Creativity, Cycles, and Rhythm PART ONE
Creative Cycles Tide Chart + Toolkit.
Towards a Sustainable Practice
In contemporary discourse on creativity, there is often a pervasive assumption that productive output must be constant, linear, and measurable. This assumption can contribute to burnout, frustration, and a feeling of creative insufficiency among artists. A growing body of thought in both psychological and embodied studies suggests that human productivity and inspiration are not linear, but cyclical, and that aligning creative work with personal rhythms can enhance both sustainability and well-being.
Cycles Beyond the Menstrual
Cycles manifest in multiple dimensions: hormonal, circadian, seasonal, and even within artistic process itself. After over 20 years as a practicing artist and 18 years as a yoga teacher, I can attest to these rhythms not being confined to menstrual cycles. They encompass broader patterns of energy, focus, and receptivity. Recognising and honouring these cycles allows individuals to allocate effort in alignment with natural fluctuations, rather than forcing engagement during phases of low capacity. I believe this is critical when navigating an art career.
For example, the creative process may involve phases of initiation, expansion, reflection, and release - I see them akin to tidal patterns. When these phases are acknowledged, creative work becomes less about discipline alone and more about atunement. This perspective reframes periods of low output not as failure, but as essential phases in a sustainable cycle of productivity and rest.
The Role of Ritual and Reflection
Research in cognitive and social psychology underscores the importance of ritualised practices for structuring attention and supporting well-being (email me if you’d like some sources and resources). Rituals (small, intentional acts of reflection or preparation) can serve as anchors for creative activity, particularly when aligned with one’s natural cycles. Reflection, journaling, and embodied practices help clarify priorities, reduce cognitive load, and enhance creative insight. It is important to understand that having a menstrual cycle isn’t crucial to participate in these rituals.
A Practical Tool: Creative Cycles Tide Chart + Toolkit
In response to these insights and as a need within my own creative practice, I developed the Creative Cycles Tide Chart + Toolkit. Initially a personal experiment, it emerged from the need to harmonise creative output with embodied rhythms and cyclical awareness. Built on principles of ritual, reflection, and phase-specific engagement, it provides a structured yet flexible framework to track energy, focus, and intention.
The toolkit integrates:
Phase-specific guidance, including strategies for work, rest, and creative exploration.
A ritual library, supporting grounding and preparation for creative activity.
Reflective prompts, facilitating awareness of internal and external cycles.
Early adopters have reported that using this tool reduces feelings of disconnection and fosters sustainable engagement with creative work. By framing creativity as cyclical rather than linear, it encourages alignment with natural rhythms, promoting both productivity and psychological well-being.
Implications for Creative Practice
Aligning with cycles has implications beyond productivity: it reshapes our relationship with self-efficacy, reduces internalised pressure, and nurtures a more compassionate and rhythmically attuned practice. For artists and professionals alike, acknowledging cyclical patterns can transform the experience of creative work from one of friction to one of flow.
I have seen firsthand that creativity flourishes not under constant pressure, but within rhythm and reflection. Tools like the Creative Cycles Tide Chart + Toolkit synthesise these insights, offering both structure and freedom, which becomes a scaffold that honours the tides of energy, focus, and inspiration inherent in human life.