Wellness and Creativity: Why Making Art Is a Powerful Form of Self-Care

kennethjohnsonart
Feb 4
3 min read

Updated: Feb 7

In a culture that often treats wellness as something to optimize, track, or purchase, creativity offers a quieter and more human path. Drawing, writing, crafting, designing, or simply making something with your hands is not just a hobby—it can be a powerful wellness practice that supports mental, emotional, and physical health in a world that often seems chaotic.

According to research psychologist Cathy Malchiodi Phd, LPCC, “making art … may be as important to your health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, or meditation. Creativity is a wellness practice and we now know there are numerous reasons to make it part of your “wellness resolutions.” (Psychology Today, Dec 2015)

Creativity invites us to slow down, turn inward, and reconnect with ourselves in ways that modern life rarely encourages.

Creativity as a Regulator of Stress

When we engage in creative activities, the nervous system responds. Studies have shown that creative expression can reduce levels of cortisol—the hormone most closely associated with stress. Even brief periods of creative activity, such as sketching, journaling, or working with color and form, can shift the body out of a stress response and into a calmer, more regulated state.

This happens because creativity pulls our attention into the present moment. When we are absorbed in making something, the mind quiets. Worries soften. The constant internal dialogue slows, allowing the body to rest.

Emotional Release Through Making

Creativity gives shape to emotions that are often difficult to articulate. Feelings like grief, longing, joy, confusion, or hope can be expressed visually, symbolically, or intuitively—without the pressure of explanation.

This form of emotional release is deeply therapeutic. Instead of suppressing or intellectualizing emotions, creative expression allows them to move through us. The act of making becomes a container for what we’re carrying, offering relief and clarity without judgment.

You don’t need to “be good at art” for this process to work. The benefit comes from expression, not perfection. In the words of Winston Churchill, "Perfection is the enemy of progress."

Self-Expression as Mental Health Support

Self expression fosters self-awareness and personal growth. At its core, creativity is an act of self-recognition. It says: This is what I feel. This is what I see. This is what matters to me.

That affirmation is powerful for mental health. Creative practices help build self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a sense of agency. They remind us that we are not passive recipients of our experiences—we are participants, capable of shaping meaning from them.

For many people, creative rituals become grounding anchors during periods of anxiety, burnout, or transition. They offer continuity and comfort when life feels uncertain.

Creativity as a Mindful Practice

Mindfulness is a mental state that helps us focus on our awareness of the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting our feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness practices can improve our ability to look inward and facilitate creativity.

Creative work naturally aligns with mindfulness. Whether painting, designing, or arranging a space, creativity invites presence. Hands move. Breath steadies. Attention focuses. Creativity flows. Mindfulness practices improve skills or habits of mind that can support creativity, Additionally, and importantly, it supports our intuition.

Unlike meditation, which can feel intimidating or inaccessible to some, creativity offers an entry point into mindfulness that feels natural and inviting. It allows stillness without forcing silence, reflection without rigidity.

Making Space for Artful Living

Wellness does not require constant improvement. Sometimes it simply asks for permission—to play, to explore, to create without outcome.

Incorporating creativity into daily life doesn’t require large blocks of time or elaborate tools. You do not need a studio to be creative; engage in small, daily acts like journaling, sketching, making music, or arranging flowers. It can be something as simple as lighting a candle before journaling, sketching during a quiet moment, or choosing objects and spaces that reflect what brings you peace.

Creativity reminds us that wellness is not just about care for the body, but care for our inner life and mental health.

When we make space for creativity, we make space for ourselves.

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