Self-Care for Creatives // Interview with Kerry Burki
Today I am so pleased to introduce you all to a new friend of mine, Kerry Burki. She is a yoga teacher, handmade artist, community supporter and creative entrepreneur living in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband and two little boys. Kerry is passionate about encouraging others to pursue their creative dreams and make sure that they nourish their souls during the journey. Thank you Kerry for sharing your insights into self-care for creatives with us!
How do you define “self-care” for creative people?
A lot of creative people believe they always need to be creating. Sometimes, we need to create situations to just be. Taking the time to either be still or to be moving and seeing it as creating time or space just to be ourselves. By creating these moments we allow our creativity to flow easily the rest of the time.
What led you to focus on nurturing self-care for creatives?
I have taught yoga for over 10 years and I have been working with creatives in various ways for 9 years. I have been looking for a way to bridge my knowledge between my two worlds. I know a lot about the ups and downs of the creative life and decided to apply what I know about relaxation and movement towards helping them navigate it with more ease and with more confidence.
How do you practice self-care in your daily life?
I follow my Rejuvenate + Create: Self-Care for Creatives Course, which includes short routines for the morning, afternoon and evening. These include yoga stretches, intention setting and breathing. My day is so much better when I make a point to focus on these at least 3 times! I also take care of myself by hiking with my family, painting with my two boys and meditating.
What are some hurdles you face (or have faced) when implementing self-care in your life?
Oh my goodness, I have been the queen of excuses in the past! As I grow older I have realized that those excuses don’t get me the results I want and also don’t leave me feeling that great physically and emotionally. It is easier to not take care of myself, but then I feel junky. I have to focus on feeling good and where I want to go in life to keep me motivated. This can be difficult and I struggle somedays which is why one of my evening routines involves lying down 🙂
What do you think is the most important thing creatives can do to restore and rejuvenate?
I think it is important that we step away from the computer when we find ourselves in comparison mode and feeling unworthy or unaccomplished. I think it is important for us to find a way of moving or exercising that gets us out of our heads and into our bodies. Lastly, I think it is important to create time to be still and try to quiet our minds.
Kerry shares a monthly self-care post on her blog which is geared towards creative entrepreneurs. She has also dedicated www.kerryburki.com to talking about creativity and self-care. You can also check out her Free Spirit Guidebook here!
Categorised in: Wellness
About Cassie
Cassie Uhl is the author of five books and two card decks, an artist, intuitive energy healer, and death doula. Her lineage and practices are rooted in pagan earth-based spiritual practices of Northern Europe. She approaches her work and clients with trauma-informed support through all phases of life. She currently resides on the land of the Myaamia people in so-called Indiana of the US.
