This post is in partnership with Werther’s Original and their newest flavor – Werther’s Original Cocoa Crème Soft Caramels.
Some time ago I heard a musician say in an interview that, for songwriting, the quicker an idea emerges the more likely it is to become a hit. In other words, a song written in twenty minutes often has more spark than one forced out after ten hours in the studio.
That idea stayed with me. Those effortless moments—the things that pour out of you without struggle—are worth holding onto, especially when life feels anything but easy.
A few months later I hit a difficult stretch. It began with a lot of hard things happening with Luna (I’ll share more of the story soon), then came unavoidable work trips, and projects kept piling up while I tried to keep everything together and act like things were fine. Burnout crept in.
Not only was I exhausted, I felt creatively stuck. After a couple of panic moments, I remembered that interview and decided to change my approach.
I needed to make space for creativity to return—to invite those easy, natural ideas instead of beating myself up trying to force them. Even though I didn’t have much free time, I committed to making it happen.
So I went back into the studio, cleared the largest table, gathered a few craft supplies, grabbed something sweet (Werther’s Original Cocoa Crème Soft Caramels), and set aside an entire afternoon just to play. I added flowers because, like caramel, flowers make things better.
I went in with no expectations—the point was to get out of my head for a bit and put the to-do list on hold. To my surprise, it worked. I didn’t emerge with a chart-topping song or a viral DIY project, but I did get enough distance to find my footing again. That afternoon of play was worth it.
After a few more days of catching up, my work routine felt familiar again. I completed a couple of small blog projects that surprisingly grew out of that playful afternoon—balloon-dipped Easter eggs and bath-salt Easter egg bombs were two results of experimenting with materials and ideas. I also arranged flowers just for fun and, yes, indulged in more caramels than I should admit.
Okay, I’m partly joking—but I did go through a whole bag that day. In my defense, the new Werther’s Original Cocoa Crème Soft Caramels blend caramel and chocolate in a way that’s really satisfying. They’re rich, smooth, and easy to enjoy—so it was hard to stop at one.
In the end, I’m grateful I carved out that time during a week that was already full. It let me regroup, recharge, and return to my tasks with more clarity.
Have you ever done something similar during a stressful week or month? If not, I encourage you to try setting aside a small block of time to play without expectations—you might be surprised how much it helps. Let me know how it goes.
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This post is in partnership with Werther’s Original. Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep Paper & Stitch running.