Finding Your Creative Spark: Activities to Boost Creativity and Happiness

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Finding Your Creative Spark: A...

Self Expression

Caroline Molakkal

May 08 , 2024

Suppose you feel bored, tired, or frustrated with your daily tasks/work schedule. You think that you may be in a rut, so what do you do? You try to change your current routine to something different, something creative. You may try out a new exercise or hobby, join different clubs, go to fresh places, and so on. This way, you’re entering unfamiliar territory and challenging the brain to develop new solutions creatively. Even with something you might’ve done before, such as painting, you still need to use your imagination every single time. A lot of people say that art makes them happy, others say that writing is what keeps them sane. Many creative activities help keep people going in this difficult, demanding world. Have you ever wondered, why this could be? Does creativity make you feel happy? How can you improve your creativity and, thus, your well-being? In this article, we’ll delve into all of that, and more!

Defining the Two Elements: Creativity and Happiness.

The American Psychological Association defines creativity as the ability to produce or develop original work, theories, techniques, or thoughts. It also highlights imagination and expressiveness. Creative activities include but aren’t limited to, art, crafts, photography, videography, writing, music composition, culinary arts, and invention.

Happiness, on the other hand, is defined by Psychology Today as a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life, one with a sense of meaning and deep contentment. Say, don’t you feel happy and proud of yourself when you solve a new type of task yourself?

Photo by Lidya Nada Team on Unsplash

The Numbers Proving It All

A study conducted by a group of researchers measured the positive effect of creativity on subjective well-being.

It was conducted in two groups: the first, consisting of 256 undergraduate students, and the second, consisting of 291 working adults. Three tests were conducted on both: SWB (Subjective well-being), the SPS (Self-Perceived Stress test) and the SPC (Self-Perceived Creativity) test.

Here's what the results showed:

First group:

A positive correlation between well-being (SWB) and creativity (SPC).
A negative correlation between stress (SPS) and creativity.
A negative correlation between well-being and stress.

Second group:

A negative correlation between well-being and stress.
A positive correlation between well-being and creativity.

Here, we can see that being creative drives happiness. This begs the question: how do we stimulate our creativity?

Activities to Boost Creativity and Happiness

Exercise: Yes, you heard that right. Researchers at the University of Graz in Austria found a positive relationship between healthy lifestyles, innovative thinking, and positive moods. This means that more exercise leads to creative thinking, ultimately leading to happiness. The exercise needn’t be too intense - even a simple walk/jog will suffice. So if you haven’t already, try to incorporate some sort of exercise into your daily schedule; your body and mind will thank you.
Art: Can you boost creativity by just being creative? You most certainly can! You must have heard of something called art therapy, which allows individuals to express their feelings non-verbally. This allows for the exploration of emotions and experiences, and triggers the brain to think in different ways. Art helps in coping with stress, healing emotional trauma, and establishing self-reflection techniques. So, next time you feel a little down, try picking up a pencil or paintbrush and letting your thoughts and emotions take over.
Singing/Dancing: When you’re feeling upset, don’t you put on your playlist of sad songs? Or, when you’re overjoyed, don’t you feel like busting out some tunes and dancing to them? Just like art, musical forms also allow us to express our feelings in non-verbal ways. It encourages improvisation, experimentation, and socialisation, all of which boost one's creativity.
Writing: When you get into a big fight with a loved one, do you secretly write poems in your notes app about the situation? You’re not alone - many people write out their feelings to cope, or simply express themselves. Journalling after a tiring day, writing a poem about a beautiful scene you witnessed recently, or creating a story about a character going through the same things you did - all of these are forms of writing that can boost your creativity. It allows for self-reflection and communication. So, the next time frustration hits, grab a pen and let your thoughts flow freely.

Photo by Aaron Burden Team on Unsplash

Creativity isn’t something you’re born with - it needs to be practised regularly to make it easier for you. Regular creativity will keep your well-being in check. If you feel your mood needs a booster, try doing something creative! If you still feel down, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support on Heart It Out - you can book a free diagnostic test, or speak to one of our highly trained professionals. We Heart You!