Creativity and the brain

Studies show creativity can reduce stress and help keep brain cells functioning optimally.

Read on to learn more about creativity and the brain and get inspired to weave more creative pursuits into your life.

Finding flow

You know those moments when you're completely immersed in what you're doing, and time disappears? This is a state of flow, a term coined by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975. You're fully present and focused on the task when you're in flow.

Finding flow is excellent for your mental wellbeing. It gives your brain a break from overthinking and ruminating, which helps to ease stress and anxiety.

Any creative task which is challenging but doable can help you find flow. You want to choose a task that requires enough attention to stop worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Painting, writing, knitting, gardening, and DIY are all great places to start.

Creativity as a circuit breaker for stress

Since creativity is a beautiful way to find flow, it often serves as a great circuit breaker for stress. When you feel busy or overwhelmed, engaging in a creative activity can give your mind a break.

Try this: Consider which creative activities you'd like to try next time you feel stressed. You might want to write a list now, while you're feeling calm, for you to refer to next time you're under pressure.

Trust the process

Research suggests that spending time on activities that require you to think, learn, and undertake ongoing practice can help to create and strengthen neural pathways. Opt for creative pursuits that keep you mentally active and engaged over time. Staying mentally active animates neuron receptors that help keep brain cells functioning well.

Choosing slightly challenging creative pursuits also has the added benefit of triggering the brain's dopamine/reward system. Dopamine is one of the feel-good brain chemicals associated with motivation, satisfaction, pleasure, and reward.

More benefits of creativity

Other studies point to the benefits of creativity, such as a better ability to cope with stress, a sense of accomplishment, enhanced life satisfaction, increased confidence, and improved problem-solving skills.

The science is sound – studies are firmly in favor of doing things every day to stay curious and creative. So what will you create today?