7 Captivating Way Art Benefits Our Well-Being
Many of us have allowed ourselves to believe that art is only for the "artistically gifted" among us. If we feel that we don’t have these gifts, we may have in our heads that creating art will only lead to disappointment and embarrassment.
That’s not the case, at all. The truth is EVERYONE is born with a unique personality and view of the world; therefore, everyone can use art to creatively express themselves. Art is purely an expression that we get to be a part of.
Art is also a tool that can benefit our psychological, physical, and emotional health. More and more research shows that having an aesthetic experience—whether that's walking around a museum, listening to music, singing, drawing, or painting a portrait of your pet—has many therapeutic health benefits and can enhance overall wellbeing. No matter what medium you choose or what you're hoping to express, here are seven ways art can help enhance your well-being.
7 Benefits of Art for Our Health and Wellness
1) Art Encourages Mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about living in and enjoying the present moment. It helps keep us in our best state so we can navigate through life our best. This mindset has been shown to promote overall wellbeing, in part by reducing stress and promoting positivity.
Art can be a fantastic tool for practicing mindfulness because it keeps us from being stuck in the past or future; places we don’t have access to. When our minds spend too much in those unattainable places, we can feel unstable, insecure, and full of fear. Art can be a form of meditation. The more your focus on the art, the more you’re putting your thoughts into what’s really taking place at the moment. This clarity gives us peace and stability.
2) Art Inspires Hope and Empathy
Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama Birmingham and the former president of the American Art Therapy Association, says that "Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world." Connection inspires empathy, and empathy creates hope. So even amongst the crazy times in which we are living, art can help us stay hopeful and remain empathetic towards ourselves and others. Instead of following the news, spend that time engaging with art and observe the shift within yourself.
3) Art Fosters Creative Thinking
To maintain brain health, our left and right brain hemispheres must communicate with one another. It is through art that our brain’s hemispheres and neurons communicate with one another as they make observations, decisions, explore new ideas and probabilities, experiment with shape and color, strengthen hand-eye coordination, and more. This surge in creative thinking can also help you come up with unique solutions in your daily life, all while giving your brain a nice workout.
4) Art Strengthens Mental Focus and Stimulates Memory
An increasing number of studies are linking art to enhancements in brain function. Art therapists who work with Alzheimer's patients have found art to help patients make connections, communicate emotions, and unlock memories.
Creating art can also help strengthen mental focus through the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine, known as the "motivation molecule," boosts one's drive, focus, and concentration. Need more focus? Bring on the art.
5) Art Promotes Movement and Physical Health
Movement-based creative expressions (like dance) focus on nonverbal, physical forms of expression that use the movement of the mind and body in a creative way. Just like when your favorite song comes on and you can’t stop bobbin’ your head. The benefits of these movement-based creative expressions have been found to relieve stress and anxiety, encourage connection with the self and others, and support a healthy body.
Even traditionally non-movement-based art forms like knitting, painting, and sculpting can reduce stress and improve one's ability to cope with physical pain.
6) Art Can Boost Self-Esteem
Self-esteem—often defined as confidence in one's own worth and abilities—can be improved through art by it being a new platform to express yourself. Creativity is always a form of expression; you get to express your thoughts and feelings in a way that feels good and comfortable for you. This gives you the opportunity to speak your voice, even if you’re the only one in the room. Feeling heard increases your self-worth. Creating art that feels purposeful and meaningful to you can increase your sense of accomplishment and those feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
7) Art Relieves Stress and Calms Anxieties
One of the best benefits of engaging in art and other creative activities is art's ability to calm our minds and bodies. It relieves stress and anxiety by taking our minds away from the things that are causing them. Art stimulates ruminating thoughts and encourages us to focus on what’s in front of us. Sure, our problems don't magically go away after an hour of painting. But the time we spend creating and exploring art gives us an opportunity to rest, recover – preparing us to take on what’s next with a clear head.
Art can bring out our inner child. Embrace that. When you set time aside for creative energy, you are setting time aside for expression. Your expression, however you find it. Make the most of this time and be curious and play.
