The Magical Energy of Creativity
Do you also lose track of time and place when you're engaged in creative activities? Even if it feels slightly wrong, knowing we have other things to do, take joy in the flow you experience when knitting, painting watercolours, or shaping bowls from clay. This flow benefits you not just now but also in the future.
Creativity holds a special magic that can bring us deeper focus, calm, and balance in our daily lives. Engaging in creative activities can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while promoting happiness and brain development for both children and adults, as numerous international mental health studies have shown.
Lærke Egefjord is a doctor, author, and artist who explores the impact of creative activities on us. She has researched brain diseases, with a particular interest in dementia. Egefjord uses this knowledge to teach and lecture on how to enhance mental health through creative processes.
When we create jewellery, carve linoleum, or paint, we experience a sense of meaning. Our brains release serotonin and dopamine, making us feel well, happy, and calm. Blood pressure and pulse drop, and our nervous system relaxes.
Our brains aren't designed to handle the constant barrage of stimuli we encounter daily. Creativity provides essential breaks that are crucial in our often busy lives. It forms new connections between brain cells, helping us solve problems and generate new ideas more easily, making us more resilient to periods of stress and pressure.
When we immerse ourselves in a creative project, often using both hands simultaneously, it encourages collaboration between the two brain hemispheres, strengthening their communication.
Activities like watercolour painting, knitting, or shaping clay often make us forget time and place, focusing entirely on the process. In this creative flow, we concentrate 100% on our creation, almost losing ourselves and dissolving time and space.
In this state of flow, we feel a rush of happiness, achieving something and creating something new. We often gain new energy, ideas, and insights that benefit our mental and physical health—applicable to both children and adults.
Creativity also fosters presence and meaningful interaction with others. When we create together, like painting with friends or knitting with companions, it leads to deeper conversations, greater connection, and mutual inspiration. We simply feel happier and laugh more when we're creative with friends and family.
Thus, creativity becomes a crucial and beneficial part of life for both children and adults, providing energy and essential breaks from our hectic routines. It's a path to a balanced life, offering respite from stress and a chance to immerse ourselves in creative activities alone or with loved ones.
Creativity is Healthy for Children
Would you like to give your children a quiet moment after a long day at nursery or school? Setting aside time for watercolours or modelling clay is a great idea, as immersion in play and creativity reduces stress and restlessness while boosting happiness.
Children cherish moments when they lose track of time and place with something creative in their hands. They feel accomplished, which often leads to better and faster learning and a curiosity to learn more.
Creativity fosters presence and meaningful interaction with others. Both children and adults are simply in a better mood when being creative together. Play and creativity also teach children about personal boundaries, practising empathy and respect for others—skills that benefit them later in life.
It's as important for children to experience flow and immersion as it is for adults. Immersion in play and creativity reduces stress and anxiety while boosting happiness. Children feel present and enjoy moments where they forget time and place.
Creative activities enhance your children's well-being and equip them with lifelong skills. When children get lost in play or drawing, they realise their capabilities, leading to better and faster learning and curiosity about new skills like writing and math.
When children engage in creative activities together, whether at school or at home, they learn about personal and others' boundaries, practising empathy and respect—skills beneficial for life.
Boost Your Mental Health with Creativity
Do you miss depth and calm in your busy life?
Creative activities are perfect when you need to relax and clear your mind after a day filled with work and chores. Engaging in creative pursuits like watercolour painting, linoleum carving, or jewellery making gives us a sense of purpose and often brings new energy, ideas, and thoughts.
In the creative flow, we become entirely focused on our creation, almost losing ourselves and dissolving time and place.
When we work with our hands, the brain releases serotonin and dopamine, making us feel well, happy, and calm. Blood pressure and pulse drop, and the nervous system relaxes.
Research shows that creative immersion can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while promoting happiness and brain development.
Thus, creativity becomes a vital and beneficial part of our lives, providing energy and essential breaks from our hectic routines. It offers a path to a balanced life, giving us respite from stress and a chance to immerse ourselves in creative activities alone or with loved ones.
Be Creative Together
Do you dream of having calm and meaningful moments with loved ones, perhaps doing something together, whether it's with family, friends, or at a birthday party?
When we are creative together—whether painting, modelling clay, or knitting—we give each other more presence.
We often have deeper conversations, laugh more, inspire each other, and come up with new ideas together. We experience a meaningful community that lifts our spirits and strengthens our bonds.
This applies whether children are creative together, adults share a creative moment, or both children and adults disconnect from screens and social media to engage in creative activities.
Creativity fosters presence and meaningful interaction with others. When we are creative together, it leads to deeper conversations, greater connection, and mutual inspiration. We simply feel happier and laugh more when we're creative with friends and family.
