Being creative is something that we all have within us but that not all of us take advantage of. It might be that we think we’re not creative or that we don’t think we’re good enough to do whatever it is we’re interested in, but the fact is that you don’t have to be good to enjoy yourself and get all the benefits of creativity. That means that no matter what level you might be at, you should try to be as creative as possible for all kinds of excellent reasons. Read on to find out more about why being creative is good for you. 

Photo by Anna Shvets

Reduces Your Stress Levels

One thing that being creative can certainly do, no matter what avenue of creativity you choose to go down, is reduce your stress levels, and that’s a very positive thing indeed. Part of the reason why so many people are so stressed all the time is that they’re busy – it feels like there’s always too much to do and not enough time to do it in (which is a big issue in itself), so you might not think you’ve got time to be creative, but that would be a mistake. 

Doing anything creative, from taking photos to investing in an embroidery machine and making beautiful things at home (or anything else that means you’re using creative ideas and your imagination), can help to release more dopamine into your body, and that chemical just happens to be associated with feelings of happiness, pleasure, and, even better, relaxation. In other words, when you’re doing something creative, you’ll automatically de-stress. That’s why, even if you don’t think you have much time, finding a few minutes to be creative in the way that suits you is vital for your overall health and wellbeing. 

Better Mental Health 

Creativity can also have a fantastically positive impact on your mental health in general, and that could be because when you’re doing something creative, you can express your emotions and feelings in a way you can’t through other means. You’ll have a fantastic outlet for any kind of feeling, from anger and sadness to joy, and you can put it all into whatever it is you’re creating. 

Rather than holding everything inside, this self-expression is a healthy way to get your feelings out even if you don’t want to talk to anyone about them and therefore don’t see therapy or even talking to friends and family as a viable option. In fact, many therapists actually recommend doing creative things anyway, so it’s clear that it’s a good idea. 

Better Problem-Solving Skills 

We all have problems we have to solve in life, and sometimes they’ll be big, and sometimes they’ll be small. Sometimes they’ll be work-related, sometimes they’ll be personal. Whatever the issue is, sometimes they’re harder to deal with than others, and the better your problem-solving skills, the more able you’ll be to get past any challenge that comes your way, and you can then move forward. 

Being creative means using your mind in a slightly different way to other pursuits, and you’ll become a lot more able to adapt to new challenges and ideas when you’re being creative. You can then use those enhanced skills in other areas, and you’ll probably do it without even knowing you did. When you take care of your creative side, you’ll become a lot better equipped to handle any complex issue that comes your way, and you might even enjoy the process more too. 

More Self-Confidence 

It’s great to have plenty of self-confidence, and often the more confident you are, the more opportunities you’ll see and go for. It’s obvious that being a confident person is a positive thing (as long as you don’t go overboard, of course; being over-confident isn’t so positive). 

When you’re more creative, whatever it is you’re doing, you’re making something where there was nothing before, and even if it’s not perfect, it’s still something you brought into existence. That’s exciting, and that can be something that builds your confidence. On top of that, the more you do something, the better you’ll get at it, so the more creative things you do, whether it’s writing, playing an instrument, or some kind of art, for example, the more confident you’ll become, especially when you see the results are improving over time. 

Being more creative has so many benefits that it’s well worth looking for a hobby you can take up that will allow you to take advantage of them all – start searching, and there’s bound to be something you like to do. 

ChrissyJ xxx