With brisk, cold weather outside and the sun beginning to set just as soon as the workday has concluded, Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as seasonal depression, is a concern for many. Precipitated by shorter days brought on by the winter months and characterized by decreased energy, difficulty concentrating and overall feelings of anxiousness, SAD makes it hard for many of us to keep up with the demands of everyday life in the new year, especially once the excitement of the holiday season has died down.

Mental health is a priority all year long, but finding ways to directly address it can become especially important in this period where both sunlight and our opportunities for time spent outside are limited. One of the more surprising, yet beneficial, tools at our disposal in this ongoing journey is the power of art and creativity. 

The Connection Between Creativity and Mental Health

Engaging in any kind of art, whether it be drawing, painting, writing poetry, etc., requires a high level of focus and concentration. It’s quite simple to get lost in thought as we practice our craft. This is essentially no different from meditating, which can do wonders for our mental health. Many different researchers have proven just how beneficial meditation can be when it comes to easing psychological stresses like anxiety and depression.

As you engage in creative practices, allow yourself to acknowledge your anxieties and recognize them simply as thoughts, as opposed to something that defines you or something that can actively harm you. Over time, encouraging your own creativity can actually alter your brain in a positive way. Harvard researchers found that meditation can literally change the brain’s grey matter, thus leading to improved mood, memory and an overall reduction in stress.

So, it turns out, there’s a lot of power in sitting, momentarily slowing down our thoughts, and letting our hands do the work. However, if arts and crafts aren’t necessarily your strong suit, there are still plenty of great ways you can get the creative juices flowing.

Strategies To Get You Started

  1. Drawing/Painting: Likely one of the first types of art that comes to mind, drawing or painting are great ways to let your creativity run rampant. All you really need is a sheet of paper and a pencil, or you can upgrade to a sketchbook and some watercolors if the fancy strikes. Embrace the freeform nature of this activity and see what you can come up with.
  2. Coloring: There’s been plenty of talk recently about the anxiety-relieving benefits of coloring for adults, which also means there are a lot of options out there for cool and interesting coloring books that might catch your eye like this one specifically designed for stress relief. Grab some markers or colored pencils, throw on some calming music or your favorite podcast in the background, and truly let yourself relax.
  3. Collage/Scrapbooking: Structured, simple and as inexpensive as you choose to make it, creating collages or engaging in scrapbooking are great ways to organize your creative thoughts, fuel your sense of accomplishment and even make use of everyday items. Check out these tips for beginners to scrapbooking, inclusive of how to engage in the hobby on a budget.
  4. Doodling: While you might have gotten scolded for doing it along the margins of your assignments back in school, there’s actually evidence that seemingly aimless doodling might have “unexpected therapeutic benefits.” You could try out “zentangle,” which involves abstract repetitive patterns, or you could opt for something a bit more structured with the geometric-designed mandala method.
  5. Creative writing: If more straightforward arts and crafts don’t appeal to you, why not try your hand at creative writing? There are plenty of mental health-related journaling prompts specifically dedicated to helping you with your more complicated thought patterns, or you could check out some more general creative writing prompts for inspiration toward a poem or short story.

Remember, your art can be for you alone, so perfection isn’t the goal here. It’s really about spending time with your thoughts in a space that is safe and non-judgmental, while also encouraging your more creative instincts to take charge. So, don’t be afraid to experiment and, most of all, have fun!

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10355843/#:~:text=Fourteen%20participants%20finished%20the%20study,be%20balanced%20through%20meditative%20practices.

Source: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/

Source: https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/health-benefits-of-coloring-for-adults