Picture yourself walking through a city street, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and bustling crowds. The sounds of car horns and chatter fill the air, but something catches your eye: a vibrant mural painted on the side of a building. Suddenly, amidst the chaos, you feel a sense of calm wash over you seeing the break in the boring gray skyline. You pause for just a few seconds to process this new novelty. A forced moment of peace and mindfulness, where stress doesn't matter. This moment is an example of how incorporating art into our daily lives can profoundly impact our well-being and creativity. In this article, we will explore why it is important to embrace art in all its forms - from paintings to music to architecture - and how doing so can enhance our everyday experiences.
Art Stimulates Creativity And Imagination
Let's face it, we all love to think our life and work are engaging and stimulating, but is it truly? How often do you find yourself on autopilot throughout the day? Did you even remember your journey to work this morning? How about your coworker trying to make small talk constantly? Let's face it your brain is just going through the motions dying of intellectual boredom. That's why you keep imagining what you would do in the zombie apocalypse. Your noggin is craving a challenge to chew into. Something new or novel to do. That's where art comes in! Art is an open expression. There is no wrong or right way to do it. You can be abstract with what you create to add a bit of chaos to your organized life. Or you can meticulously go into the details and techniques if that sort of thing is what makes your brain go brrrrr!
Engaging in creative activities, such as painting, creative writing, or drawing, allows us to express ourselves freely without any limitations. You don't have to be perfect with it. You don't even have to show it to anybody. Hell, burn it up when you're done if you truly want to embody some ideal of the briefness of life. What you are creating is YOURS alone.
The process of creating art also enables us to explore different ways of thinking and problem-solving. By experimenting with various colors, shapes, and textures, we learn how to approach problems creatively. We start associating things differently. Like of course that bottle would be a great mini wizard tower! Why not spray-paint a bunch of toys and collage them in funny poses?
I've often found that creating art seems to be a way for my brain to relax and unwind. While I'm coloring like a manic squirrel IRL my inner brain is sorting through complicated emotions and problems in my life subconsciously.
"Oh, but I have to be a professional or take time to be creative! I mean I can't even draw a stick figure!" I hear you say. That is a dirty lie, my friend. Creativity takes all forms and can be done in all types of time periods. The beauty of incorporating art into your daily routine is that it doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. You could simply take a break from work and doodle on a piece of paper for ten minutes, make a silly picture on a Post-it note in one minute. Or take a walk about and pick up things you find and arrange them in a pleasing aesthetic way. Take those cute dog photos and those pictures of flowers. Write something a little more quirky in an email. Plan that light-hearted prank for your coworker on vacation. Even appreciating artwork created by others has been shown to enhance creativity!
Incorporating art into your everyday life isn't just about having fun; it also enhances critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. It even helps teach patience and grit.
Art Enhances Problem-Solving And Critical Thinking Skills
BUT HOW can it develop all those things? The short answer is being creative forces you to come at things from new perspectives. You switch on a different side of your brain. When you engage in artistic activities, whether it be writing or paper mache, you learn to analyze problems from multiple perspectives, which is a valuable skill when faced with real-life situations. You realize that you might have something you wish to create in your head but have no idea how to go about it with your hands. How do I make that bottle into a wizard tower? Should I cut it up and glue it back together? Should I paint it? What if I just drew some windows on it with a Sharpie? All of these thoughts are your brain practicing its problem-solving skillset to achieve a goal in your mind. But in a fun exciting way not a boring studious corporate way.
Then you start comparing and pruning these ideas one by one. Well if I was going to glue it what glue should I use? Can I use regular Elmer's glue or do I need to use a hot glue gun? That is your brain using critical thinking skills to evaluate.
So you've decided to try Elmer's glue to stick your bottle together into a wizard tower. You struggle as you realize the glue won't keep the plastic in place and can't support the weight. You watch in dread as a piece of the roof oozes down the side. This is a setback, but it isn't the end! You pull yourself together and rally your brain army. The Elmers glue didn't work but what if I tried hot glue? You burn your fingers a few times but finally, you made your vision. You stare at it proudly never thinking you could create something like that. Giving you confidence and the ability to keep going even if you hit snags in the road
Then on top of all this other creative gooey brain development, creating art (usually) requires attention to detail and focus. This helps develop the ability to concentrate on tasks for longer periods of time without getting distracted easily. Additionally, practicing art often means experimenting with new techniques and materials, leading to an increased ability to adapt to change.
Bringing art into your daily routine can help train these mental faculties while providing an outlet for self-expression. The process of creating something unique allows one's mind to wander freely while reducing stress levels and increasing overall well-being.
By incorporating art into your everyday life, you promote personal growth and contribute towards fostering innovation within society as a whole. Artistic expression provides opportunities for individuals to think outside the lines, challenge norms, and come up with innovative ideas that improve our lives.
Art Promotes Mental And Emotional Well Being
Art is not just a form of entertainment, it has numerous benefits that can significantly improve our well-being. Incorporating art into your everyday life promotes mental and emotional well-being. It helps in reducing stress levels, improving mood, and increasing self-awareness and self-esteem.
Art provides an outlet for expressing emotions that cannot be put into words. Whether it's painting or dancing, creating something allows us to channel our feelings positively. Studies have shown that engaging with art leads to lower stress levels, reduces anxiety, and improves overall mood. You can create visually and physically without a goal and simply let your brain pour what it can't say with words into the art.
Immersing yourself in creative activities also promotes mindfulness, helping you focus on the present moment instead of worrying about past events or future uncertainties. It engages and slows you down even for just a moment, something desperately needed in a world focused on a fast pace and even faster living.
Incorporating art into your daily routine doesn't necessarily mean you need to create something from scratch; even simple activities like coloring books, listening to music, or attending live performances can provide a significant boost to your mental health.
It can even help you find new common ground with people. It is a great conversation starter if you're shy. People are always enchanted when they see someone making something. They also always have an opinion on art as well leading to great conversation openers.
Conclusion
So why wait? Start incorporating some form of art into your everyday life right now. Who knows what innovative ideas might come up as a result of this positive change? Surrounding your everyday life with art can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. It stimulates creativity and imagination, enhances problem-solving skills, and promotes mental health. Art is not just for artists; it's an essential aspect of human expression that should be embraced by all. So, don't hesitate to add some color to your daily routine - you'll be surprised at the pleasant change of pace it provides.