The benefits of creativity and how to be more creative
This is a collaborative post
We all know those people who just seem to be naturally creative. We look at them and wonder why we can’t be more like that. But what is creativity and how does being creative benefit us? Whether it’s being able to draw, paint, write or play an instrument, there are different types of creativity.
There is a popular theory that posits that it is in fact the ability to think creatively that separates the human race from every other species. Wouldn’t it be great if this is true?
Over time, we’ve come to twist the meaning of creativity and bind it up with the idea of talent. You can pick up a paintbrush and do something creative. Will your painting be considered good? That’s a different thing entirely. Just because you’re not considered a good painter doesn’t mean you aren’t creative, and you will still get the mental and physical benefits that creativity brings. By separating these two things in your mind, you open yourself up to the possibility of being more creative without expectation.
So what are the benefits of being creative and how can we ignite creativity within us on a regular basis?
Creative people are happier
Concentrating totally on something you enjoy is almost a kind of meditation. It takes your mind off the stresses of everyday life and lets you focus on doing what’s in front of you. This in turn reduces stress and anxiety levels lowers blood pressure and heart rate. This is similar to how meditation works, where the goal is to clear your mind and allow it to reset.
Being happy floods your body with dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical, which is why creative people keep creating throughout their lives. It’s almost like a high for them.
There’s something extremely satisfying about learning to play an instrument or to be able to buy a frame and picture mounts to display your artwork around your house. Creating something of your own is intensely fulfilling and something that everyone should try.
Creativity helps reduce signs of dementia
Adults with dementia are encouraged to pursue creative projects. It has been found to reduce depression and help reconnect with their own personalities during what is an understandably difficult time.
Creative people have improved mental health
The meditative effects of creativity can reduce stress and produce depression-fighting chemicals in the brain. Writing and drawing have also been used to help people deal with intense trauma that they may not be able to talk about. Instead, they express themselves through these mediums in order to externalise their trauma and begin to deal with it.
Creativity strengthens your immune system
The act of being creative, especially writing and playing/listening to music, can increase the strength of your immune system, which is vital for living a long and healthy life. As it reduces stress, this is a major factor in an overall healthy and robust immune response.
Musically creative people are smarter
If you play a musical instrument, it’s a great workout for your brain. The very act of playing builds thousands of connections between the different hemispheres of your brain. The left hemisphere controls your motor functions and the actual playing of the instrument. The right hemisphere is concentrating on the melody and keeping you in time and tune. Quite a double act.
The more connections between the two sides of your brain, the more your cognitive power improves, helping you to think faster and more efficiently. Another advantage is that musicians often recover faster from strokes because there are more connections to be able to take over from the damaged areas. This is similar to left-handers. Because the world is built for right-handed people, left-handers often have to use their right hand, creating these connections.
Creative people are problem solvers
Creative people are better able to think quickly and laterally. The world isn’t always a logical place and you might need to solve problems quickly. There’s no downside to be able to think on your feet in life and come up with solutions to problems.
Creative people save money
Being able to get a true sense of happiness and fulfilment from creative projects is great for dealing with impulse control which means less impulsive buying and money saved.
Without even realising it, being creative is teaching you to get happiness and self-worth from something other than possessions. Great for the bank balance.
How to be more creative
Now you know the upsides to being creative, how do you go about encouraging creativity in yourself. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a creative person, there are ways to improve this. Remember, being creative doesn’t mean that you have to be great at everything, it’s about the process.
Clean your house
There’s a theory that creative people are messier than others. This may well be true but people often don’t realise what this means. Saying that creative people are messy is not the same as saying being messy makes you creative.
In fact, living in a disorganised and cluttered environment has a profound effect on your mental health and productivity levels, and not in a positive way.
To give yourself the optimum conditions to improve your creativity, indulge in a little bit of spring cleaning and clear your house of clutter and make it nice and tidy. The health benefits of an organised environment will help you give your time and energy to your creative efforts.
Change your habits
Set aside some time and spend it doing completely different things than you’re used to. Eat new foods, watch something on TV you would never usually watch. Go so far as trying to change your thoughts too and think about different topics.
Let go of any expectations around creativity
Creativity is subjective and you should do what makes you happy. Don’t get caught up in what you imagine creativity to be and
Put your phone down
So many of us live our lives on our mobile phones. Hours go by before we’ve realised what’s happened and for the most part, this is time wasted. Many people are addicted to their phones and experience genuine anxiety when they don’t have them.
If this is you, try turning off notifications for a little while. Start with something manageable, like an hour. Once you realise the world still spins on, you can start extending this time. Freeing yourself from this addiction can get your mind into the right place to be creative.
Learn to love the journey, not the result
As mentioned earlier, creativity should be its own reward. For example, if you decided to try and paint, concentrate on the freedom you have of staring at that white paper, relaxing and bringing the vision into your mind into the world. And if at the end it looks like something your four years old painted at nursery? So what.
Let your mind wander
We’re always taught that daydreaming is bad. But letting your mind wander is a great way to broaden your creativity. Set some time aside and clear your mind of any practical thoughts and just daydream about anything you want to.
Try learning a new language
If your first language is English, you might not have felt it necessary to learn another language as it is taught in so many countries around the work. You really are missing out on learning a fantastic skill and seeing the world in a totally different way.
It’s never been easier to learn a language either. There are many apps and podcasts that can help you learn in just a few minutes a day, no dragging textbooks around or signing up for classes.
Write something
Whether it’s the opening chapter of a crime thriller or a diary of your day, writing has many benefits for your mind. You can choose to write whatever you like from a complete work of fiction to your innermost thoughts and feelings.
If the writing bug takes you, there are so many resources and groups online to help and support you.
Surround yourself with creativity
Inspire yourself by seeking out creativity. Go to concerts and galleries. Read as much as you can, especially fiction in a genre you wouldn’t ordinarily read. Allow yourself to be inspired but don’t try and force.
Break out the Playstation
Movies and TV are passive entertainment, even if they are thought-provoking or emotional. Instead, try your hand at gaming, it’s been linked with higher levels of creativity in adults and children.
It has been found to speed up reactions times, improve concentration, social skills and problem-solving capabilities. This is especially true where the game has an element of strategy in it.
Final thoughts
Creativity means different things to different people. Even if you consider yourself to be the least creative person in the world, there are many things you can do to bring out your own unique creative side. Small changes can make a big difference in your life.
