The Link Between Creativity and Mental Health (and Why It Matters)

Have you ever used journaling to release emotions, created a playlist that resonates with your experiences, or drawn your feelings when words felt inadequate?

These activities illustrate the powerful connection between creativity and mental health.

In fact, creativity and mental health go hand in hand. Research shows that engaging in creative activities—even if you're not skilled—can boost your happiness and overall well-being.

By tapping into your creative energy, you can effectively release emotions and gain a deeper understanding of what you’re feeling.

Embracing creativity and mental health in your daily routine can lead to greater emotional resilience and fulfillment. Explore how creativity can transform your mental health today!

What Defines Creativity and Makes A Creative Thinker?

“Creativity” is the process of generating ideas or concepts to communicate possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves or others. 

Everyone expresses their creativity differently, which is why there is no definite answer as to what being creative truly means. The beauty of this term is that there are many ways to recognize it based on different outlets people may resort to.

We can express ourselves in infinite ways. Whether that is through writing, painting, or simply putting an outfit together, these are ways we feel we can freely be ourselves and communicate our thoughts without restrictions.

Now, let’s dive into the benefits of how exactly creativity can boost your mental health.

How Does Being Creative Benefit Your Mental Health?

Creativity Produces More Dopamine

As humans, it is essential to produce dopamine, the chemical that heightens motivation from achieving a goal. When we express ourselves creatively it allows us to fully be ourselves.

The more we feel rewarded, the more we want to continue the task. 

You may have heard of the term “creative flow.” This is when you feel yourself getting wrapped up in what you’re creating you lose track of time.

You may not be aware of it, but creative repeated behaviors like drawing, painting, listening to music, etc. can increase that feel good chemical, improving your overall mood.

Creativity Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Finding a creative outlet can bring an individual much pleasure, no matter how simple it is. 

When you get into the groove of your creative outlet, it seems as if the rest of the world fades into the background. The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed many of us to explore different ways to pass time, thus tapping into various creative ventures. 

In order to feel freedom from being cooped up in our homes, we are encouraged to think more creatively and come up with different activities to reduce stress. 

By focusing on an activity that brings peace and contentment, you’ll feel less anxious about stressful events going on in your life.

Most of us face hardships in life that are not easy to talk about. Resorting to something like writing or listening to music that helps us understand our emotions by self-reflecting, help reduce symptoms of depression.

This can take you out of a "depressional funk.”

Improves Cognitive Behavior

Have you heard of the controversial theory of whether you are left or right brained?

Well this question refers to the theory that the left and right part of your brain serve different functions. 

The left is thought to be logical and analytical, aka the “rational” brain. The right on the other hand is known to process emotions, music, and creativity.

In actuality, these two work together in thinking of unconventional and “out-of-the-box” ideas. 

Without creative thinking, our minds would be a blank slate. As humans we need to create in order to survive or we would get stuck in our own ways. 

Yes, being creative can come from that “AHA!” moment where it may seem like it’s spontaneous, but majority of the time it takes cognitive effort – the need for knowledge and memory. This derives from the hippocampal and default mode network of the brain. 

Now that you have an idea of how creativity and mental health are linked, let's figure out how you can apply it to your everyday life.

So Why Does It Matter To You?

For some, expressing creativity comes easily, but if you often feel discouraged about trying new creative outlets, now is the perfect time to step outside your comfort zone for the sake of your mental health. Engaging in creativity can significantly enhance your overall well-being.

You might even surprise yourself with how good you are at creative activities! The beauty of finding your creative spark is that your art is uniquely yours—whether you choose to share it or keep it private, it’s something no one can take away from you. You have the freedom to create however you like.

Whether you’ve always wanted to play an instrument, paint, dance, or create a collage from magazines or online images, the possibilities for creativity are endless. Creativity and mental health are interconnected in numerous ways, providing a valuable outlet for emotional expression and personal growth.

Many people pursue the arts or find creative outlets in their careers and hobbies because creativity can boost both mental and physical health.

Discover what excites you—something that allows you to lose yourself in the process—and use it as a means to communicate feelings that are difficult to express. Embrace the connection between creativity and mental health and transform your experiences into your own unique work of art!

And if you need help coming up with ideas, here are some ways to spark your creative mind.

Written by Jade Mendoza