Creativity & Wellbeing

We would all agree that leisure time is really good for us, but how good are we at using this time to benefit our sense of wellbeing by being more creative?

It might sound like an obvious thing to say but some of the biggest benefits to our wellbeing come from doing activities that we love. When we take part in creative activity, this can be as important for our sense of wellbeing as diet and exercise.

Research has shown that it can delay cognitive decline, reduce stress and negative emotions, and also boost the immune system. It is also believed that the positives of engaging in creative activity have a lasting and cumulative effect on us.

Doing something creative over a regular period of time is also proven to be as important to our overall wellbeing as both diet and exercise.

Researchers have identified three keys ways in which creativity can benefit our sense of wellbeing:

  1. As a distraction to help us to avoid stress.
  2. As a way of aiding contemplation, which helps us to create the mental space to reassess problems and develop plans.
  3. A way of building self-esteem and confidence.

Creative activities, regardless of the level of skill, have been found to have a really positive impact on emotions and wellbeing. Face to face activities, such as choir singing, are believed to be the most effective but even isolated creative activities can lead to a positive impact.

There has been a lot of research done that shows that there are wide ranging benefits to our wellbeing from participating in creativity. Examples would include evidence that doodling improves concentration and that embroidery trains the brain to think in a more logical patterns. Individuals who engage in more creative activities on any given day are also more likely to report a positive sense of emotion the next day.

Where participation is through a community arts programme, there are also positive effects on loneliness, social isolation and depression. There are many examples of organisations that have developed creative arts programmes. Examples of these programmes include supporting individuals with mental health issues through to focusing on people suffering with dementia. All boast very positive feedback with very high numbers of repeat attendance over a number of months, with many participants saying that they feel much more positive as a result of their involvement.

This is particularly relevant at the present time, whilst we are all living with the effects of a global pandemic. In recent weeks, there have also been many great examples of community art projects being started to help people to not only feel part of their communities but also to celebrate and support others, such as our NHS and other key workers. It really is community cohesion at its best!

It doesn’t just have to be a big creative project either, we can also benefit from smaller acts that can be introduced into our everyday lives such as flower arranging, cooking a new recipe or decorating cup cakes with your children.

Many of us do often feel guilty about taking time for ourselves however, the good news is that when we do engage with being creative, it really does have such a positive effect on our sense of wellbeing. Allowing ourselves to be creative promotes better self-care which is also very important given our over stretched healthcare services. So take some time to relax, learn a new creative skill and allow your mind some time to wander away from the pressures of everyday living!