WeedMD's Tips for Healthy Living. Tip #5: Create

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination." - Henry David Thoreau

Some days, just ‘getting by’ can be a challenge and it’s not uncommon for our mental and emotional wellbeing to take a backseat.  Fortunately for us, creative activities such as painting, sewing, baking, gardening, or even just playing music can be very therapeutic for the mind.  ‘Creating’ doesn’t have to be anything in particular; as long as it isn’t related to work inside or outside of the home it can play a big role in maintaining better mental and emotional wellbeing.

Activities like sculpting and knitting affect the body much in the same way as meditation. You can think of it as ‘yoga for the brain.’

Reducing stress improves overall health and wellness and the great news is that you don’t even have to produce something in order to decrease psychological stress.  You can simply soak up the creativity of others by attending a musical performance or strolling through an art gallery.  All it requires is that you allow yourself to get lost in the process and shut out any unnecessary distractions.  Put away your phone, turn off your computer.  Live in the moment.

Creative activities increase and renew brain function.  Keeping your mind engaged can help mitigate symptoms of depression and helps to prevent brain degeneration. Furthermore, it can not only boost your mood, but also improve your social life.  So, let your creativity run wild and you will be taking a major step towards achieving long-term wellness!