With World Health Day being celebrated on the 7th of April, which is just around the corner, I have found myself thinking about the state of our general wellbeing and how in 2023 we should be spending more time on discovering our creative outlet than ever before.
A bit about World Health Day – World Health Day marks the anniversary of the creation of the World Health Organisation in 1948 and focuses on raising awareness on the importance of good health and wellbeing. Having just come out of a global pandemic and still experiencing its catastrophic ramifications mentally, emotionally and physically – we are much more aware of why looking after our health should be our top priority.
This is what brings me to write this blog today: I have always been a strong believer of using art to improve our mental health and it has been proven by medical research that people who frequently engage in creative activities have a significantly lower risk of depression and anxiety. So, here are a couple of ideas that we can use to channel our creativity and boost our mental health.
Trade in the screens for some doodle time
Did you know that excessive screen time has been directly linked to obesity, sleep problems, chronic neck and back problems, as well as depression and anxiety? How about we put away our devices for a bit and just grab ourselves some colour pencils and paper? Take a moment or two to sit with your thoughts and emotions and then grab whatever colour you are attracted to and start doodling. These doodles can literally be anything: scribbles, drawings or even words that are popping up in your head.
Keep going at it for as long as you prefer but give yourself at least 15 minutes to draw out whatever is pent up inside you. I promise you that this creative outlet won’t just be a stress relief, but will also give you immense clarity on your emotions and thought patterns that might be holding you back.
Immerse yourself in some art for inspiration
When was the last time you found yourself at an art museum or an art gallery completely immersed in interesting art that beckons to explore your creative side and a creative outlet? I bet; it has been a while. How about take yourself out for a date and visit one of your city’s art museum or even an arts exhibition if it’s happening locally? Sometimes, we really restrict ourselves from exploring new things or experiences out of the fear of being uncomfortable and that really narrows our perspective of the world and ourselves. So, to improve our emotional wellbeing and for our self-enrichment, go out and explore the art on display and feel whatever that pops up inside you.
Create your own Art Therapy for introspection and peace
Okay, this is not an actual form of therapy but trust me, the psychological benefits are absolutely real and so helpful in coping with change.
Now the beauty of visual arts is that it’s a wide encompassing term for various art forms that you can experience and use as a tool for empowerment. Have you ever watched a film or listened to a song that has brought up certain strong emotions or exposed you to a new way of thinking? If yes, then you just unintentionally got a dose of Art Therapy. This is what it is, to put it simply: exposing yourself to art (films, songs, performance pieces) that challenge your way of thinking and make you introspect about yourself. For a quick art exposure session, head over to the Gallery section of my website and take your time viewing some of my artworks and letting yourself freely experience whatever is bubbling up. A lot of people have told me that pieces from Psychomachia have really connected with them on an emotional level, so try starting from there.
So, let us take some time out this World Health Day to let our creativity flow and make our wellbeing a priority. As they say, the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you…
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