As I entered my 30s, I found myself dedicating all of my time to work and sleep; I had rarely taken time to explore my creativity and self-expression and found myself in a rut spurred on by a lack of interest in my life.

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Embracing Change

As we transition into our 30s, we often find ourselves reflecting on the paths we’ve chosen and the dreams we’ve set aside. Perhaps we once harboured aspirations of becoming painters, writers, musicians, or photographers, only to sideline these ambitions in pursuit of more practical endeavours. I remember my teenage years being shaped by the notion that I would become a writer and then a photographer. Instead, I became a teacher.

Whilst my current job does allow me to engage with some creative expression, it does centre primarily on fostering the creativity of others (within the parameters of exam specification). The trajectory of my life had changed massively from where I had once anticipated I would be; I had gone from consistently expressing myself through photography and writing to keeping ideas locked inside me and prioritising work.

I’m now experiencing a resurgence – perhaps even a renaissance – of these fanciful notions. Last year, I decided to treat myself to a new camera. I started journalling more frequently and spent a small fortune on basic art supplies. Some may view it as a regression, but I think there is something quite magical about now being able to afford to treat myself to the creative whims I experience.

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Reconnecting with Childhood Wonder

Think back to your childhood. Do you remember the joy of finger painting, the thrill of belting out songs at the top of your lungs, or the sense of wonder sparked by a simple crayon and a blank sheet of paper? Somewhere along the way, we may have lost touch with that uninhibited sense of creativity. I know I had. But recently, I’ve been reconnecting with the things I used to do as a child and rediscovering my teenage passions.

There is nothing I seem to enjoy more than crawling around in the grass and mud to find interesting photography subjects. I cannot draw for the life of me, but just you try and stop me from finger painting and creating an unholy mess on canvas sheets.

Perhaps some of the loss of creativity comes from the development of shame and being self-conscious; I believe that is what stifled me as I aged. However, I’ve been working on letting go of the perceptions of others and am actively working towards being true to myself and my interests. Some art is truly personal and I still feel a deep sense of embarrassment at the thought of someone I know seeing something I have created – child me would never feel such a way and proudly display anything she had created. I aim to be more like her.

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Exploring New Mediums

Rediscovering creative passions in your 30s doesn’t necessarily mean picking up where you left off. It’s about embracing the freedom to explore new mediums, experiment with different forms of art, and push beyond your comfort zone.

Whilst I have found deep interest in my creative passions of days gone by, I’ve become comfortable in exploring different forms of art. I have watercolours, acrylics and even a silly pottery wheel. I have polymer clay, wire for crafting and a range of papers and pastels at my disposal.

Exploring different mediums for artistic expression has been a thoroughly enjoyable pursuit; I don’t get on with everything I try and that’s fine! I’ve learnt a lot about what I enjoy doing and what serves my need to express myself. I think that’s the true joy of engaging with creative endeavours in this period of life. I have so much more to say than I ever did before and I’m drawing upon a wider range of life experiences to shape what I’m trying to convey.

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Finding Balance

Balancing creative pursuits with the demands of adult life can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. It’s essential to carve out time for self-care and self-expression. Remember, creativity isn’t just a luxury. It’s a vital outlet for self-expression and personal fulfilment: prioritising your passions is paramount to happiness.

Whilst my dishes will always need to be cleaned, my laundry will always need to be washed and my work is never quite done, I’ve dedicated time every week to ensuring I get to do something I enjoy. I used to think I had no time in the day – and sometimes, this is true due to sheer exhaustion or an unmanageable workload. Most of the time, though, I do have time. Remove the mindless doomscrolling on social media, the lounging on the sofa streaming something I’ve seen eleven times already, or aimlessly swiping on dating apps, and I actually have several hours across the week.

I won’t pretend I’m perfect and never engage with the aforementioned activities, but I ensure they aren’t the only “hobbies” I engage in now. I might only make a daft clay snail or snap a few pictures on a walk, but I make sure I spend at least three of those hours a week on something that allows me to make, be messy or find a muse. The sheer joy of just having made something is much more satisfying than deciphering gossip on Facebook.

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Embracing Imperfection

Finally, remember that creativity is a journey, not a destination. It’s okay to make mistakes, take detours, and embrace imperfection along the way. You don’t need to be the best at something to enjoy doing it.

I’ve already written a little about being okay with not being very good at everything I try, but I’ll recap those ideas here. Expressing yourself should feel genuine, it should be joyful and celebratory. It’s okay to want to be good at something, but good can mean different things! For me, “good” is that I enjoyed the process of making it or that I like the way something looks.

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What I’m Engaging With (For Now)

I’ve been really embracing photography at the moment. There’s obviously a lot of technical terms and ability required and it can be expensive to get started with if you want a fancy camera, but I think it’s quite accessible. It’s also incredibly versatile!

Personally, I find that there are secret images and messages in everyday scenes if you want to look for them. I’ve been really enjoying finding budding flowers, fungi and tiny insects as I wander around. I’ve also been teaching myself to manipulate images beyond traditional Photoshop touch-ups to make collages. I’m finding it difficult to actually settle on something perfect, but I think that’s a beautiful part of the process: once you start to unravel your creative passions, you discover a web of connected pursuits that all interlink and foster a greater understanding of who you are and where your passions lie.

Whether you’re reigniting old passions or exploring new ones, embracing creativity is essential for personal growth, self-expression, and overall well-being. So pick up that paintbrush, dust off that guitar, or unleash your inner poet—your artistic journey awaits. What are you going to try?