Flow and Focus: A Simple Circle Drawing Exercise for Busy Moms

Try this circle drawing exercise to relax and unwind. A simple, mindful art activity perfect for moms seeking a bit of creative self-care.

Let’s face it – as a mom, finding a moment to yourself can feel like a luxury. But what if you could give yourself a short creative break that requires nothing fancy, just a few circles and some calm focus?

This exercise is not only simple and relaxing but also surprisingly satisfying. It’s all about filling a space with flowing lines that give your mind a moment of quiet and creativity.

Why This Exercise Is Perfect for Stressed-Out Moms

This type of drawing might seem simple, but it’s powerful in helping you let go of daily stress. Here’s why:

• Grounding Through Repetition: Repetitive actions like tracing lines allow your mind to settle. Each line guides your focus away from the “to-do’s” and the constant demands, grounding you in the present moment.
• Creating Calm in Small Moments: As moms, we don’t always have an hour to relax, but this exercise fits easily into small moments. You can start, pause, and return to it without losing the flow.
• A Non-Judgmental Space: This exercise doesn’t need any artistic skill. The wavy lines can be as messy or as neat as you want. Giving yourself permission to draw imperfectly helps release the pressure we often put on ourselves to “do it all” perfectly.

Have fun with this circle drawing exercise! Please let me know if you’ve tried it; I would love to see it.

You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown

Supplies used:

Bristol paper (BeCreativeShop), fineliner (Ohuhu), fineliner (Staedtler), alcohol markers (ohuhu), circular objects.

Alternative supply suggestions:

You don’t need to be an artist or have fancy tools. Just grab whatever you have—pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons or even a simple pencil.

How to Do This Simple Circle Exercise

Step 1 – Drawing your circles

Grab a small, circular object like a coin or bottle cap and place it in the middle of your page. Trace around it to create a small circle.

Next, find a larger circular object – maybe a small bowl or jar lid – and place it around your first circle. Trace it to create a larger ring surrounding the smaller circle.

Step 2 – Start drawing wavy lines

Here’s where you can get into a flow. Start from the inner circle and gently draw wavy lines outward toward the larger circle.

Don’t worry about making each line perfect. Let them be loose and organic. The idea is to create a sense of movement and texture within the space. You’ll start to see a kind of mesmerizing pattern form as you continue.

Step 3 – Adding shading for depth

To add a little more dimension, try shading along parts of the lines near the inner and outer edges.

This subtle shading brings a cool, almost hypnotic effect to the drawing, making it look more dynamic and textured.

Take a moment to step back and appreciate the simple beauty of what you’ve created. This isn’t about “getting it right” or creating a perfect design; it’s about allowing yourself to play, to flow, and to breathe.

How to Involve Your Kids (If You Want To!)

This is a great exercise to try with your kids if they’re interested. They can pick their own circles and create their own “flow fields” on the same page or their own pages.

This way, you’re not only getting a bit of creative self-care but also sharing a mindful activity that helps them focus and express themselves.