As a musician, I've learned that making time and space for my creativity to flow is a wonderful gift to myself. The pandemic made me realize how powerful the act of creating can be. When I was in the middle of a creative project, I was pandemic-proof. The marketing and logistics of that project however, areas separate from the actual creative process, put me in states of overwhelm or languishing, a term most of us never considered before Covid.
Now, in the middle of another major creative project, I feel a sense of excitement that seems to be insulating me from the pandemic flux syndrome I'm hearing about from the media and my clients.
Can you benefit from setting aside time to be creative even if you're not in a creative line of work? Absolutely.
Here are some of the ways creativity can improve your lifestyle:
- Stress relief
- Mindfulness
- Self-expression
- Increased self-awareness
- A sense of empowerment
- Decrease in depression and anxiety
- Increased resilience
- Mood enhancing
- Improved self-esteem
- Increased cognitive function
- Confidence
You don't need to be in a creative industry
to reap the benefits of creativity.
All of us have creativity inside that's just waiting to help us escape the trials of daily life. Not only is music a creative outlet for me, but the educator in me loves to innovate strategies and plans for my clients, as well as outline speeches.
What about you? What's something creative you'd love to try?
Or maybe there's a way you've loved to create in the past, that you've stepped away from?
It could be painting or creative writing or learning to play an instrument.
When you can create with other people, it's even more powerful.
Creating with others creates a community and can give you a feeling of belonging.
What are you waiting for? Sign up for that piano class. Join that performance group. Dust off those paint brushes.
Turn the corner on pandemic languishing and prepare yourself for a more fulfilling life.
Dr. Nancy Williams is a musician and leadership and life coach. Sign up for inspirational emails here.