According to a recent study, the impact of creativity on overall wellbeing and happiness surpasses that of both work and study.
Stepping into my grandma's abode, I observe her nimble fingers swiftly weaving threads into intricate patterns as her knitting needles generate a series of prolonged stitches. Nestled beside her, there's a towering pile of knitted blankets, scarves, and ponchos, all embellished with vibrant color schemes and meticulously selected patterns, crafted using wool yarn. These handmade masterpieces find their way into the arms of children at hospitals and foster homes.
Her favorite leisure time activity is craftsmanship. She's incessantly involved in various avenues of creativity, such as knitting, coloring, scratch art, or recently, her foray into gem art. These artistic pursuits provide her with a level of satisfaction and purpose that transcends her workplace experiences.
She has bestowed her love for art and crafts onto the rest of our family. My mother embraced dramatics by joining local theater groups during her empty nest era and learning pour painting. My younger relative shares a passion for capturing nature's vibrant essence through photography, while my uncle, fondly known as my twin's and my father, creates humor-laced stories with voice actors for his comedic podcast. My brother and I used singing as a means of escapism during our college years, allowing us to manage our demanding academic workloads.
We believed that these artistic endeavors positively impacted our health, and research appears to agree. Engaging in creative work has been shown to diminish cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone.
As Dr. Helen Keyes, a cognitive psychologist and the head of the School of Psychology and Sport Science at Anglia Ruskin University, stated via email, engaging in creative activities can significantly enhance well-being by offering valuable spaces for self-expression and accomplishment.
Dr. Keyes and her colleagues recently conducted a study examining how creative activities impact overall well-being and potentially reduce the feelings of loneliness ensuing in everyday life. While prior research has indicated that creating art and crafts provides therapeutic relief for individuals with mental health disorders, the general population had been largely overlooked.
To address this, the researchers examined participants from the general population without diagnosed illnesses, inquiring about how art and craftwork might contribute to overall well-being and potentially alleviate feelings of loneliness. Utilizing data from a major national survey in the UK between 2019-2020, researchers investigated the potential impact of creative activities on life satisfaction, while accounting for variables that impact well-being, such as gender, age, health conditions, employment status, and socio-economic standing.
Over 37% of survey respondents attested to engaging in at least one craft activity during the previous year. The study found a positive correlation between happiness, life satisfaction, and personal feelings of worthwhile living in participants who engaged in creative pursuits. However, creative activities did not significantly decrease anxiety or feelings of loneliness.
While exploring social aspects of creative activities requires further investigation, Dr. Frank Clark, a psychiatrist with Prisma Health and a poet, emphasized the overall benefits of artistic activities on mental health: a boost in self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress, enhanced communication, and development of creativity. Despite not being involved in the study, Dr. Clark's thoughts illuminate the importance of embracing creative activities for mental wellness.
The researchers suggested that introducing creative crafts into daily routines could promote public health, with governments and healthcare providers considering financing and promoting crafting activities for targeted populations in the hopes of fostering mental wellness and health prevention initiatives.
Crafting allows individuals to achieve a sense of accomplishment and self-expression through the creative process. Dr. Keyes noted that a sense of self-mastery can contribute to overall well-being by allowing individuals to observe their progress and relish in their creations.
If you feel uninspired with your creative abilities, Dr. Clark suggests numerous strategies to help tap into your inner artist: remain open-minded about your potential for creativity, do not be wary of trying new activities, seek out relationships with individuals who are creatively inclined, and consider what fascinated you creatively as a child to spark rekindled interest.
According to Dr. Clark, an economical means of indulging in creativity is coloring, often perceived as a children's activity. However, he encourages adults to embrace colouring books and the numerous health benefits they provide, including fostering social connections, improvement of concentration, and development of creativity.
Embracing creative pursuits can empower individuals, fostering resilience, restoration, and reconciliation. The transformative power of creativity serves as an antidote that can lend a sense of meaning and purpose to our human existence.
Engaging in creative activities, like knitting for my grandma, has been shown to diminish cortisol levels, reducing stress. As Dr. Helen Keyes mentioned, participatory arts and crafts can significantly enhance well-being by providing spaces for self-expression and accomplishment.
