Sick Day Creativity: How I Survived the Flu and Toddler Chaos

Let’s set the scene: I’m sick. Like full-blown frog voice, cough in your face, where-did-my-energy-go sick.

And my toddler? He didn’t get the memo.

No one’s bringing me soup. There are no quiet, cozy moments under a blanket.

Instead, I’m wiping noses (his and mine), dodging toy cars, and trying to sneak in a creative moment while Bluey plays in the background.

But somehow, in the middle of all that mess, I still found little moments of sick day creativity.

And I drew a few sticker designs like it was a tiny act of rebellion against the chaos and my body being super rude.

Sick Days Don’t Exist for Moms

If you’ve ever tried to rest while a toddler pokes you in the eye and asks for another snack, you get it.

There’s no “sick day.” There’s just “sick… but still doing everything.”

You’re still the snack source, the snuggle provider, the boo-boo fixer, the everything.

You’re also the entertainment, the chef, and the emotional support animal.

There’s no out-of-office reply for motherhood, even when you’re curled up on the floor next to a line of Hot Wheels praying for a nap that never comes.

Why do toddlers suddenly protest naps at the worst times?

Like, sir… You also need rest. Please stop climbing me like I’m a jungle gym.

So I did what I could. Between steamy showers to unclog my sinuses and “just one more episode” promises to buy time, I opened Procreate and made something.

It wasn’t perfect, but it gave me something to focus on that wasn’t tissues and to-do lists.

Why I Create (Even on Sick Days)

Sick days aren’t really “days off” when you’ve got a tiny human to keep alive.

But carving out a moment to do something creative, no matter how small, helps me feel like myself again.

Research even backs it up: creative activities can help moms feel calmer, more connected, and emotionally lifted — even in the middle of chaos (Greater Good Magazine).

Being creative when you’re sick isn’t about being productive.

It’s about staying grounded.

It’s about feeling something other than exhaustion or frustration.

It’s about reminding yourself, “Hey, I still make cool things—even if I’m making them under a pile of laundry.”

Even when I felt like a human puddle, drawing sticker designs in Procreate gave me a small flicker of joy.

I didn’t have to finish anything. I didn’t have to get it perfect. I just showed up.

Procreate felt like that warm cup of tea for me. Just what I needed to make it through the day.

What Sick Day Creativity Looked Like This Week

No elaborate art sessions. No “perfect” content. No magical hours of productivity while the toddler napped peacefully (because he didn’t nap).

Just real-life, low-energy sticker making with:

• Doodling new sticker designs in Procreate while stuck on the couch or floor
• Troubleshooting my Siser Juliet and testing cut settings, not giving me an easy time
• Organizing files for a new sticker kit I’ll be adding to my shop, in my sketchbook, because my laptop felt like too much brain

It wasn’t glamorous. But it felt good to still show up for my creative work, even if I did it in pajamas with a toddler using me as a jungle gym.

It may have been the only thing getting me through the week.

Honestly, it felt like my only thread of sanity some days. And even though the work wasn’t big, it felt meaningful.

Creativity as a Coping Tool

Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:
Sometimes, creativity is the only thing tethering us to our sanity.

When your body is drained and your brain is mush, creativity becomes more than a hobby; it’s a coping mechanism. (Talking to myself here as I write this blog post, which is way more fun than trying to figure out the sales/funnel email hell I've been stuck on and just can't figure out.)

That five-minute drawing? It’s not just a sketch. It’s an exhale.
It’s proof that even when life is loud, messy, and hard… you still have something to offer.
You’re still a maker. You’re still you.

So no, I didn’t complete a huge project, and I'm avoiding that funnel to write this post!

But I created something during a week that tried to take me out. And that’s enough.

Tiny Wins Count

When your brain’s foggy and your energy’s low, every little creative act matters. Whether it’s drawing one cute sketch, prepping an upcoming product, or trying to figure out how to cut stickers without losing your mind, those micro-wins add up.

They’re not filler.
They’re fuel.

You don’t need a “perfect” day to make progress. You just need to keep showing up in whatever way you can. Even five minutes of creating can shift your whole mindset.

It was definitely the bright spot each day I woke up, thinking ugh, I'm not feeling better yet!

Want to Start Your Own Sticker Sessions?

I’ve got a growing library of articles and freebies to help you start creating, even in the chaos.

Whether you want to learn Procreate, try sticker journaling, or just need a creative nudge, there’s something waiting for you.

👉Grab your free self-care sticker sheet and slap some love on your day, chaos and all.

Or maybe using stickers in your journal or planner is more your vibe?

Check out Creative Ways to Use Stickers for All Kinds of Fun Ideas

Even when I feel like trash, making something small reminds me who I am. Even if I suck at technology and it gets all tangled up in knots in my head, I can still make cute art!

Yay little cuties > than tech and math for that matter!

So if you’re in the middle of a rough week, here’s your permission slip to do one little thing: draw a doodle, bust open your bullet journal, slap a sticker on a page.

Run away from the hard stuff, for a few minutes! It counts. It all counts.

You don’t have to wait for perfect energy, perfect time, or perfect conditions to create.

Just start where you are, yes, even in your sick-day pajamas with a toddler climbing your leg.

Love and messy buns,
❤️
Cynthia McDonald
Helping women find creativity in the chaos — with stickers, stationery, and a little bit of fun