When was the last time you did something creative just because it brought you joy?
If you’re like many busy moms, the answer might be… you honestly can’t remember.
Between work deadlines, family responsibilities, carpools, meal planning, and keeping everyone else’s lives running smoothly, creativity often gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. But what if making time to create wasn’t something extra to squeeze into your schedule? What if it was actually one of the best ways to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and reconnect with yourself?
In this episode of The Secrets of Supermom Show, I sat down with intuitive artist Heather Eck for a fascinating conversation about creativity, healing, intuition, and why even a few minutes of creative expression can make a huge difference in your mental and emotional well-being.
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Rather read? Check out the show notes and episode content right here!
Show Notes: Creativity, Color, and Stillness
Hey, hey friend! Welcome to Episode #302 of The Secrets of Supermom Show!
Heather Eck spent more than 20 years working in corporate human resources before realizing that burnout had become her normal.
Although she had always loved art as a child, life led her down a different path. Eventually, a conversation with a mentor encouraged her to revisit the creative passions she’d left behind. That decision completely changed her life.
Today, Heather is a multimedia abstract artist who experiences a rare neurological condition called synesthesia, allowing her to perceive people, emotions, music, and experiences through color. She now creates artwork that helps others process emotions, reconnect with themselves, and experience healing through creativity.
Why Busy Moms Need Creativity More Than Ever
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation is that creativity isn’t just about making beautiful things.
It’s about creating space.
As moms, we spend much of our day solving problems, making decisions, answering questions, and taking care of everyone else. Our brains rarely get a chance to slow down.
Creative activities give our minds permission to pause.
Whether it’s painting, scrapbooking, crocheting, baking, journaling, gardening, photography, or playing music, creativity allows us to quiet the constant mental noise and reconnect with ourselves.
Heather explains that these moments aren’t wasted time—they’re restorative.
Creativity Helps Calm Your Nervous System
Many moms assume self-care requires an entire afternoon at the spa or an expensive weekend getaway.
Heather offers a much simpler approach.
Even 5 to 20 minutes spent doing something creative can help:
- Reduce stress
- Calm your nervous system
- Improve emotional regulation
- Increase energy
- Boost creativity in other areas of life
- Help you process emotions in healthy ways
Instead of viewing creativity as another task on your to-do list, think of it as an investment in your emotional health.
Burnout Doesn’t Always Look Like Exhaustion
Heather shared how she reached a point in corporate life where no vacation could fix how depleted she felt.
Many working moms know exactly what that feels like.
You may be:
- Constantly overwhelmed
- Running on autopilot
- Feeling disconnected from yourself
- Always thinking about what’s next
- Struggling to relax—even during downtime
Sometimes burnout isn’t solved by taking time off.
Sometimes it’s solved by reconnecting with the parts of yourself you’ve neglected for years.
You Don’t Have to Be “Artistic”
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Heather’s reminder that creativity isn’t about talent.
You don’t have to paint gallery-worthy artwork.
You don’t even have to show anyone what you create.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is expression.
Think back to what you loved as a child.
Did you enjoy:
- Drawing?
- Coloring?
- Scrapbooking?
- Dancing?
- Playing piano?
- Sewing?
- Building things?
- Writing stories?
Those interests may still hold the key to helping you recharge today.
Start Small
One thing Heather encourages is starting incredibly small.
Instead of waiting until you have hours of free time (which probably isn’t happening anytime soon), begin with just one minute.
Yes—one minute.
Close your eyes.
Take a few deep breaths.
Sit in silence.
Then gradually build toward five minutes.
Eventually, maybe it’s a 15-minute walk outside.
Maybe it’s spending 20 minutes working on a scrapbook page or watercolor painting before everyone else wakes up.
Small moments matter.
My Personal Reminder
During this conversation, Heather reminded me of something I’d completely forgotten.
Years ago, when my oldest was a baby, I used to wake up early and scrapbook before work.
Not for hours.
Sometimes just long enough to finish part of a page.
But those few creative minutes changed how I entered the workday.
I felt calmer.
More energized.
More like myself.
Sometimes we don’t need something brand new.
Sometimes we simply need to return to something we’ve loved all along.
Your Supermom Challenge This Week
Ask yourself these three questions:
- What creative activity used to bring me joy?
- What’s one small way I could bring that back into my week?
- Can I give myself permission to spend just 15 minutes doing it?
Remember:
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish.
It’s one of the best gifts you can give your family.
When you feel calmer, healthier, and more connected to yourself, everyone around you benefits.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Heather’s transition from corporate HR to full-time artist
- What synesthesia is and how she experiences color
- Why creativity is essential for busy moms
- The connection between creativity and stress relief
- How art can help process emotions
- Finding stillness in a noisy world
- Simple ways to reconnect with yourself
- Why small moments of creativity can have a lasting impact
About Our Guest: Heather Eck
HEATHER ECK is a multimedia abstract artist and writer. An intuitive artist and painter, Heather interprets people, places, and experiences through color, a condition known as synesthesia. Like an enormous box of crayons, her gift operates by categorizing through intricate but specific shades of color. While this condition enables her to experience color, she responds to these encounters with people, things, emotions, and spaces by understanding the particular shade of experience that a person dwells in. She uses her gift to detect the most healing color for them to remedy their wounds. Guided by the chakra system and inspired by spirituality and the mysteries of the universe, Heather transforms these vibrant energies into captivating paintings that uplift, inspire and, ultimately, heal.
Each canvas becomes a symphony of color and emotion, a visual representation of the unseen connections that weave through our lives. Heather’s work is more than art; it’s a medium of healing, a testament to the profound influence of color on our well-being.
Website: https://www.heathereck.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathereckartist
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About the Host: Lori Oberbroeckling
Lori Whitney Oberbroeckling is a mom of four, corporate leader, podcaster, productivity expert, and author of the book Secrets of Supermom: How Extraordinary Moms Succeed at Work and Home & How You Can Too!
She is passionate about helping parents who want fulfilling careers–or side hustles or passion projects–while also wanting to feel present and connected to their families.
