Studies show being creative can reduce stress and help keep brain cells functioning at optimum levels. Read on to learn more about creativity and the brain and get inspired to weave more creative pursuits into your life.
You know those moments when you’re completely immersed in what you’re doing and time disappears? This is a state of flow, a term coined by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975. When you’re in flow, you’re fully present and focused on the task at hand.
Finding flow is great for your mental wellbeing. It gives your brain a break from overthinking and ruminating, which helps to ease stress and anxiety.
Any creative task which is challenging but doable can help you find flow. You want to choose a task that requires enough attention for you to stop worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Painting, writing, knitting, gardening, and DIY are all great places to start.
Since creativity is such a wonderful way to find flow, it often serves as a great circuit breaker for stress. When you feel busy or overwhelmed, engaging in a creative activity can actually give your mind a break.
Try this: Consider which creative activities you’d like to try next time you’re feeling stressed. You might like to write a list now, while you’re feeling calm, for you to refer to next time you’re under the pump.
Research suggests that spending time on activities that require you to think, learn, and undertake ongoing practice can help to create and strengthen neural pathways. Try to opt for creative pursuits that keep you mentally active and engaged over time. Staying mentally active animates neuron receptors that help keep brain cells functioning well.
Choosing slightly challenging creative pursuits also has the added benefit of triggering the brain’s dopamine/reward system. Dopamine is one of the feel-good brain chemicals associated with motivation, satisfaction, pleasure, and reward.
Other studies point to benefits of creativity such as a better ability to cope with stress, a sense of accomplishment, enhanced life satisfaction, increased confidence, and improved problem-solving abilities.
The science is sound – studies are firmly in favour of doing things every day to stay curious and creative. What will you create today?