Running Fuels My Creativity

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love running.

I run on my own, I run with my kids, and when I’m in Sweden, I love running with my sister. Running has become such a natural part of my life that I can’t really imagine not doing it.

Of course, I love the endorphin rush afterwards. There’s something so satisfying about finishing a run, feeling tired in the best possible way, and knowing that I’ve done something good for myself. I also notice that I sleep so much better on the days when I run and, somehow, I tend to eat better too.

But there’s another reason I love running, and it has very little to do with fitness.

Running is where my creative brain comes alive.

There’s something about putting one foot in front of the other, getting into a rhythm and letting my mind wander, that seems to unlock a completely different part of my brain.

While I’m running, my jewellery ideas start flowing.

I’ll suddenly think of a new piece I want to create, imagine different shapes and combinations, or start figuring out how I could actually make something I’ve pictured in my head. Sometimes I’ll work through the tiny details of a design without even realising how much time has passed.

And it doesn’t stop with the design and making of the jewellery.

My brain starts thinking about my jewellery business too. I’ll come up with ideas about how I could work more efficiently, how I could sell more, what kind of packaging I should try next, or how I could organise my studio space so that it works better for me.

It’s almost as if running clears away all the noise and gives my thoughts space to connect.

I might start a run thinking about absolutely nothing, and by the time I get home, I have five new ideas, a solution to a problem I’ve been stuck on for days, and sometimes an entirely new piece of jewellery taking shape in my mind.

Of course, the challenge is remembering all these brilliant ideas once I get home! But perhaps that’s part of the magic...

For me, running isn’t just exercise. It’s my thinking time. It’s my creative space. It’s where my body is moving, my mind is wandering, and somehow the two work together to create something new.

So yes, I run because I love the feeling afterwards. I run because I sleep better, feel better and make better choices.

But most of all, I run because somewhere between the rhythm of my feet and the quiet in my head, my creative jewellery brain switches on.

Karin X