Everyone should have at least one creative outlet in their lives because the benefits of having one for your mental health are profound. It can be a way to express yourself, reduce stress and anxiety, and can just be a fun and positive hobby to enrich your life. This article will share some ideas with you on how you can try to tap into your creative self and start feeling happier and more fulfilled.
Photo, Rifqi Ali Ridho.
Visual Arts: When it comes to discussing creativity, art, and its many forms, often comes up first. This is because there are multiple ways to create visual art, so there is something for everyone. Some people just like to have a pencil and paper and draw out a sketch whenever they please, whereas others love the vibrant colours and complexity that comes with painting and sculpting, or they like taking snapshots of life via photography.
Nowadays, digital art is also extremely popular because technology allows you to control your strokes and colour palette. Of course, having a background in traditional art techniques will be incredibly beneficial if you’re planning to have a career in digital art someday, but if you’re just looking to have some fun, this can be a viable option.
Visual art can be an amazing and powerful tool for people to improve themselves, hence why art therapy is very popular for people who are dealing with ordinary stress to those who have Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and other serious disorders. In addition to art therapy, there are also different types of therapies that are highly recommended if you are struggling with any chronic mental health issue, and you can learn more here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/are-there-different-kinds-of-cognitive-therapies/
Performing Arts: Alongside visual art, the performing arts are incredibly popular because just about everyone loves listening to and enjoying it. Performing arts include activities such as music, dance, and theatre. Learning how to play and express themselves is just another extension of this, and it can be very satisfying to do so. Dancing can be another way to do this and it can be an alternative if you’re not particularly interested in playing an instrument.
Nonetheless, there are many ways that you can take part in this activity, since there are countless instruments that you can pick up and start learning, like guitar, piano, and drums, to name a few popular choices, and there are different styles of dance you can learn, and this just requires your body. It can take some time to get to the point of being able to freely express yourself through these avenues, but once you develop a solid technique to do so, it will be very rewarding and you’ll be glad you took the time to learn it.
Photo, Gift Habeshaw.
Writing: Like the previous two art forms, writing has been an art since the beginning of civilisation; it’s been used as a way to tell stories and many have been embellished takes on actual history. Words can be used to paint pictures in a person’s mind if done effectively, and creative writing can be fictional and non-fictional, where you can draw inspiration from anywhere.
There are different modalities in which you can practice it. For instance, you can write short or long novels, poems, lyrics, screenplays and scripts, and much more. A lot of people have a story to be told inside of them, and they can tell it literally, or they can create characters, metaphors, or other forms of symbolism to do it for them. Either way, all you need is a blank piece of paper, and you can let your thoughts and ideas flow through.
Conclusion: These three general creative activity categories can hopefully give you some ideas on what you can pursue so that you find a way to express yourself emotionally. By being able to do so, you can feel more liberated from the stressors in your life, and perhaps you will discover a lifelong passion in the process.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
