Energy, Focus, Balance: Mindfulness for Creatives

The first year of motherhood was both the loneliest and most connected period of my life. Through the highs and lows, day or night, one person in particular walked alongside me: Caitlyn Loweth Rivero, a new mom, mindfulness coach for creatives, and host of the Forging Balance podcast. Caitlyn approaches well-being through a holistic lens, blending mindfulness, productivity, and the Eight Pillars of Wellness—physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and financial. I sat down with Caitlyn to explore how mindfulness can support health, restore energy, and help transform habits.

The Role of Mindfulness in Health & Energy

Being healthy is about more than balanced nutrition and regular exercise. Mindfulness is often overlooked, yet it plays a critical role in creating and sustaining habits that support health and energy. Caitlyn defines mindfulness as the practice of paying attention to the present moment.

While this may sound simple, most people struggle with consistency. Our lives are filled with distractions that provide instant gratification and dopamine hits, and our minds tend to dwell on the past or constantly project into the future. Mindfulness helps us pause, notice, and respond intentionally instead of reacting automatically.

Caitlyn’s Mindfulness Journey

Forging Balance was born at 4:00 a.m. in April 2022, when Caitlyn realized that work-life balance was a common struggle among creatives. As a musician herself, she experienced it firsthand: balancing daytime work, evening music lessons, and enjoying life as a newlywed.

As a new mom, Caitlyn has even more responsibilities competing for her time. Her strategies for practicing mindfulness include:

• Using nap times for meditation, music, or creative activities.

• Brain dumping—writing down everything on her mind to clear mental clutter.

• Clearing physical clutter to create space for mental clarity.

Common Challenges & Mindfulness Strategies

Caitlyn’s clients often face overwhelm, distraction, burnout, and “all-or-nothing” thinking. Progress begins with shifting the narrative: just because someone is a creative doesn’t mean life has to be chaotic. Similarly, someone in their 60s with joint pain doesn’t have to accept discomfort as inevitable. Life quality doesn’t need to be dictated by age, career, or societal expectations.

Mindfulness is particularly valuable for creatives. It reduces stress, enhances productivity, prevents burnout, and helps navigate life with intention.

Practical Tips for Building Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice, and like any skill, it gets easier with consistency. Here are some tips to build a sustainable practice:

• Remove barriers to entry: Keep your tools accessible—lay out your guitar and music, or place your running shoes by the bed the night before a planned workout.

• Understand your “why”: Ask why the practice matters to you personally. Is it aligned with your goals and values, or just a trend on social media?

• Stop “shoulding” yourself: Anchor yourself in your personal motivation rather than external pressure.

• Start small: Identify one small change per week that moves you closer to your goal. For instance, if you want to meal prep, start with prepping one meal. Small hinges swing big doors—tiny adjustments compound into significant results over time.

Mindfulness, Creativity, & Health

Creatives often face unique challenges with diet, health, and work-life balance. One of Caitlyn’s clients wanted to eat healthier but struggled to plan meals amid a packed schedule. A simple solution—buying a veggie tray for quick, accessible snacks—made a meaningful difference. This small habit change fit seamlessly into her life, providing immediate benefits and motivating her to make more healthy adjustments.

Mindfulness is about practice, not perfection. If your day passes you by without awareness, or your mind wanders while meditating, you haven’t failed. Small changes build momentum, reduce stress, and boost productivity.

Whether you’re a creative, a mother, or both, incorporating mindfulness—even for a few minutes a day—can restore energy, support healthy habits, and help you navigate life with intention. Take a moment now: feel your feet on the floor, relax your shoulders, inhale deeply… and exhale. Reflect on one small mindful action you can take today.

Caitlyn Loweth Rivero is a musician, teacher, and arts manager that's passionate about all things well-being, mindfulness, and productivity. In her down time you might find her at a metal show, reading a book, or crocheting!

You can follow her at @forging balance on Instagram and listen to Forging Balance on Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts.