We all instinctively know that being creative is good for us in the moment - it calms us down, it makes us feel good. But now the cold, hard evidence is in! Creativity is really good for our health and for our brains in the long term too. In this episode Tricia finds out what’s really going on up there when we create, and why creating might just be the most important thing you could do for your health.

Mentioned in this episode:

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transforms Us by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen 

Series 3 Episode 3 of In Ten Years Time about the importance of sleep

Three studies about the importance of daydreaming and distraction: New York Times, Psychological Science Journal, Psi Rep

Growth Mindset Article, Harvard Business School

Mindset, Book by Carol Dweck

We need your art, Book by Amie McNee

Secrets of the Superagers, TV show

Tricia’s creativity finder

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Happy new year! Are you looking to live a more creative life in 2026? Tricia is back with a new series of the show to inspire you, and this time science meets art. In Series 6 Tricia goes deep on what is happening in our brains when we engage in our art or craft, about how we might be able to use our creativity to improve our health and what neurological differences mean for our creativity.

The first episode, landing in your feeds on 15th January! Subscribe now.

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What happens when a terminal diagnosis means you might not have ten years? In the final episode of this series Tricia interviews academic, researcher, singer and most importantly, close friend, Dr Angela Chan. After being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in early 2025, Angela faced the question most of us hope never to confront: what do I do with less than a year left on this planet? In this moving and unmissable episode Tricia and Angela talk about overcoming your fears, the evolution of a creative practice and the healing potential of creativity. What could you achieve in ten months, ten days, or even ten minutes?

Mentioned in this episode

Series 3, episode 5  of ITYT where Tricia discusses writing her River Stories

Trust the process: an artist’s guide to letting go by Shaun McNiff (Book)

On Not Being Able To Paint by Marion Miller (Book)

Angela Chan’s art website

Angela’s Breathe Blog: A blog for people living with secondary cancer

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The Wizard of Oz is, obviously, a fantastic film and a compelling story. But what can we learn from it? In this episode Tricia introduces us to The Hero’s Journey, which sets out the twelve phases of any creative quest: from the ordinary world to great rewards, all via the spooky sounding ‘innermost cave.’ Have you received your call to adventure yet? 

Follow me on Instagram @intenyearstimeofficial

Mentioned in this episode

The hero with a thousand faces by Joseph Campbell (Book)

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler (Book)

Combining Crafts, Skills and Medium - Series 3, episode 5 of In Ten Years Time (Podcast episode)

Every person has a unique brain anatomy (Scientific research, University of Zurich)

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Does talking about money and creativity make you feel a bit…icky? But how can we expect to live a creative life if we can’t make a living from it? In this episode Tricia asks whether we should expect to be paid from our work, and if so, how much?

Mentioned in this episode

Gillian Welch’s Everything is Free Now (Song)

Inquiry on primary-aged financial education (Parliamentary Report, 2021)

Deepak Chopra’s 21 Days of Abundance Meditation Series (Podcast Series)

How to price your art by Art Connect Magazine (Article)

National Association for the Visual Arts Policy

Why creatives deserve to be paid by Eric Thomas (Post and cartoon)

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If you find yourself lacking time or motivation for your creative practice, just thinking about the compounding effect of a tiny investment can sometimes be just what we need to get going and keep going. This week Tricia explores how this approach can get you through the ‘difficult middle’ and before long you'll be looking back, amazed about how much you and your creative practice have grown. 

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Mentioned in this episode

Mastery by Robert Greene (Book)

How musical training affects cognitive development by Ewa A Miendlarzewska & Wiebke J Trost (Academic Study)

The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton (Book)

Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting by Mary Gauthier (Book)

Your Brain on Art: How the arts transform us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross (Book)

Attend one of the London Writers’ Salon online writing hours

Tricia’s Rejection Tracker https://www.intenyearstime.com/free-resources

A picture of my whiteboard https://www.instagram.com/reel/DODqBGxDMKz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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There’s an inevitable moment in any creative’s journey where the juices stop flowing and we reach a state of inertia. Maybe you’ve noticed it, or maybe – even more dangerously – you haven’t! Either way, acting before we hit rock bottom is critical. Tricia explores how to avoid inertia creeping into our craft and how we can empower ourselves to make a change to embrace more creativity without completely upturning our lives.

How can you continue to surprise and delight your creative self?

Follow me on Instagram @intenyearstimeofficial

Mentioned in this episode:

One of the biggest mistakes today is confusing inertia with loyalty by Colin Shaw (Article)

How to overcome the everyday battle against inertia by Bertrand Wong (Article)

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (Book)

How monitoring your mood can help your mental health (Blog by Calm)

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (Book)

Support me with a donation https://www.intenyearstime.com/donate

Emotions Tracker Template https://www.intenyearstime.com/_files/ugd/90f963_dd0ff6dfb12c48d387c8ae5c014713cf.pdf

If you require mental health support please contact Samaritans on 116 123

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Summer is over and Tricia is back with a fifth series of the In Ten Years Time podcast all about maintaining your creativity. It's not unusual to set out on your creative journey and find that sustaining the momentum is actually pretty hard. Some people wonder why they don't feel happy all the time, and others get disappointed if they don't hit the big time straight away. What if neither of these mindsets is quite right? Tricia is here to guide you towards finding new inspiration, help you build good habits and identify the non-negotiable 'why' that will feed your creative engines with the fire you need to keep going, even when times are tough.

Follow me on Instagram @intenyearstimeofficial

Mentioned in this episode:

The Success Myth by Emma Gannon (Book)

Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday (Book)

​Mindset by Carol Dweck(Book)

The Grief Cure: Looking for the end of loss by Cody Delistraty (Book)

Interview with Patti Smith (Dazed Digital Magazine)

Drawing on the right side of the brain by Betty Edwards (Book and Website)

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger (Book)

Support me with a donation https://www.intenyearstime.com/donate

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In the final episode of the series Tricia speaks to calligrapher, artist, creative coach and community builder Laura Edralin. Growing up in an artistic household Laura has always had creativity in the blood, but it wasn’t until later in life and leaving a well-established career that she discovered calligraphy. First as a form of recovery and healing, and second as a passion that grew into a business, Laura tells Tricia about how her love of letters has transformed her life and many others. What can we gain from slowing down? From trying something new with others? From vulnerability?

Mentioned in this episode:

Follow Laura on Instagram on @lauraletterslife and her podcast @thelifeofletters

Check out Alphabetical by Michael Rosen

Wintering by Katherine May

You’re Dead to Me podcast

Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed

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