A New Year's Plea: How Engaging in the Arts Can Save Your Life
As we welcome a new year, many of us try to reinvent ourselves by adopting new health habits. However, have we given enough thought to creativity? The arts have been interwoven with health and healing for thousands of years, from our Paleolithic ancestors' cave paintings to modern-day randomized trials that quantify its benefits.
Studies have shown that participating in the arts can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In fact, combining creative arts therapies like music therapy with antidepressants and counseling can nearly double the improvements in depressive symptoms compared to standard treatments alone. Moreover, people who regularly engage in cultural activities, such as attending concerts, museums, or theatrical performances, have a lower risk of developing depression.
So, how does it work? Engaging in the arts activates the same pleasure and reward networks in our brain that are activated by food, sex, and drugs. It also fulfils core psychological needs like autonomy, control, and mastery. Furthermore, the arts provide an effective way to regulate emotions, calming or invigorating us as needed.
But it's not just about mental health; the arts can also have a profound impact on our physical well-being. Research has shown that engaging in creative activities can improve cognitive reserve, reducing the risk of dementia and other age-related cognitive decline. It can also strengthen our immune system, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure and glucose levels.
In fact, studies have found that amateur musicians and artists have stronger connections between brain regions and even increase grey matter over time. So, why don't we prioritize engaging in the arts more? Perhaps it's because many of us see it as a luxury rather than a necessity.
But I'm here to challenge that mindset. The arts are not just a nice-to-have; they can be a lifesaver. If you're struggling with mental health issues or simply looking for ways to boost your mood, I invite you to try some creative activities this year. Here are five evidence-based recommendations to get you started:
Find Your Creative Pick-me-up: Use music and books to boost your mood. Swap your morning alarm for a song or take the time to listen to it before getting up. Find a hobby that lets you take the lead without needing instruction, such as drawing or creative writing.
Choose a New Creative Hobby: Dedicate 30-60 minutes once a week to engaging in arts activities. Think about which psychological needs aren't being met in your life and choose a hobby that addresses them. Give yourself a goal to work towards, like creating a piece of art or writing a short story.
Get to an Exhibition: Visit museums, galleries, or exhibitions to experience awe and engage with your creativity. Take the time to look at each artwork, think about what you see, and respond cognitively.
Use Rhythm to Enhance Your Exercise Routine: Listen to music while working out and synchronize your movements, breathing, and heart rate. This can make exercise more enjoyable and increase its effectiveness.
Indulge in Some Make-Believe: Embrace your imagination and enter imaginary worlds through acting, cosplaying, or attending carnival events. This temporary suspension of social norms and hierarchies allows us to build mental flexibility and deal with unpredictable changes in our lives.
In conclusion, the arts have been shown to have a profound impact on both mental and physical health. By engaging in creative activities, we can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve our cognitive reserve, and even lower our risk of dementia. So, this year, I urge you to prioritize your creativity and make the arts a part of your self-care routine. Your life may depend on it.
As we welcome a new year, many of us try to reinvent ourselves by adopting new health habits. However, have we given enough thought to creativity? The arts have been interwoven with health and healing for thousands of years, from our Paleolithic ancestors' cave paintings to modern-day randomized trials that quantify its benefits.
Studies have shown that participating in the arts can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In fact, combining creative arts therapies like music therapy with antidepressants and counseling can nearly double the improvements in depressive symptoms compared to standard treatments alone. Moreover, people who regularly engage in cultural activities, such as attending concerts, museums, or theatrical performances, have a lower risk of developing depression.
So, how does it work? Engaging in the arts activates the same pleasure and reward networks in our brain that are activated by food, sex, and drugs. It also fulfils core psychological needs like autonomy, control, and mastery. Furthermore, the arts provide an effective way to regulate emotions, calming or invigorating us as needed.
But it's not just about mental health; the arts can also have a profound impact on our physical well-being. Research has shown that engaging in creative activities can improve cognitive reserve, reducing the risk of dementia and other age-related cognitive decline. It can also strengthen our immune system, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure and glucose levels.
In fact, studies have found that amateur musicians and artists have stronger connections between brain regions and even increase grey matter over time. So, why don't we prioritize engaging in the arts more? Perhaps it's because many of us see it as a luxury rather than a necessity.
But I'm here to challenge that mindset. The arts are not just a nice-to-have; they can be a lifesaver. If you're struggling with mental health issues or simply looking for ways to boost your mood, I invite you to try some creative activities this year. Here are five evidence-based recommendations to get you started:
Find Your Creative Pick-me-up: Use music and books to boost your mood. Swap your morning alarm for a song or take the time to listen to it before getting up. Find a hobby that lets you take the lead without needing instruction, such as drawing or creative writing.
Choose a New Creative Hobby: Dedicate 30-60 minutes once a week to engaging in arts activities. Think about which psychological needs aren't being met in your life and choose a hobby that addresses them. Give yourself a goal to work towards, like creating a piece of art or writing a short story.
Get to an Exhibition: Visit museums, galleries, or exhibitions to experience awe and engage with your creativity. Take the time to look at each artwork, think about what you see, and respond cognitively.
Use Rhythm to Enhance Your Exercise Routine: Listen to music while working out and synchronize your movements, breathing, and heart rate. This can make exercise more enjoyable and increase its effectiveness.
Indulge in Some Make-Believe: Embrace your imagination and enter imaginary worlds through acting, cosplaying, or attending carnival events. This temporary suspension of social norms and hierarchies allows us to build mental flexibility and deal with unpredictable changes in our lives.
In conclusion, the arts have been shown to have a profound impact on both mental and physical health. By engaging in creative activities, we can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve our cognitive reserve, and even lower our risk of dementia. So, this year, I urge you to prioritize your creativity and make the arts a part of your self-care routine. Your life may depend on it.
It's no surprise that engaging in the arts can have such a positive impact on both mental and physical health. I mean, think about it - we're already social creatures, so events like concerts and theatrical performances bring us out of our comfort zones, forcing us to connect with others and experience new emotions. And let's not forget about all those amazing museums and galleries out there... have you ever stopped to really look at a piece of art? It's crazy how it can transport us to another time and place. 
Make-believe is cool and all, but have you considered just dealing with whatever's going on in real life? 
And what's up with the whole "find your creative pick-me-up" thing? Music to my ears? More like music to my therapy bills. 
i was so anxious all the time but now i have this one piece called "calm wave" that's literally me when im feeling chill 
and i started seeing a therapist too but painting is like my own therapy session every week u should totes give it a shot 
OMG u gotta try gettin into art n stuff!! like literally it can change ur life 
i mean think bout all da benefits - reduces anxiety, depression, stress 
plus improves cognitive function & lowers blood pressure 
so like why not?! 
museums n exhibitions r also super cool 2 check out 
. I mean, who needs therapy when you have painting or playing music? 
My only question is how do we make this a habit for people who don't already enjoy artsy stuff? Maybe there's a way to incorporate it into our daily routines without feeling like we're wasting time 
. Ugh, my brain hurts from being so contradictory... 
but reading this article made me think that maybe I should've joined that music club in school 
like 2 years ago, 'cause now I'm getting anxiety just thinking about exams lol what if arts therapy could help with exam stress? I mean, who wouldn't want to combine music with math problems 
. And it's awesome that there are all these evidence-based ways to get started with arts activities - no excuses! 
. Like, have you ever tried drawing or painting after a bad day? It's like magic 
. I mean, think about it - when you're creating something, you're in control, but also challenged enough to feel a sense of accomplishment 
what about all us non-artistic people who are already struggling with mental health? like me i cant sing in tune or draw a straight line 
shouldn't art therapy be more accessible for everyone? 
1) why do we have to choose between taking care of our physical and mental health? can't we just take time to chill and express ourselves without any expectations? 
.
!
. And it's not just about relaxation - I think engaging in arts stuff can help us find ourselves, you know? Get to know what we enjoy and what makes us happy. Plus, all this creativity stuff has been proven to have some serious physical benefits too, like reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure 
), its still super beneficial. and have u ever noticed how music can literally make ur anxiety go away? like i listen 2 my fave tunes whenever i'm feeling stressed & it's like a magic trick 
but can it really replace real-life art and human connection? I'm not convinced. All these studies show that engaging in the arts has amazing benefits, but what about when you're stuck at home with nothing but your VR headset to keep you company 
. Is that really a substitute for actual creativity and interaction? And have we considered the environmental impact of all this tech? Not to mention the mental health implications of constantly comparing ourselves to virtual avatars 
. Give me a break, let's focus on the real world, shall we?