I’ve been thinking about corporate stressors, ever since a client mentioned how her work stress crept into her dreams last week, and I caught myself doodling mandalas in the margins of my own notebook during a call. It made me realize just how powerful a simple art break can be…so today, I finally decide to end my writer's block and share why art at work matters now more than ever.

Have you ever had one of those days when your to‑do list felt like a boulder in your backpack? You’re not alone, workplace stress is real, and it can sneak up on even the most organized among us. My first suggestion will be to ‘just breathe’… three deep breaths. But what when it doesn’t help? Sometimes the most powerful reset isn’t another productivity hack… it’s a crayon and a blank sheet of paper.

Why Stress Gets Stuck in Our Minds

When deadlines pile up or inbox notifications won’t quit, our nervous system revs into overdrive, heart rate spikes, thoughts loop, your body tenses. Over time, that “fight, flight, or freeze” response becomes the default, even when you’re just staring at your spreadsheet. And guess what? No amount of productivity tips can unblock a creativity‑starved brain… but art can.

Art as a Natural Stress‑Relief Valve

Art isn’t about making a masterpiece, it’s about giving your mind something else to do. In my years as a psychologist and art therapist, I’ve watched people

• Draw a simple circle and suddenly notice their shoulders drop

• Doodle a mandala and discover emotions they didn’t know were there

• Paint with their non‑dominant hand and laugh at how “imperfect” it looks, only to feel surprisingly proud

Those moments of play do magic, they shift your focus, regulate your nervous system, and invite curiosity over judgment.

3 Quick Art Exercises You Can Try at Your Desk

1. The 1‑Minute Scribble

   • Set a timer for 60 seconds. Scribble wildly - no planning, no erasing.

   • Notice how your hand moves faster (or slower) than your racing thoughts.

2. Color‑Your‑Mood Chart

   • Draw five boxes. Assign each a color for how you feel (blue = calm, red = tense, yellow = hopeful…).

   • Fill them in. Are you more “yellow” today or “red”?

3. Office Mandala

   • Make a simple circle with a paper cup. Divide it like a pizza, and in each slice draw a shape or pattern.

   • Repeat patterns until the page feels “full.”

You don’t need an art degree! Just paper, pen, maybe a 10‑minute break.

When Art Alone Isn’t Enough, Guided Sessions Can Help

Sometimes your stress story runs deep, chronic overwhelm, imposter syndrome, or feeling stuck despite all these quick fixes. That’s where a blend of therapy and art‑based methods can be transformative. In a 1‑on‑1 art therapy session, we’ll

• Explore the feelings behind your work‑day stress

• Use guided art exercises to surface new insights

• Build personalized coping tools, like visual mood‑trackers or creative journaling prompts

If you’re looking for a safe space to unpack what’s really going on beyond the spreadsheet, and learn practical strategies to manage stress for good, therapy plus art therapy can be a game changer.

Ready to Pause, Reflect, and Create?

If any of this resonates… if you’ve ever caught yourself doodling in the margins of your notebook just to zone out… let’s talk. I offer online and in‑person 1‑on‑1 sessions for both traditional therapy and art therapy, plus group workshops on stress management for teams and nonprofits (different prices for NGOs).

👉🏼 Share with us your go‑to workplace de‑stress trick, or
📩 Reach out for a free 15‑minute consult to see how art and therapy can help you reclaim your calm.

Art isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. And sometimes, the most radical thing you can do at work is give yourself permission to play.