The Benefits of Creativity on Mental Health

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Published 24/04/2023

by Laura Clipson

When people talk about how to improve mental health, things like a healthy diet and regular exercise are commonly mentioned. While these things are important, they are not the only ways to improve our mental health. Engaging in creative activities on a regular basis can also help to improve mental health, brain function and our overall health and wellbeing, as well as being a lot of fun.

How can creativity improve mental health?

Getting involved in art programmes or classes with others can help create a sense of community and belonging, helping to fight feelings of isolation.

Engaging in arts can also help fight feelings of anxiety, depression and stress by increasing positive emotions. Many creative activities produce a result, which then floods your brain with dopamine, helping to motivate you to create more. Working on a creative project can also help slow your heart rate, helping you to relax.

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Creative engagement can help those with dementia, as activities such as painting and playing or listening to music can help to stimulate the brain. Painting allows people living with dementia to communicate non-verbally, helping to express themselves through something other than words. Music can have a powerful effect on those with dementia, as musical memories tend to be unaffected by the condition (read more about this in our article 'How music can trigger your memories')

Working on creative projects can help to focus the mind, calming the brain and body. Creativity can also help people to process trauma, helping them express their traumatic experiences and negative emotions with something other than words.

Activities such as playing an instrument can help with cognitive function, as it engages both sides of the brain, as well as your central nervous system. This is because most instruments require you to do something different with each hand, as well as paying attention to the music and what needs to come next. The best part is, you’re never too old to learn an instrument - the benefits apply regardless of your age.

These are just a few of the benefits of creativity for our mental health. Engaging in creative activities can also be good for our overall health, such as helping to improve our fine motor skills.

How can I be more creative?

There are many ways to be creative; you’re not limited to painting masterpieces, and you don’t have to think of yourself as a creative person to try some of them out. Below are some examples of creative pursuits to try:

- Drawing or painting
- Adult colouring
- Singing
- Playing music
- Dancing
- Writing, storytelling
- Gardening
- Photography
- Knitting/crochet
- Cooking/baking

The great thing is, you don’t have to be particularly good at any of these - that’s not the point. The point is to engage in something creative to help your mental health, and be proud of anything you produce. Try not to compare your results to other people’s - everyone is different, and has different skills. You may not be the next Van Gogh, but as long as you’re having fun and reaping the benefits of being creative, it doesn’t matter.

Thank you for reading.