In the zipper pocket of my purse, I keep some just-in-case supplies. These can make a big difference when I have small problems. There’s something for a headache, a peppermint (you’re welcome), and lip balm that actually works.
But during this last year, which has included some ongoing heavy situations, I’ve felt myself wishing for another kind of relief. I’d love for someone to blow a whistle and declare, Time for recess! (Okay, strike the whistle. My nerves are already shot. Let’s imagine a gentle breeze nudging a windchime instead.)
As fun as double-dutch sounds, I have something else in mind for recess. During stressful times, I’ve been recalling the physical lightness I’ve felt when suspended in the flow of creating. Have you experienced this? For me, this has particularly happened when I’m assembling cut-up found poems or erasures and somehow involving color.
This combo of delight, focus, and experimentation noticeably lifts my mood. I feel more at ease as I allow myself to get lost for a few minutes in the possibilities of the writing game. It’s like someone has finally opened a window on a stuffy day, and the air starts to stir. The pleasure is real, and this is no small thing.
But what often stops me from jumping back into these refreshing times is that I don’t have my supplies handy, and I don’t have the time and/or energy to assemble them when/where needed.
So, I got to thinking, what if I did my future self a little favor and pre-assembled a little portable kit? Then, I may be more aware of a chance to snag even 10-20 minutes to explore the materials.
Now I’ve made one. And as I type this article, I’m setting up a (gentle) alarm on my phone for a time tonight that might work for a recess. At the moment, I feel like this might make it more likely to happen. Other days, I prefer spontaneity. (Ask me later, and I’ll let you know if I got a recess after all.)
How about you? Could you use a short recess to creatively explore? What kind of supplies might you tuck into an envelope to keep in the pocket of your purse, bag, drawer, or glove box?
I enjoy colorful, simple items that make me feel lighter. Please customize your kit(s) to your liking and give yourself lots of grace to make this as low-key as you want. It’s all for you. A break to just mess around, play, and create.
Mine might vary from week to week, and could include a handful of the following:
- An envelope or small bag
- A tea bag to enjoy during the break
- A piece of paper (I love colored college ruled notebook paper.)
- A favorite pen/pencil
- A page ripped out of a magazine
- A page of words for an erasure
- Small scissors
- A little bit of double-sided tape
- A stamped postcard pre-addressed to a pal (2-for-1 fun times)
- Stickers (I just bought a variety of scratch-and-sniff varieties. Creativity Café friends, one could be coming your way)
- A scented highlighter
- A mystery item/secret ingredient
- A photo that brings a smile
- A phrase from an inside joke
- An encouraging quote, line of poetry, or lyrics
- Something from nature you enjoy
- Something tiny you would have loved as a kid
- A set of colored pencils, crayons, and a page from a coloring book, or whatever art supplies work well for you
- A tiny treat (I’m thinking of the hard candy my grandma used to give me.)
Your Turn
Writing prompt: Try writing for 10 minutes about something you used to love playing at recess or in a park, or playtime. See if you can include at least two different sensory details to describe your favorite experiences of the sound, smell, sight, feel, etc.
Crafting prompt: Cut a couple colorful little rectangles of paper to turn into tickets that read, “Admit One for Recess”. You might try reusing something like a cereal box or junk mail for this. Decorate as you like! Perhaps it’d be fun to give one, or a photo of one, to a pal who’d also appreciate a break?
Now, [soothing windchime tones] I’m handing you your admission ticket. Time for recess, my friend!
Share with us in the comments:
- Have you ever experienced a lift while working on a creative project? What did it feel like for you?
- Do you think you might try making a little recess kit?
- What other kinds of creative explorations could you go on in 10-20 minutes that don’t require any of the above materials?
- If you tried a recess, how’d it go?
Post and photos by Bethany Rohde.
- A Creativity Recess Kit - August 20, 2025
- Collage: Unwrapping Gifts from the Quiet - May 28, 2025
- Postcards from Burrow & Meadow · No. 4 Seeing - February 16, 2023
L.L. Barkat says
Last night, I took a recess with my girls. We went to a yarn shop, then to eat Greek food, then we went to a playground, and then a riverside park. It was so refreshing.
One of the most fun things was discovering these digging machines at the playground. They were to be manually operated. And it took good coordination to accomplish it. Kind of like what I imagine working a backhoe feels.
Your own recess is very inspiring. All this lovely color. Simply creating the kit feels like an exercise in creativity! 🙂 (What would a tea kit look like, I ask myself? 🙂
bethany says
Ooh, what a time of delights, LL! I’m thrilled that you took a recess with your girls! I’m imaging the variety of colors and soft textures in the yarn shop. <3 And then the playground with you operating the diggers—yay! (I know exactly what you're talking about, but it's been several years since I've tried one.)
Yes, making the kit was an absolute blast! And now I'm smiling at your idea of a *tea kit.* Please let me know if you tinker or assemble one…. 😉
L.L. Barkat says
I might do that at / for the next Creativity Café 🙂
But, you know what? Simply thinking about doing a tea kit had an unexpected effect: I sat down and worked on a writing project I needed to do; I just conceived of it as making a little kit for others. And. Voila! Sometimes it really is how we frame things that changes whether or not we get momentum.
bethany says
Okay, this unexpected delight is such a treat to hear about! The gift of flow ~~ Thank you for telling us, LL! May more lovely surprises unfold for you ~~
Professor Nazir Ahmad says
Most Respectful L L Barkat,
Whatever you write, create, and contribute, there will be plenty of BARKART [BARAKA] due to your beautiful name. You are doing a great job, imparting knowledge for the benefit of others.
Dheepa Maturi says
I love this post so much! Bethany, you are truly one of Tweetspeak’s Creativity Keepers, gently urging us to remember what creativity is for: JOY. I’m excited to assemble my own kit! I think it will contain a “Decomposition Book” (a tiny post-consumer-waste notebook), flower & butterfly stickers (a gift from a wonderful friend – you know who you are!), and (non-meltable) sugar in some form 😉 . Butterscotch? Werther’s caramels? I think I need to drop everything and make this important decision now! (And I need my own a wind chime for background music!) Thank you for bringing me laughter and play today!
bethany says
Dheepa, thank you for reading this and sharing your encouragements and ideas! I am so grateful for Tweetspeak Poetry, this place LL, Will, Glynn, and others have curated throughout the years to encourage and celebrate a fun and thoughtful lifestyle of writing. I’m much more apt to catch creative thoughts when I know there are others at the playground (or café) to share them with! So glad you are here—and there!
I love those Decomposition Books. And, stickers you say? 😉 If you do end up gathering together a little kit, or going on a recess, feel free to let me know. I’m excited for you to go frolic!
Maureen says
A found poem (think about including one with that tea kit). Poem is written in couplets:
Supply List
Bring a page ripped out
of a magazine. The picture
might be anything —
your lover with a smile
as he thinks of you
and your inside joke,
or your secret ingredient
for making him laugh —
maybe some stickers,
double-sided tape,
a highlighter with a scent
you loved as a kid.
Don’t forget words;
they’ll make or break
the message you send
again, just not on
a stamped postcard
this time. You want
to be more encouraging
with the phrase
you use, so underline
it with colored pencils.
Attach a tiny bag of tea,
its name, Earl Gray,
spelled out in lyrics close
by the lip-sticked kiss
you plant so he knows
all this is in fun.
Let him guess about
the secret ingredient
coming his way after
he arrives at the café.
Somewhere on the paper
draw a scissored heart
meant to be the mystery
you’re sure he’ll solve
seeing you across the room.
Bethany says
Maureen, what clever fun! Love how you used the raw materials here to create your own delightful found poem. Such an engaging voice.
And I love that you found a way to include the secret ingredient!
Maureen says
Thank you, Bethany.
L.L. Barkat says
Mmm. What a fun poem, Maureen! 🙂
Maureen says
Thank you. TweetSpeak has become again one of my go-to sources of inspiration for found poetry.