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.