One thing I think we forget about when it comes to wellness is creativity and self-expression. Whether it’s expression for the sake of expression, or because we want to learn a new skill or improve one we enjoy, engaging in creative behaviours improves brain function, mental health, and physical health.

I’m the first to say “oh no, I’m not very creative,” as I tend to compare myself to others. I have some very skilled friends and my mum always has something on the go. She’s a veritable crochet queen, and is good at everything whether it’s découpage or decorating the kitchen. But then I remind myself, first of all I am actually quite creative, I just don’t dedicate that much time to it, but second of all that that is not the point. The point of trying something creative and new, is just giving it a go and all the benefits that come with:

1. You can get into a state of flow
2. It can reduce stress and improve mental health
3. Hobbies can help you socialise
4. Creativity affects brain function

So today I’m sharing with you two episodes of the podcast all about creativity to inspire you and to share a little bit more about my friends’ projects, in case it wakes up your creative side even just a little bit 😉 

El estilo propio, la auto-expresión y el bienestar, hablamos con Benedetta Perazzo

Español. In this episode, I chat with Benedetta Perazzo about the relationship between fashion, creativity, self-expression and well-being. Benedetta is a stylist and creative consultant, and I loved exploring “wellness” through her perspective. And, of course for Benedetta, well-being, your self-confidence, your style, and how you feel, are intrinsically linked.

Benedetta recently launched the online marketplace Sowll alongside her business partner Viky. But Sowll is much more than a webshop: it was created to be an island among the noise: a grounding space to remind you that nothing makes sense until we’ve established a healthy dialogue between who we are, what we own, and the world around us. Nourishing ourselves, caring for our planet, redefining our idea of beauty and wellbeing, and reconnecting to the origin and identity of our daily objects by connecting them to our true desires– not the need for status or instant gratification.

Creativity, community and running your own sustainable clothing brand with Lia Quigley

English. Lia is a print designer who has worked in the fashion industry for over a decade and now runs made obvious, her own sustainable fashion brand in Madrid. In this podcast we discuss creativity, lessons from starting a business, community, being a mum, and how they can all relate to our wellbeing and health. But more than that, Lia is a close pal of mine who I am extremely proud of and grateful to have met all those years ago at one fateful Book Club Christmas party in Madrid ❤️.

If you want to try something new or you’re looking for a crafty outlet, Lia runs creative workshops every week. Or like me, you can purchase a yearly membership and attend the monthly Saturday morning sessions which are a new craft every time. Meet lovely people, try new skills, eat cake and drink coffee - it’s the wholesome Saturday morning plan you need in 2024. (People mostly speak English, but everyone has a high level of Spanish!)

About our sponsor

OMG. If you didn’t know already I love matcha 🍵. I’m working on my skills at home and the first brand I tried was Matcha & Co because everyone recommended it to me. Delicious, accesible prices, their matcha is a win. They also offer all sorts of other teas and all the accessories you could need.

Save 15% with my code WELLNESSAMY15. Available in Spain and the UK.

Thank you very much for listening and if you enjoy these episodes, don’t forget to share!

Love,
Amy xxx