A dull brain is the birthplace of negativity, it destroys your mental health beyond repair. It is important to keep the brain active so that it stays healthy. The best way to train the brain to be happy is to engage it in creative activities. The more a brain is involved in such activities the more it is able to keep itself healthier. It is commonly seen that people who are creative are more happier than others due to the fact that they possess a healthy and active brain.
Creativity is the brain’s ability to go out of the box to do certain things, be it solving problems or just having a fun session. Mental health and creativity are closely linked, a creative brain is the one which finds ways to do the same task but differently. Creativity is the distinguishing character of anyone’s personality and it promotes logical thinking and reasoning.
How Does Creativity Improve Mental Health?
Mental health is not one dimensional, it includes the emotional, psychological and social well being as well. It plays a crucial role in shaping one’s thought process, emotional responses and actions. Our stress management, relationships and decision making capabilities all are dependent on sound mental health.
One who is active and readily engages in creative activities will definitely have a sound mental health. Creativity is one of the most potent factors that is capable of promoting psychological well being. It is evident from research that creativity and mental health have a positive association. Engaging in creative activities can provide an outlet for the emotional regulation and expression which enables people to effectively manage their mental health. Apart from this cognitive abilities are also improved as creativity promotes flexible thinking and problem solving. To overcome negativity and develop a positive mindset, check out our guide on how to stop negative thoughts easily and build a positive mindset.
What Is The Connection Between Creativity And Mental Health?
There is a positive connection between mental health and creativity. They both go hand in hand with each other.
How Creativity Impacts the Brain
The ability to create products that are original and adaptive is what we call creativity. With creativity comes the originality that the brain creates things that are completely unique. This originality is not enough, one should be able to create an output or process that is applicable to the problem being exposed to. Brain considers and treats it like a challenge and overcoming it provides the brain a happy feeling boosting the mental health in return.
The Science Behind Creativity And Emotional Well-Being
As creativity and the brain are linked to each other it is quite simple to understand the science behind the process. It involves an intricate interplay of neurological, psychological and emotional factors that when combined together give birth to creativity. Ultimately which makes creativity a tool that helps maintain and improve mental well being.
Engaging in creative activities stimulates the parts of brains involved in emotional regulation, problem solving and decision making.Research has shown that art, which is a form of creativity reduces the activity in amygdala, the brain’s fear centre. Therefore it helps in stress and anxiety reduction. Creativity also improves mindfulness and at the end promotes a sense of accomplishment. All these factors make creativity benefits immense. Learn how to grow from setbacks and achieve your goals with our guide on turning failure into success with simple steps.
How To Boost Creativity
There are several ways that can help you boost your creativity so that you can effectively enhance your mental well being as well
Draw Or Paint.
Drawing and painting, the most common forms of self expression, are very beneficial in terms of boosting creativity. Art and mental health are linked to each other. One of the most creative forms of drawing is abstract art. It helps you explore literally anything through art and you get to know yourself more efficiently. Similarly painting equips you with tools to fill things in different possible ways benefiting you in your creative endeavors.
Sing Or Play Music
Singing and playing music are also among the ways that can help you boost your creativity. Apart from your mind, singing improves your vocal capabilities as well. Learning to sing is also an art and requires creativity to play with sounds. Playing music is also the same: it demands your cognitive abilities to be strong to learn and play music.
Dance Or Move Your Body
Dancing or moving your body requires the same effort that goes in other creative activities. The purpose is to engage in activities that support mental abilities. Dancing is a complex process and demands a mind and body coordination. So it helps you to enhance your creative thinking.
Write Or Tell Stories
Storytelling and writing is a highly creative skill. It involves your emotional, cognitive and social skills as well. You design a story yourself, it promotes your mental capabilities and helps you explore the deeper areas of your mind. It boosts your creativity efficiently and also helps you shape your personality.
Spend Time In Nature
Spending time in nature helps you to relax. The mind when relaxed can focus on the things more effectively. You create new ideas in your mind and it gets easier to turn them into reality. The serenity of nature boosts your mind and body and in return your productivity is also increased.
Ways Creativity Boosts Your Mental And Physical Health
Creativity due to its various benefits helps to improve the mental and physical health in t individuals who practice it.
Sharpens Your Mind
Creativity is actually what sharpness is, one who is sharp is more likely to be creative as well. When you engage in activities that want you to stay out of your comfort zone and try something new, they sharpen your mind. You are exposed to something you are not really used to. So a new experience is what it creates and your brain acts accordingly that helps sharpen it.
Improves Your Mood
Creative activities are great mood boosting activities. Engaging in them is itself a mood lifter and after completing the activity it provides a sense of accomplishment as well. So it ultimately boosts your mind and body, you get happier and enjoy your time spent in the activity. Discover 12 simple ways to relieve stress and improve your well-being to feel more relaxed and balanced every day.
Relieves Anxiety And Stress
One of the most potent effects of creative activities is that they can also be used as a way of escaping from the worries of life. Whenever you feel low, try to engage yourself in any activity that uses your mind and body. It will help to divert your mind and focus on the present which will reduce your anxiety and stress levels.
Combats Depression
One way mental and creativity are linked is through the coping mechanism it helps to trigger. If you feel depressed, start any creative activity of your liking. Don’t hesitate to try new activities as well because you never know what might suit you. Keep exploring and see your depression fade away in front of you. Being creative in life automatically repels depression.
Helps You Get Active
You get active as you keep yourself engaged in multiple creative activities. These activities are by nature such that they demand focus and determination. Like when you are sketching a portrait you need to be active or else you might ruin your sketch. Once you get going there is no stopping, you enjoy your time and wait until you can repeat it.
Boosts Your Immune System
Immune system is a part of a healthy body and a body is healthy when the mind is healthy. As these creative activities boosts your mind and body, they also strengthen your immune system as well. Like they promote wellness in you and you become strong to fight the challenges that come your way. A positive mind promotes a positive body in the form of a healthy immune system.
Boosting Self-Esteem And Confidence
When you are creative you get confident as well. It is because you have a first hand experience of how to solve different problems and emerge victorious in them. You know how to lead from the front. You are your own superhero and it gives you a lot of confidence. Your self esteem is boosted and your outlook on life changes.
Enhancing Emotional Expression And Healing
Creativity is a form of emotional expression so it helps you to have a control on your emotions. You can easily get through different situations because you think unconventionally. It has a positive effect on your healing capabilities as well. Not only you get emotionally intelligent you get vigilant as well.
How To Incorporate Creativity Into Your Daily Life
The key to developing a creative mind is that you efficiently incorporate it in your daily life. Mental health and creativity as they are so close should be combined in a way you can benefit from it.
Simple Creative Exercises To Try At Home
You can start with simple and easy to do activities and exercises in your home. Because your home is where you spend your majority of time, incorporate creative activities like drawing, singing, music playing and writing in your daily life. These are the easiest ones to get along with and require minimum effort as well.
Setting Aside Time For Creative Practices
There might be some activities that require more dedication than the others. These are more potent in nature and their effect is more pronounced as well. In such cases you need to specify time for the activity even if you have a busy schedule. Only this way you will be able to achieve consistency.
Finding Inspiration And Motivation For Creativity
Even though mental health and creativity go hand in hand and you do understand their importance. You still might need to have some motivation to drive yourself to get yourself engaged in creative activities. Find inspiration in the activity itself, the aim of this activity or from other people.
The Role Of Creativity In Long-Term Mental Wellness
Mental health and creativity being closely related play a role in long term wellness.
Building Resilience Through Creative Practices
Through creative practices you get to know the highs and lows of your mind and body. It then helps you in being resilient in your life. You can easily tackle the difficult scenarios and stand firm when the need arises.
Creativity As A Preventative Measure For Mental Health Issues
Creativity promotes your mental as well as your physical health. It lowers your stress levels and keeps away the mental health issues. It makes your mind stronger and equips you with tools to approach life with a new face.
Conclusion
Mental health and creativity being closely related share a positive association. A creative mind is the one which readily adapts to the situation and devises ways to overcome challenges. Creativity lowers the stress and anxiety levels in your body. It effectively involves your emotional, psychological and social skills. Cognition and problem solving skills are enhanced through creative expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
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