
5 Hidden Health Benefits of Creativity
5 Hidden Health Benefits of Creativity
Did you know that being creative can have a huge effect on your overall health and wellbeing? Engaging in creative activities (no matter how childish) can help boost cognitive function, emotional well-being, relationships and physical health. Listed below are the 5 hidden health benefits of creativity.
1. Increases happiness and improve mental health
Today it is not uncommon for work to become the number one focus of our lives. With technology constantly whirling and our minds being constantly stimulated it can be difficult to switch off and focus on relaxing.
The easiest way to occupy yourself without stress is by being creative. You use parts of your brain that you aren’t used to using and completely shut out the outside world to immerse yourself in the enjoyment of creating. This immersion can have amazing benefits like lowered anxiety and stress levels, improved mood and even reduced heart rate.
Being creative can give you dopamine hits every time you do a task you love or produce a result you’re proud of. The more you experience this dopamine rise the more motivated and productive you will become.
2. Makes you smarter
Studies have found that people who play instruments have increased brain function. Playing music can improve memory and interhemispheric connectivity.
“Playing music works both sides of the brain, left for motor control and right for melody” explains music teacher Wendy Brentnall-Wood.
Creativity allows you to utilise both sides of your brain at once which improves cognitive performance.
3. Improve relationships
Creativity can be a wonderful mode of socialisation. Spending time creating with your loved ones can unlock the possibility for deep communication.
“Bringing creativity into your romantic, familial or platonic relationships can keep them exciting and create opportunities to strengthen bonds and recognise mutual interests” notes art therapy specialists from The College of Holistic Arts.
Creativity truly is the spice of life so keeping your relationships fresh by incorporating opportunities for creativity will make people love to hang out with you.
Using creative tools like journalising can also make you a better communicator. When people write their feelings down they can better evaluate them which makes it easier for them to share them. Studies have shown writing helps people to manage unpleasant emotions and painting or drawing helps people to communicate trauma.
4. Reconnect with your inner child
We all know that being creative is a huge part of childhood. Unfortunately, as we get older and have more responsibilities the ability to take time for relaxing creative experiences is diminished.
“Prioritising your inner child and letting nostalgia take over by doing simple activities like colouring, chalk art and painting can have an intensively therapeutic effect that improves other aspects of your life” shares Integrative Psychotherapist Natalie Wood.
5. Spice up your space
A health benefit of creativity that may not be as obvious is the effect it can have on your surroundings. When our home has a lack of visual stimulation or decor that we deem pleasing our mental health can take a hit.
“Colour, decor and artwork have all been extensively studied and are proven to have an effect on stress, anxiety, depression, happiness and even pain,” says the interior experts from Wake and Look.
Creating decor that is perfectly suited to our liking gives us the ability to decorate our homes in a cost-effective, deeply personal way that makes us happy and content. Bonus points if your guests compliment your work, who doesn’t love compliments?