Did you know that creativity can be as good for you as meditation or mindfulness? A plethora of research shows that creative activities such as music, dance, art, writing or singing reduces stress hormones while increasing “feel good” hormones such as serotonin, helping to lower stress, anxiety and depression.[1] Even simple things like knitting or crafting can be relaxing, releasing the “pleasure” hormone dopamine, which is a natural anti-depressant.[2]
When you are immersed in a creative endeavour, your mind slows down as you “get in the zone” and focus on the task at hand. Creative activities are sometimes likened to a mindfulness practice because they stop our minds from wandering and help us to be more present. (Caveat alert: they cease to be relaxing the moment we become perfectionists and stress about how our work will turn out or be perceived by others! Learning how to switch our analytical left brains off and trust our creative right brain is an art in itself).
Interestingly, neuroscience shows us that creativity not only alters our brain chemistry but also triggers the parts of our brain that process thoughts and feelings, helping us to find catharsis.[3] Artistic endeavours like painting, playing a musical instrument, performing or writing and journaling are all great stress-relievers because they allow us to cope with challenging situations through expression rather than bottling emotions up.
Creativity also relaxes us whether we are actively participating in an activity or simply observing a sublime work of art by someone else. In fact, scientific studies have found that contemplating a beautiful painting stimulates the pleasure centres in the brain and increases blood flow by up to 10%—the equivalent of looking at a loved one.[4] Thanks to 'mirror neurons' in the brain, when we appreciate a work of art, we could potentially be firing the same neural pathways as the artist did when they created it. This sense of being drawn into an art form is called “embodied simulation”,[5] engendering a shared sense of inspiration.
Singing is another good way to relax, as it activates the vagus nerve, one of the cranial nerves that connect your brain to your gut. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, so when it gets stimulated, it plays a key role in relieving stress.[6] We don’t have to be good singers to get the benefits; because it is connected to our vocal cords, even humming creates a “vagal tone”,[7] which cultivates emotional regulation, greater connection and physical health. Singing in the shower or humming a tune while you get dressed is actually very good for you.
So next time you need a little stress management, get playful and take a load off your mind. As Einstein said:
"Creativity is intelligence having fun"