Drawing, painting, playing music, and writing are all enjoyable creative pastimes that can make us feel good. Creativity does more than simply lift our moods, however, as many studies show that engaging in creative activities can also support and improve our mental health.
In this article, we’ll explain how creative activities can boost your mental health and explore the apps that can help you tap into your creativity.
How Creativity Can Boost Your Health: The Science
Creativity can be beneficial to both our mental and physical well-being, according to Medical News Today. Activities such as art, writing, dancing, and playing music can help with self-expression, deal with trauma, manage negative emotions, ease anxiety, and even support our immune system.
Practices such as reference art and music therapy (non-verbal therapy methods) are also effective in helping treat trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders, to name just a few benefits.
If you want to pick up a new creative hobby or learn how your current pastime benefits your well-being, then these activities and creative apps could be just what you’re after. Thanks to our wonderful world of tech, you can enjoy the following creative activities anywhere on your phone, tablet, or desktop.
1. Coloring
There’s a reason the adult coloring book trend took off so successfully. Coloring is a calming activity that can help your brain and body relax, inducing a similar state to meditation in that it reduces the racing thoughts of a restless mind.
You’ll find plenty of great coloring book apps on Android, but one of the best for supporting your mental health is Color Therapy. Free on iOS, Color Therapy allows users to paint by numbers or color in pictures freely while listening to a relaxing jukebox playlist. It’s also a social app, meaning that you can follow and connect with other artists as well as take part in coloring challenges.
Download: Color Therapy for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Drawing
A 2010 study published on PubMed Central found clear indications that engaging in artistic activities has significantly positive effects on our health. Art gives us a way to express ourselves or things that we may find too difficult to put into words.
Drawing can also help relieve stress, boost our creativity, and elevate our self-esteem, making it a great creative pastime for our mental well-being. Whether you want to explore websites that teach you how to draw well or simply grab a pad and pencil and get sketching, drawing activities can support and improve your mental health.
Sketchbook is an expressive drawing app that’s accessible to all abilities. It’s widely available on desktop, mobile, and tablet. The free version of the Sketchbook app (available on both Android and iOS) provides plenty of pencils, pens, and brushstrokes styles, and is easy enough to use with just your finger—no stylus necessary.
Download: Sketchbook for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Creative Writing
Creative writing isn’t just for published authors; it's for anyone looking for an expressive way of looking after their mental health. A study from the Association for Psychological Science explains that when people write about emotional experiences, this can have a significant improvement on their physical and mental health, and it can be used to help process trauma.
Not only can creative writing help you express your thoughts and feelings, but it can boost your self-esteem and mood. By creating a fictional world or characters, you can explore topics or feelings that could be challenging, or you might simply find a fun way to express yourself.
Starting or maintaining a writing habit can be tricky, however, which can often occur due to a lack of inspiration. Additionally, writing shouldn’t be an isolated discipline—it goes hand in hand with reading. The more you read, the more inspiration you’ll gain, along with an understanding of what makes a good story.
Wattpad is a free storytelling platform that combines writing and reading in one place. It’s a great place to test new ideas, plots, and characters and connect with other like-minded writers.
Download: Wattpad for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Playing an Instrument
A study from St. John Fisher University reveals that playing a musical instrument can help strengthen the connection and coordination between the left side (motor functions) and right side (creativity) of the brain. This means that playing an instrument can support the developing brains of children, but it can also improve cognitive abilities at any age.
Further to this, music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice that uses music interventions to help individuals reach their specific goals in therapy. The techniques used by certified professionals can include stress management, improved communication, better memory, and pain alleviation, among other benefits.
Instruments can be expensive, but luckily there are musical skills you can learn online for free, with or without an instrument. Learning how to beatbox, for example, is a fun way of learning how to use your voice to mimic the sounds of drums.
If you’d like to pick up a new instrument, try Yousician. You can learn guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, or singing through step-by-step video guides designed by music teachers. It’s as close as it gets to being taught by a real teacher, and the app can provide feedback on your performance by recording your playing.
Download: Yousician for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. Dancing
As with many other creative activities, dancing is an excellent way of self-expressing and boosting your mood. It can elevate your self-esteem, release endorphins, reduce stress, increase your confidence, and improve cognitive function.
Dancing in a group or with a partner can also help you build connections and gain a sense of belonging. But if you’re feeling shy, it’s easy to enjoy dancing in the privacy of your own home. You can try a fun online dance class, play dancing games on your favorite console, or try a dance app.
If you want to dance for fun without any pressures, then Just Dance Now is ideal. It’s a popular rhythm game that offers a robust library of songs, with varying difficulties of choreography to suit all levels. Free on Android and iOS, it’s a great way to dance like no one’s watching.
Download: Just Dance Now for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
Look After Your Mental Health Through Creativity
Being creative isn’t necessarily about what you create; it’s also about how you feel when you participate in those activities. If you want to look after your mental health through creative activities but don’t know where to start, then try exploring the above ideas. Give yourself time and space to find and enjoy creativity without judgment or pressure to produce something.