The Mental Health Benefits of Creativity

Qualities associated with creativity, including awareness, curiosity, engagement, focus, presence and self-expression, all contribute to overall life satisfaction. Being creative involves an openess to change and willingness to risk failure. It can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, increase positive emotions and lessen anger and shame, improve immune system functioning and relieve stress. Creative activities also provide a sense of control, purpose and accomplishment; and art therapy has been used as a treatment for addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, phobias and Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rather than being goal oriented, creativity causes an individual to be present in the moment. Creativity requires concentration, does not allow multitasking and is a process rather than a result. It blocks external stimuli and provides the same calm and peace that result from meditation, mindfulness and yoga. Ways to be creative vary from painting to singing and playing or listening to music, dancing, writing, cooking and even gardening.

Think about something you genuinely enjoy doing. Actions as simple as noticing how blue the sky is, the smell of coffee or the softness of your pet’s fur are creative practices. Photograph the view out of the same window for a week. Find and listen to three different versions of the same song. Let your mind wander. Take yourself on a weekly “Artist Date” to do something fun and frivolous, browsing at a bookstore; seeing a movie in the theater; trying a new bakery, cafe or coffee shop; or visiting animals at a pet store, etc. Draw your stress through literal or abstract representations. Leave your phone at home and go on a 20 minute walk by yourself, looking for all of the colors of the rainbow in nature. Buy a “Paint by Sticker” or “Sticker by Number” book. Start a dream journal by keeping a notebook and pen beside your bed and writing the first words and sketching the first images, and symbols that come to mind when you wake up.

Creativity does not require talent. It can help you express emotions that may be difficult to put into words and communicate, process and release your feelings, improving your overall mental health.