Creativity for when the world is too much
Let’s be very honest, we live in a weird time. Politically we all seem to be moving further into our own camps and losing the ability to converse civilly with each other. Economically we’ve all pretty much given up the idea of ever owning our own home, and are instead focusing on trying to be able to afford groceries each week. Professionally we’re in a place where technology is changing industries incredibly quickly, but the heads of those industries don’t seem to be keeping up. And socially we seem to document and share every moment, but we’re lonely and forget to just be. So what do we do when it all just feels so overwhelming and pointless?
We create. Scientific studies about the effect of art and creativity on mental health are still pretty new, but despite not knowing exactly why it works, it still seems to help - at least to some extent. (Though for those of you who, like me, always want to understand the why of something, we might just have to wait a bit longer.) There’s a reason art therapy has been around for a while.
What we create does not have to be good, does not have to be practical, it doesn’t even have to be for anyone else’s eyes. And there is no one single shape or form that creating takes. There are your classics: knitting, sculpting, drawing, really any of your classic art forms. Crafts not your cup of tea? What about writing, that’s creating. Baking and cooking, that’s creating. Planting a seed in the garden, that’s creating.
Worried you’re not creative enough? Following a pattern or a tutorial is still creating. Think you’re not talented enough? Honestly we all sucked when we first started, it doesn’t matter. Plus, being bad at something is actually pretty good for us. Don’t have access to supplies? There are plenty of crafts that don’t require anything more than a pencil and paper… or even some sticks and string (see what I did there?). Having trouble following through and finishing a project? You’re not alone (my WIP pile is so long I started a list so I wouldn’t forget those projects existed), and creating something doesn’t mean you have to finish the thing, it just means you have to do a bit of it. Don’t have the time or energy? Totally fair, you can always choose something small that you can pick up and put down as time and energy permits.
If you’re still struggling to figure out what to create, here are some ideas to kickstart your creativity - feel free to add to the list, change things up and ignore the list, start on one thing and then change halfway through. The things on this list require somewhat minimal skills, supplies, and time, but the possibility for creating is endless and runs the gamut of skills, supplies, and time required.
-doodle
-make cordage from fibers you find on a walk through a park (milkweed and nettle stems are both plants that make excellent cord - but feel free to experiment with plants you find) - Just be sure to forage responsibly
-rice krispie treat sculptures - delicious and fun!
-experiment with turmeric versions of cyanotyping
-make a friendship bracelet
-paint rocks for your garden
-name your plants
-write the opening line (and only the opening line) of a book you have no plans on continuing
-do crafts projects meant for kids
-put googly eyes on things
-try a new braid or hairstyle
-do a new makeup look
-make a collage
-put on music and create a new dance move
-make some chalk art or a hopscotch on a sidewalk
So remember, when everything is feeling overwhelming, just create. Even if it does nothing but give you 5 minutes of quiet or fun or distraction, that still helps.
I tried my hand at decorating a tart…. It went exactly as poorly as I expected it to, but I had fun doing it anyways!
