How a reformed Financial workaholic found flow state creativity at 60- and why it’s never too late to start
Flow state creativity. Two words that used to make me roll my eyes harder than my teenage granddaughter watching TikToks. At 60, after managing 18 companies and living in spreadsheet land for decades, I thought creativity was for “other people” – you know, the artsy types who wore flowing scarves and talked about their “muse.”
Boy, was I wrong.
If you’re reading this thinking creativity passed you by, or that flow state is some mystical concept reserved for yoga instructors and painters, let me tell you something: I used to draw stick figures that looked like they’d been in car accidents. Now I’m discovering creative flow that’s changing everything about how I experience life after 60.
The Moment Everything Shifted
Last October, when my husband Curtis had his near-death experience, my carefully controlled world crumbled. Between hospital waiting rooms and sleepless nights, I found myself doing something I hadn’t done since high school:Â doodling in the margins of my meeting notes.
Those little drawings became my lifeline. In the chaos of medical crises and business demands, I’d discovered flow without even knowing it had a name.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (yes, I learned to pronounce it too) calls this that magical space where time dissolves and creativity flows like honey. That’s exactly what was happening in those quiet moments with my pen moving across paper – I was experiencing true flow state for the first time in decades.
“Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
Breaking Free From the Productivity Prison
Here’s the thing about us women over 50: we were raised in the era of “busy equals worthy.” I measured my value in completed tasks, quarterly reports, and back-to-back meetings. Flow state creativity? That felt like an indulgence I couldn’t afford.
But here’s what I’ve learned: flow state creativity isn’t another item for your to-do list. It’s the antidote to our productivity-obsessed culture.
The Science Behind Flow
Research shows that people over 50 who regularly engage in a flow state experience:
- Reduced stress levels (goodbye, 3 AM worry sessions)
- Improved cognitive function (your brain stays sharper longer)
- Greater sense of purpose (beyond just checking boxes)
- Enhanced overall well-being (yes, even better than that expensive face cream)
Flow state creativity occurs when we’re so deeply engaged in an activity that everything else disappears. It’s that sweet spot where challenge meets skill, where time becomes fluid, and where we feel most alive.
Your Permission Slip to Creative Flow
If you’re waiting for perfect conditions to explore flow state, stop right there. I started with hospital waiting room doodles. You can start wherever you are.
“The moment you accept yourself as you are, all burdens, all mountainous burdens, simply disappear.” – Wayne Dyer
Finding Your Flow State Creativity After 60
1. Start Where You Are (Stick Figures Welcome)
Don’t wait for artistic mastery or the perfect supplies. That inner critic telling you it’s too late? Thank her for her concern and create anyway. Flow state creativity begins with permission, not perfection.
2. Create Sacred Creative Space
I carved out a painting corner by my window – nothing fancy, just a small table and good light. Flow state creativityneeds a home, even if it’s just a corner of your kitchen table.
3. Embrace the Beautiful Mess
My best pieces emerged from “mistakes.” Flow thrives on experimentation, not perfection. Remember, we’re aiming for flow, not museum-worthy masterpieces.
4. Schedule Flow Dates
I treat flow state creativity time like any important meeting. Sometimes it’s 30 minutes before work, sometimes a luxurious Sunday afternoon. The key is consistency, not duration.
“The creative adult is the child who survived.” – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Ripple Effect of Creative Flow
What surprised me most was how flow state creativity transformed everything else. My work decisions became more intuitive. My relationships deepened as I learned presence. Even my sleep improved.
Flow state creativity isn’t contained – it spills over into every area of life, making us more flexible, more present, more alive.
Beyond Art: Where Flow State Creativity Lives
Think flow state creativity is just for painters? Think again. It could be:
- Gardening (getting lost in soil and seedlings)
- Cooking (experimenting with flavors and techniques)
- Writing (letting thoughts flow onto paper)
- Rearranging spaces (creating beauty in your environment)
- Learning new skills (that guitar gathering dust, perhaps?)
The medium doesn’t matter. Flow state creativity is about full absorption in whatever lights you up.
My Creative Breakthrough Moment
When my chiropractor Dr. Molly suggested I try “chaotic painting,” I laughed. Me? Paint? But I’d just seen a video on Dutch Pour painting and thought, “How cool!”
Emboldened by her suggestion, I ordered supplies from Amazon with zero expectations. What happened next changed everything about how I see flow state creativity – and myself.
Those flowing paints, the unpredictable patterns, the complete surrender to the process – this was flow state creativityin its purest form. No rules, no right or wrong, just pure creative flow.
Your Flow State Creativity Journey Starts Now
Ready to discover your own flow state creativity? Here’s your starter kit:
This Week:
- Identify one activity that naturally absorbs your attention
- Set aside 20 minutes of uninterrupted time
- Remove distractions (yes, silence that phone)
- Give yourself permission to be terrible at it
This Month:
- Create a dedicated creative space
- Schedule regular “flow dates” with yourself
- Focus on process, not outcome
- Document what brings you into flow
This Year:
- Explore different forms of flow state creativity
- Share your creative journey with others
- Notice how creativity impacts other life areas
- Celebrate progress over perfection
The Unexpected Gift of Starting at 60
At 60, I’m discovering that flow state creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s essential for vibrant aging. It’s about finding that perfect balance between challenge and skill, between doing and being, between structure and spontaneity.
The whole world of what I don’t know keeps expanding. And that’s exactly what makes flow state creativity so exciting at this stage of life.
We have the wisdom to appreciate the process. We have the freedom to experiment without career pressure. We have the perspective to know that creativity is about joy, not judgment.
Your Creative Renaissance Awaits
If you’re thinking, “But I’m not creative,” stop right there. That’s exactly what I thought too. Flow state creativity isn’t about being the next Picasso – it’s about finding that magical space where you lose track of time because you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing.
Maybe it’s finally trying watercolors, writing that memoir, learning pottery, or creating the garden of your dreams. The medium doesn’t matter; the magic is in the flow state creativity itself.
Your creative renaissance is waiting. Not tomorrow, not when you have more time, not when you’re “better” at something. Right now, with whatever calls to your creative spirit.
Don’t bounce too high, as they say… but do bounce enough to catch that creative wave. Your flow state creativity is waiting for you to show up.
Have you discovered your own flow state creativity after 50? Share your creative awakening story in the comments – let’s inspire each other to keep creating!