HEALTH

 

Creative hobbies like painting, drawing, writing and crafting are some of our favorite pastimes, but what else do they bring to the table? Turns out our hobbies are great stress-busters, and they can do a lot for our overall well-being, as well.  

According to Collete DeDonato, creativity puts us into something called flow. Flow is a term for what happens when creative activities are so engaging that they suspend reality. When a person is in flow, they're so concentrated that their "internal chaos" disappears for a moment. This can reduce stress, relax muscles and increase self-esteem and productivity. So, how do you get into flow? Set aside time to work on something! Whether it's baking, knitting, dancing, drawing, etc., take a little "me time" to do the things you love. 

You can find yourself being imaginative in your everyday life, even if the usual creative outlets don't interest you. Dr. Carrie Barron says creativity is essential in just about everything. From making a meal to designing a school project poster, creativity is important, and it's inside of everyone. 

The big take-away: Time spent doing things you love is never wasted, and expressing individuality is awesome in more ways than one. So, next time you're having a stressful day, pick up your paintbrush and get to work. 

What activity gets you into flow? Share with us in the comments! 

Photo credit: Tumblr.

by Julia Bonney | 4/17/2018