When was the last time you made room for creativity in your day? Whether it’s writing, painting, music, dance, crafting, metalwork or another creative outlet, there are really big benefits to your wellbeing and even your work life.
Why creativity matters
Shereen Bar-or Becerra, MPS, LCAT, ATR-BC is a Creative Arts Therapist and Founder of Art Therapy Collective in New York, NY. “If variety is the spice of life, creativity is the seasoning. Creativity increases self-esteem and resilience, reduces stress and cortisol levels, and ignites self expression. When we practice self expression through nonverbal means, we are able to organize and process difficult emotions and increase our capacity for frustration tolerance while inherently improving our quality of life and capacity for joy.”
This extends to our career as well. “Visual and symbolic expression gives voice to experience and empowers individual, communal, and societal transformation,” Bar-Or Becerra says. “Any opportunity to address obstacles and emotional challenges improves our ability to cope and problem solve, a skill that is imperative for a successful career and life in general. When we learn to solve problems creatively, we open the doors to an abundance mindset where we no longer experience the confines of an overwhelmed mind. When possibilities are endless, progress and growth is guaranteed.”
Wendy Raquel Robinson is an Emmy Award-winning producer, philanthropist, actress, and NAACP Image Award recipient. Well known for her roles as ambitious, leading women in numerous films and TV shows, she also has a passion for encouraging children to explore their creativity and learn to express themselves, which can benefit them throughout their life. She is the co-founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory, which, for over 25 years, has been serving at-risk kids ages five to 18 in the Los Angeles area.
“These children come from every walk of life,” says Robinson over Zoom. “We offer them an opportunity to foster their talents in a community that gives them the freedom to be themselves in a non-judgmental environment. They can come and be in a safe space. I feel blessed to get inside of their world and see how safe they feel and to see them flourish and shine and talk about what they’ve been through. The arts save lives.”
She shares that she believes—and witnesses—how essential the arts are, “for the wholeness and wellbeing —mind, body and soul.” She adds, “It’s not just the art, it’s the connection and the community. It’s being able to express yourself when so many times we live in a world where we have to hold so much in and play by the rules. It’s freeing. To have an outlet where nothing else matters…I still take a dance class where you can just escape, if only for 30 minutes. It’s an outlet to calm the voices and the noise and come to a place of mindfulness and centering. It’s powerful and connects to the soul as well. We need that outlet. You can’t hold it all in.”
How to work creativity into your life
For those who have had a creative practice their entire life or something you used to enjoy that you’ve been neglecting, your next step may be to take an honest look at your calendar and note where you can devote some time. If that feels hard, think about how easily you can spend time scrolling social media. That’s time you could devote to a creative endeavor that feeds your soul.
If you’re looking to make more time for creativity in your life, Robinson recommends exploring classes if you’re not sure how to get started. “Even if it’s just online, if you’re not ready to dive into a class, you can join or even just watch a class online. Even just watching a YouTube video on how to do something to pique your interest. Start with watching, learning, taking notes, and getting a good feel for it. This is good for writing, acting, dance, and singing.”
She also is a big fan of journaling. “Start with writing your thoughts out every day. It’s cathartic and also, when you look back and see the growth from month to month, it’s powerful.”
Bar-or Becerra says, “The best way to begin anything is to follow your feet– lean into what makes you feel present. Self-awareness is required for active engagement so begin by noticing the moments that bring you joy or grounding. Being creative and intuitive can be as simple as learning how to create cohesion and connection with your internal and external world.”
She recommends a grounding exercise while walking to engage your senses. “Start by identifying five things you see around you, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. When we allow ourselves to be present and rooted in our environment creatively, we engage our parasympathetic nervous system which promotes the rest and digest process of the body to promote calm.”
She adds, “Remember that the first step doesn’t have to be a masterpiece or anything concrete. Create space for yourself to explore where you want to begin. Often we become overzealous and our ambition supersedes our ability, so start slow and let your creative practice build organically. You don’t need to buy or fill the canvas right away. First explore what you want the content of your canvas to be by looking inward.”
Building creativity into your workday
While you may not always be able to incorporate creative hobbies into your workday, there are ways to enhance your creativity at work. In turn, creativity can have a positive impact on a business. In a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum, 90% of business leaders highlighted the importance of creativity in remaining competitive.
Collaborating with others can also infuse creativity into your work life. Robinson shares an example of working with Alpha Magazine founder and CEO Luciano Layne, whose hands-on approach, innovative thinking and thoughtful nature stood out to her. “He looks holistically at each person,” she says. “It started out as a cover shoot that was all about being the alpha and running a company and playing the role of a boss on TV and living that out loud in life.” They kept in touch and have partnered on other projects. Most recently, she shares, “we’re working in tandem on his clothing line.”
In your day to day, studies have shown that moving can help boost creativity, so if you’re feeling stuck on a work project, take a short walk or pace while you’re brainstorming. Daydreaming has also been associated in studies with improved creativity at work. Especially if you are in a job that requires creative and critical thinking, allowing space for daydreaming may be beneficial.
Other things you can try include journaling or meditating on your break, putting pictures of things that make you feel renewed or uplifted in your workspace, and listening to music that helps you feel like you are in a state of flow. Tending to your physical health by eating a balanced diet, moving your body regularly, and getting adequate sleep are also ways to prime your brain for optimal creativity.
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