Did you know that creative activities have a positive impact on mental wellbeing and overall health?
Since I can remember, I always liked doing creative stuff. When I was very little, I liked to create different figures and patterns with the buttons my grandma had hidden in a cookie jar. My favourite childhood book was “Wonderful Creations For Rainy Days“, where you could find many craft ideas to try at home, starting from Origami Art, ending up with some beautiful Christmas designs. Love for all creative didn't stop there - apart from always experimenting with painting, moulding, trying various creative projects seen on YouTube and Pinterest, I actually ended up studying Jewellery Design at Birmingham City University and loved it! Apart from enjoying the creative environment, being surrounded by brilliant art and creative people, creating new designs and constantly experimenting with new materials, I realised for myself that this creative process helps me improve my mood and rise happiness. Whenever there was something not so great going on in my private life, or I was being homesick, I found that diving into creative process helps me to get over those bad feelings.
In fact, that is why I did my Course Dissertation on Processes Of Craft Projects Improving Mental Health. Without diving deep in the research part, the conclusion of my research was YES, creating something with your own hands really does improve your wellbeing! The art and crafts, as any other projects, can be challenging, but not to a point that it leaves the person mentally exhausted. Arts and crafts can be both enjoyable and healthy, which makes them the most pleasant activities to improve our wellbeing.
I have read and researched a lot about the impact on creative activities on happiness, but here is a short conclusion >>
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eases Happiness. Being in that creative process, creating something with your own hands, reduces anxiety, boosts your mood, and even slows your heart rate. In the process of making, your brain is flooded with Dopamine, the feel-good chemical that helps motivate you.
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Improves Memory. Studies show that creative engagement not only reduces depression and isolation, but can also sharpen persons memories and their senses.
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Improves Mental Health. The average person has about 60 000 thoughts in a day. A creative act such as working with polymer clay can help focus the mind, and has even been compared to meditation due to its calming effects on the brain and body.
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Boosts Immune System. Although experts are still unsure how it works, creative activities increase your CD4+ lymphocyte count, the key to your immune system.
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Makes You Smarter. Studies show that people who play who make something with their hands have better connectivity between their left and right brains. The left brain is responsible for the motor functions, while the right brain focuses on thinking about the outcome of the item you want to make. When the two hemispheres of your brain communicate with each other, your cognitive function improves.
sn't this all amazing?
It appears that, as well as being an enjoyable way to spend your time, arts and crafts activities can also help to keep your mental health and improve your adaptability. That is why we have created a DIY Jewellery Kit that you can use in the comfort of your home, create something, or just play around with the clay! Hopefully, these activities will help you to get your mind off some of the worldly issues or just to have fun!
P.S. We would love to hear your thoughts and see your creations! If you would like to share that with us, please tag BELLULU in your social links, comment below or send us a message. Thank You for your support!
