Creative inspiration can help you to be happier, smarter and more emotionally aware. Amy Stanton-Minutes writes about how you can build your creativity and use it to change the way you see the world.
She has four ways that can help you have a happier and healthier life through a little creative inspiration.
- MORNING PAGES
An exercise in free writing your thoughts first thing in the morning. No editing what you have written or criticising it. Much like writing a journal the creativity of capturing your thoughts no matter where they ramble, also helps with clearing the sub-conscience. - PERSONAL PROJECTS
Design a business card or a T-Shirt, take photo’s make a music playlist, knit sweater it doesn’t matter what your project as long as you feel you are creating and putting some original thought into it. - SING, DANCE & PLAY
Dancing, singing and other kinds of play help release inhibitions and provide a level of relaxation, for other people they find the same relaxation playing a musical instrument golfing or surfing. - DAILY SKETCHING
Illustration seems to come more naturally to some more than others but we all have a doodler in us somewhere. Daily sketching much like morning pages is a routine of sketching and drawing with out judgement – letting go and allowing yourself to create.
Ashley Stahl writes creativity actually goes beyond inspiration and can actually improve your overall health. The simple routines of colouring in one of those adult colouring-in books can improve your brain function, mental and physical health.
FLOW
Flow is the state that you get into when you are fully absorbed by what you are working on it reduces anxiety, boosts moods and slows your heart rate. When you are deep in Flow time, food, ego and other thoughts are ignored.“being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.“
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
When you succeed at creating a result, your brain is flooded with dopamine, which makes you feel good and continues to motivate you.
REDUCES DEMENTIA
Creativity is regularly used to help treat patients with dementia, it helps with depression and dealing with isolation. Creativity connects individuals with their personality and helps to sharpen the senses.
IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH
Creativity helps to focus the mind it has been compared to mindfulness or meditation as both provide calming effects on the brain and body.
BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Studies have shown that people who regularly write about their experiences do actually have stronger immune system function, apparently even listening to music can help rejuvenate your immune system.
CONNECTS THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAINS
Juggling, playing an instrument and drawing can all help with improving brain function but when both the left and right brains are engaged you are building better connectivity between the two hemispheres and that helps your cognitive function.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Being creative doesn’t require you to be a brilliant writer, artist or musician, it requires you to enjoy and practice regularly
- The act of being creative is good for your health and can also motive you to achieve more.
Synopsis of an article from Fast Company 4 things you can do to be happier, smarter, and more emotionally aware by Amy Stanton-Minutes Published: 1st November 2020 https://www.fastcompany.com/90570556/4-things-you-can-do-to-be-happier-smarter-and-more-emotionally-aware? also from Forbes Here's How Creativity Actually Improves Your Health by Ashley Stahl Published: 25th July 2018 https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2018/07/25/heres-how-creativity-actually-improves-your-health/?sh=4d081f5513a6