Hi my friend,
I believe creativity has a beautiful way of helping us slow down, reconnect with ourselves and others, and make space for joy.
It's become such an important part of my own life that today, I thought I'd share a little more about why I believe that.
I've always loved understanding why things work. In fact, I studied science, language, and education at university. These days I couldn't explain all the biochemical pathways (or even any of them!), but I don't think a scientific way of looking at the world ever really leaves you.
I theoretically knew that chronic stress wasn't good for us. Like most people, I knew that slowing down mattered and that taking care of ourselves was important.
But through making space for creativity again (did I say "again"? I kind of got caught up in motherhood, trying to keep small children alive while dealing with a body that was barely holding itself together and the chronic pain that came with that. For a while, I genuinely didn't believe I had time to sit and paint...) I experienced something that theory alone could never have taught me.
One of the people who has had a profound influence on my own creative journey is my aunty, artist Malini Parker. Over the years I've attended every type of workshop she offers, she gave me something I didn't realise I needed: permission to make creativity a priority, even in life's busiest seasons. During her workshops she shares how creativity has impacted her own life.
As I began making space to create again, I noticed something in myself.
Creativity didn't just give me something enjoyable to do.
It helped me feel calmer.
More present.
More connected.
More patient.
More like myself.
And I even found myself wondering whether my pain somehow felt a little less overwhelming.
Something I'd known in theory had become my experience.
Did you know that creative activities have been shown to help regulate our nervous system, reduce stress, improve mood and support our overall wellbeing? I'm getting a teeny bit science-y now...
🌿 Creativity helps calm our nervous system
One of the things I find most fascinating is that creativity doesn't just occupy our minds – it seems to affect our bodies too.
When we're deeply absorbed in making something, our attention often settles, we become less caught up in the busyness around us, and we can begin to feel calmer and more grounded. Researchers are increasingly finding that creative activities can help regulate our stress response and support emotional regulation, although they're still discovering exactly how these effects occur.
Perhaps it's one of the ways we gently remind our bodies that, at least for this moment, we're safe enough to slow down, breathe, and simply be.
🌿 Creativity is different from simply switching off
Watching television or scrolling on our phones can certainly help us unwind sometimes, and there's absolutely a place for that.
But creativity invites us to participate rather than simply consume. We make decisions, solve little problems, use our hands, engage our imagination, and often become absorbed in the process. Researchers think this active engagement may be one of the reasons creativity feels so nourishing.
🌿 Small moments really do matter
One of the things I find most encouraging is that the benefits don't necessarily depend on spending hours creating.
Even relatively brief periods of creative activity have been linked with improvements in mood and wellbeing in a number of studies. That's wonderful news for those of us living super busy lives, because it reminds us that creativity doesn't have to be another item on our to-do list. Sometimes even a few minutes is enough.
None of this means creativity is a cure-all.
Life is still busy.
Hard things still happen.
But perhaps creativity is one of the ways we gently remind our bodies—and ourselves—that we are safe enough to breathe, to notice, and to simply be.
That's one of the reasons I offer Creative Sanctuary.
Not to teach people how to become artists.
Not to create perfect masterpieces.
But to provide a gentle space where people can reconnect with that part of themselves that so easily gets pushed aside by the busyness of everyday life.
Whether your creativity looks like painting, gardening, sewing, woodworking, baking, knitting, writing, photography, or something completely different, I hope you know this:
Making space for creativity isn't something you have to earn once everything else is finished.
It might just be one of the things that helps sustain you while you're living your beautifully full life.
I'd love to leave you with a little question.
When do you feel most like yourself?
If you'd like to share, I'd genuinely love to hear from you. Just hit reply.
With warmth and compassion,
P.S. Malini Parker also has a beautiful free e-book called 5 Ways Using Your Creativity Might Just Save Your Life if you'd like to have a read.
P.P.S. If you're curious about some of the research behind creativity, health and wellbeing, the points I've shared above are drawn from these articles. They're written for researchers rather than casual reading, but if you enjoy digging into the science, you might enjoy them too:
🌷How the Arts Heal: A Review of the Neural Mechanisms Behind the Therapeutic Effects of Creative Arts on Mental and Physical Health
🌷Mechanisms Underpinning the Mental Health Impact of Arts Engagement
🌷The Therapeutic Effectiveness of Creative Activities on Mental Well-being: A Systematic Review of the Literature
🌷Does Regular Engagement with Arts and Creative Activities Improve Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing? A Systematic Review and Assessment of Causality
