How creative activities are good for mental health and reduce stress
- Creative expression through pursuits such as painting, knitting or cooking can act like a natural antidepressant, boosting happiness and confidence
- Don’t worry if you’re not a ‘right brainer’. Just do something that interests you and don’t judge your performance.
Diane Ng, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, says creative activities like watercolour painting, sketching, food styling, photography, making furniture and even doodling make her feel euphoric.
“When I get to work on an artistic project, whether it’s a personal or a professional one, I am transported to a happy place in my mind, where I feel settled and focused,” says the 33-year-old, who lives and works in Singapore. “The deeper I get into the task, the more introspective it becomes – I want to explore my inner self more and my thoughts start to flow in a way that feels almost cathartic. To me, creative expression is therapy.”
Angel Yip, who lives in Hong Kong, has a similar take on her favourite creative activity: sewing. “The late, great Hollywood costume designer Edith Head once said, ‘If everybody sews, there’s no need for therapy,’ and I believe that,” says Yip, an insurance agent in her 40s. “Sewing my own clothes makes me feel really good, not only because the process relaxes me and keeps me focused, but by the end of it I’m left with a beautiful piece of work that I’m proud of.
“It’s also satisfying trying to solve the challenges that sometimes happen along the way. Plus, there’s always something new to learn, so to me, every sewing project is an opportunity to grow.”
Creativity boosts our emotional health and well-being in several different ways, says Nivedita Raj Ramanujam, a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist at Hong Kong-based psychotherapy practice Inner Compass.