How to Begin Every Day with Art and Intention

Start Your Day with Creative Intention

By Alicia Bucknor, Toronto, ON – Art Educator & Art Wellness Expert

Some mornings feel heavy. Some mornings feel like you’re already behind before your feet hit the floor. For parents, caregivers, and anyone balancing life’s many responsibilities, starting the day with intention can feel impossible—but it doesn’t have to. Art gives us a space to breathe, to reflect, and to set the tone for the day ahead.

I’ve found through my personal journey with illness, and in my work with schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, that even five minutes of creative expression can reset the mind, lift the spirit, and prepare you to meet the day with calm and confidence.

Why it Works:Studies show that engaging in art first thing in the morning activates the brain’s creative centers, improves focus, and reduces cortisol—the stress hormone (Kaimal et al., 2016). Coloring, in particular, is incredibly powerful because it offers instant gratification and a sense of accomplishment, even for people who feel they “aren’t artistic.” Completing a single page, a pattern, or a small drawing releases dopamine—the brain’s “feel-good” chemical—giving you an emotional boost before the day even begins.

Tips for Starting Your day with Art:

1. Create a Mini Morning Coloring Ritual: Keep a small sketchbook, coloring pad, or one of The Colouring Bar’s portable coloring kits on your bedside table. Even 5–10 minutes is enough to shift your mindset.

2. Set a Creative Intention: Before coloring, pause and think of one word or phrase you want to focus on for the day. Let your brush or pencil reflect that intention.

3. Pair with Gratitude: Write one line of gratitude alongside your coloring. Combine mindfulness with creativity for a double dose of wellness.

4. Celebrate Small Wins: Display your finished piece on a desk, nightstand, or wall. That sense of accomplishment fuels positivity and confidence.

5. Make it Personal: Your morning coloring space can be anywhere—bedside, a small table in the kitchen, or a cozy corner by a window. Include things that inspire you: soft lighting, calming scents, a favorite mug of tea, or a playlist of gentle music.

   
   

Creating Your Personal Colouring Bar space:You don’t need a full studio to create a personal Colouring Bar at home. A small desk, basket of supplies, and a few of The Colouring Bar books are enough to make this a sacred, uplifting practice. Swap out materials weekly to keep it fresh—markers, pencils, paint pens, or textured paper all work beautifully. This becomes your creative sanctuary, your morning pause, and your place of joy before the day’s demands begin.

Brunch Party

CA$45.21

Buy Now

The Colouring Bar Connection: At The Colouring Bar, we design every book and kit to help you experience mindfulness, joy, and accomplishment, no matter your skill level. Our workshops and pop-up events also offer guided sessions, so you can learn to craft your own creative routines that energize your mornings and strengthen your well-being.

Starting your day with art isn’t just about creating a pretty page—it’s about creating space for your mind to reset, your spirit to rise, and your heart to bloom. Five minutes of color, reflection, and intention can set the tone for an entire day filled with calm, confidence, and creativity.