January is International Creativity Month, so it’s time to get creative! Did you know that exploring creativity can be a powerful booster for your mental health? Whether it’s painting, cooking, writing or dancing, creative expression helps us to shift our focus away from stress and toward positivity. These activities let us tap into a “flow” state: an immersive, focused experience that increases happiness, reduces anxiety and improves our overall well-being.
Creative pursuits are also an excellent way to process emotions, giving us the mental space to work through complex feelings, gain perspective and cultivate emotional resilience going forward. If this sounds like what you need, or if you’re looking to generally open up your mind through creativity, there are many places to start, each bringing different benefits.
Singing, playing or curating music has been shown to increase levels of oxytocin, the hormone that creates that warm, happy feeling when we receive a cuddle. Dancing improves physical health while reducing anxiety and is scientifically proven to reduce the risk of dementia. Painting, drawing and generally exploring visual art has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression. Writing, journaling and storytelling help with personal expression, boosting your imagination and improving problem-solving abilities.
Just because you’re not necessarily a seasoned “artist,” “musician,” “writer” or anything else, bringing creativity into your daily life doesn’t have to be daunting. Anyone can partake in small, enjoyable activities such as drawing, journaling, cooking a new recipe or singing along with your favorite songs. So get creating this month!