OKAY, BUT WHAT IS a Creative Check-In?
It's a three-page, daily-ish practice to help unload the junk in your brain before it turns into full-blown overwhelm.
1 Page of Writing: A messy brain dump. No filter. No grammar. No making sense. (Highly recommend writing like no one—including future you—is ever going to read it.)
1 Page of Colors and Shapes: Doodle, scribble, swirl, sketch—just move your hand. No one's grading this.
1 Page of Reflection: A single word, feeling, or thought from the mess you just spilled. That's it.
What You'll Actually Do (The Template)
Here's what your Creative Check-In looks like in practice:
Page 1: The Brain Dump
Set a timer for 2-3 minutes
Write whatever's in your head: grocery lists, worries, random thoughts, complaints about your mother, best friend or the laundry mountain you’re partner never seems to notice
Don't stop moving your pen, even if you write "I don't know what to write" seventeen times
Grammar and spelling don't exist here
Page 2: Colors and Movement
Grab whatever you have: pen, crayon, marker, eyeliner (we've all been there)
1-2 minutes of moving your hand across the page
Circles, lines, squiggles, angry scribbles - whatever feels right
No thinking, just moving
Page 3: One Word Reflection
Look at what you just created
What's one word, feeling, or thought that comes up?
Write it down
Done
Total time: 5 minutes (or however long before someone needs a snack)
