a Core Component of Creative Career Development, drawing on insights from creativity experts including Julia Cameron, Rick Rubin and evidence based research.

Even in a big city like Toronto where I live, August mornings invite a more relaxed and contemplative beginning to the day. A perfect time to journal or sketch before the day heats up. Perhaps a new ritual will be incubated and carried into Fall.

Movement has been a great source of inspiration for me for over 40 years! I consider moving my body - running, walking, cycling and yoga - to be integral to my creativity. Get Moving to Get Inspired

Play is like a vitamin that boosts our creativity. Make or do something just for the fun of it this month! (I’m playing with clay.)

August is a good time to pause and take stock of what’s working, what isn’t, what we’ve learned, and what we want to carry forward. 10 Reflection Prompts for Artists & Creatives

Read, get out into nature, visit a gallery, plan an art date, or seek out a small daily adventure, because August is a good time to fuel up before the focused, productive months ahead.

Consider what we need to feel more resourced heading into fall, then make a promise to ourselves and a plan for how we’ll honour it when September arrives. Self-Care Check-In for Artists & Creatives

Take some time to clear out the mental and digital clutter we’ve accumulated, from unfinished tasks and overflowing inboxes to the ideas and obligations taking up space in our head.

Before the calendar fills up again, we might take a holistic look at these 10 areas of creative practice and work as a framework for deciding what actually deserves our attention this fall.

Consider what we want to do differently. Break some old rules we’ve been carrying that no-longer fit and set a few new rules that protect our creative life .You Rule! Leverage the change in season to set new rules for yourself as a creative professional.

I hope something in this list inspires you in a new way or helps you re-connect with something important to you as an artist or creative. Thanks for reading.