Generally speaking, most human beings have a creative streak of some kind.
But did you know that you can use it to enhance your overall health and happiness levels?
In fact, creativity boosts wellbeing so significantly that it has been shown to pave the way to better mental and physical health.
Just spending even short bursts on a favourite creative pastime, such as art or dancing, can have powerful effects on your wellbeing.
As you cultivate creativity, your capacity to maintain a healthier lifestyle grows as you learn to better adapt and problem-solve in negative situations and process negative information.
And these days, there are more ways than ever to inspire creativity and improve your wellbeing, so read on to find out how.
1. Dance to the music
A fun activity in itself, dancing inspires further creativity even if you don’t consider yourself much of a dancer.
Dance is an art form that forges new connections in the brain. As you form these connections, the more likely it is you can see how to break old patterns, making space for new ideas in life and enhancing your all-round wellbeing.
Both young and old can feel the rhythm of their favourite song, and there is clearly a reason why the acronym goes like this:
- Rhythm
- Helps
- Your
- Two
- Hips
- Move!
Exploring your roots through traditional and tribal dance can also enhance your creativity and wellbeing as you connect to your ancestral heritage, no matter your age or ability.
Founder of immigrant-inclusive organisation Afrocats, and African and Caribbean dance specialist Magdalen Bartlett believes that dance can help everyone, even those who have endured difficult times in the wider community.
“I am of Caribbean heritage, but was raised to appreciate the links to my roots as an African woman,” Magdalen explains. “The creative arts are endemic in our culture and support us within all aspects of life, from communication, to entertainment and spirituality.”
“Many people I work with are at their lowest due to experiences they have had, or continue to experience,” she says. “But when they participate in a dance or music session, they forget their pain, and can enjoy a temporary break from their reality.”
Magdalen also believes in music as an international language that can unite everyone the world over, no matter your nationality.
“Music travels beyond the boundaries of international borders, and in this way people from diverse cultures and backgrounds can share experiences too.”
So put on a favourite playlist or a music video that you love, and as you boogie away, watch yourself bring a creative ‘oomph’ into your daily life and wellbeing.
2. Make arts and crafts, not war
You don’t have to be an ‘artist’ to make art and improve your creativity and wellbeing.
The magic of making art lies in articulating yourself without necessarily using words. And it can also help maintain curiosity, improve your quality of life, and generate pleasure where previously it may have been missing even if you did not realise it.
In fact, creating art of any kind is fantastic for your mental health as it brings about opportunities for social connection even with the prevalence of technology and social distancing.
Expressing yourself visually, whether sculpting, painting, digital art, or any kind of art you can imagine is good for helping to cope with and recovering from many mental health conditions.
Surveys show that making art can decrease anxiety and depression by a huge 73 per cent. And people may also feel an uptick in their wellbeing as they observe the effects of artistic beauty in their lives.
Some talented African artists to draw creative inspiration from are:
- Alida Rodrigues (Angola/UK)
- Wycliffe Ndwiga (Kenya)
- Eric Tournaire (Morocco)
- Peju Alatise (Nigeria)
- Nnenna Okore (Nigeria)
- Sungi Mlengeya (Tanzania/Uganda)
- Gonçalo Mabunda (Mozambique)
You could even use African textiles and wax fabrics to make some unique accessories, such as a purse, necklace or even a stunning statement lampshade or cushion cover.
Natalie, founder of Bespoke Binny, not only makes a striking range of homeware products made from colourful African prints, she also holds online classes in crafting them.
So there has never been a better excuse to shell out as you give a boost to an independent business and your own creativity.
You might not be Picasso to begin with, but neither was Picasso until he started creating, so be free to make your own art and feel good doing it.
3. Cook up a creative storm
Another feel-good activity is making your favourite foods, or even experimenting with new ones.
And even if you don’t make the world’s most delicious jollof rice or plantain pancakes first time round, that is where your creativity comes in for the next time.
You often need to experiment with different techniques until you get the right consistency, or perfect that flavoursome seasoning.
Being open to failure is a crucial aspect of the learning process, and is incredibly important when improving your creativity, wellbeing, and innovative mindset.
Being resourceful with the ingredients you already have also enhances creativity.
You might have run out of vanilla extract while baking but you could use that leftover rum, which will taste just as good.
Or if you have run out of eggs, you could use that banana that has been left to go brown in your fruit-bowl.
This level of creativity reflects positively on both individuals and workplaces, and can help in challenging old methods to discover fresh and exciting ways of living and working.
And in the era of social distancing, an online African cooking class will surely help fire up your creativity, enhancing your wellbeing and filling your belly along the way.
Learn to make fufu, Suya chicken and Egusi soup for the first time with Ebere Akadiri’s online West African cooking classes, or maybe it could simply revive nostalgia for home.
There are even vegan cooking classes available, so there are no excuses to limit your creativity and wellbeing with healthier versions of animal-free products in your African culinary experiences.
So start cooking, and see how creative you can get with the contents of your cupboard.
4. Get outside and enjoy nature if you can
And one last tip: if you feel like rejuvenating your creativity and wellbeing somewhere other than in your home, get outdoors and into nature if this is possible for you.
Nature de-stresses as you slow down and live ‘in the moment’, and can help you overcome challenges in creativity, and even improve your memory and general brain function.
You could go for a walk in some local green space, or go on a camping trip, and see where your imagination takes you as you reset from work pressures.
So if you want to get creative but have no idea where to start, embrace nature, and in the process, nature will be happy to help you embrace your creativity.
Let creativity into your life
From dancing to cooking, there is a way for everybody to get creative and enrich your wellbeing.
Indulging in regular splashes of creativity means you can process life’s negativity more positively, and you are more able to find the beauty and positivity in this world.
And in trying times like these, who can argue with that?
How do you get inspired to get creative and boost your wellbeing? Let us know!
If you would like to know more about Afrocats and how you can help, go to afrocats.org.uk
Sources:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/how-arts-can-help-improve-your-mental-health
https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2017/oct/11/contribution-arts-make-health-wellbeing
https://www.harvardbusiness.org/what-cooking-can-teach-you-about-innovation-and-creativity/
https://medium.com/thrive-global/nature-inspires-creativity-66254fe3d537
