The Brighter Desk: Uncovering the story behind our wellbeing workshops
Updated: Aug 6
As children, we're encouraged to be creative. We paint, colour, build, draw and make things simply because we enjoy it. We don't worry about whether we're good enough or compare ourselves to anyone else. We create because it feels good. Then somewhere along the way, we stop. Life becomes busier. We grow up, build careers, raise families and spend our days rushing from one thing to the next. Creativity becomes something we admire in other people rather than something we allow ourselves to experience. We convince ourselves we're "not creative" because we haven't picked up a paintbrush since school or because we can't draw. But I don't believe creativity was ever about being artistic. I believe it's about giving ourselves permission to slow down, explore and simply enjoy the process.
I've always been someone who found joy in creating. Whether it was making something with my hands, cooking a meal from scratch or heading out for a walk in nature, those moments have always helped me feel grounded. They were the moments where my mind became quieter and I felt most like myself.
During my second pregnancy, I experienced perinatal depression. It was something I never expected. I'd had my own ups and downs with my mental health over the years, but for almost a decade I'd felt like I'd found a place of stability. Suddenly, I felt like I'd lost a part of myself. During that time, I found myself returning to the things I'd always loved. Not because I was trying to fix anything, but because they gave me moments of peace. Creating. Cooking. Walking in nature. Playing crafts with my daughter.
They became opportunities to step away from everything else, slow my thoughts and reconnect with myself, even if only for a little while. Looking back, I realise those small moments made a much bigger difference than I appreciated at the time.
As I slowly found my way back to myself, I couldn't help but notice the same feeling everywhere else. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working alongside some incredibly talented people. People full of ideas, passion and creativity. But I've also seen what happens when people are constantly running at full speed. The spark begins to fade. Energy is replaced by exhaustion, and people stop bringing the best version of themselves to work, not because they don't care, but because they're simply running on empty. I've also been the leader encouraging people to step away from their desk, go for a walk, grab a coffee or head home early because I could see they needed a break. Sometimes even an hour away from the screen can make all the difference. Yet those moments are often seen as a luxury, when really they should be recognised as an investment in people.
It made me question what workplace wellbeing really looks like. Time is one of our most valuable resources, so expecting people to give up even more of it in the name of wellbeing never felt right to me. Before-work yoga doesn't work if you're juggling the school run. Lunch-and-learn sessions take away the chance to properly switch off. After-work drinks can exclude parents, carers or anyone who simply wants to get home to their family. While these initiatives are often well-intentioned, they don't work for everyone.
I wanted to create something that was genuinely inclusive. Something that happened during the working day. Something that gave people permission to pause without feeling guilty. A chance to reset, recharge and reconnect, not just with themselves, but with the people they work alongside every day.
That's where The Brighter Desk began. The workshops aren't about creating perfect artwork, and they certainly aren't about being "good at art". They're about creating space. Space to switch off from emails, meetings and deadlines. Space to be present. Space to remember what it feels like to make something simply for the joy of it.
What I love most isn't what people create, it's what happens while they're creating. Managers and team members sit side byside. Conversations move away from projects and deadlines. People laugh, encourage one another and connect in ways they don't usually get the opportunity to during a busy working day. For a little while, job titles and hierarchy disappear, and people simply become people. That's the space I wanted to create.
The Brighter Desk exists because I believe every workplace should make room for those moments. Moments that remind us we're more than our inboxes, our deadlines and our job titles. Moments that bring back curiosity, conversation and creativity. I don't believe creativity is a luxury; I believe it's something we've forgotten to make time for. And when we're given the opportunity to slow down, reconnect and simply enjoy the process, we often leave feeling a little lighter than when we arrived.
Sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it inspires you to make a little more space for creativity, connection and slowing down, whether that's in your
workplace or in your own life.
Nic - Founder, The Brighter Desk
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