Dealing with Stress - 5 Accessible Creative Outlets
With everything going on in the world and in the country these days, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the negative emotions. Personally, that’s when I reach for my knitting needles.
We are advocates of taking the time to slow down and take care of yourself. A variety of studies have shown that crafting, be it knitting, gardening, or even a simple doodle, can have a positive impact on coping with stress. All these things encourage you to express yourself, especially in a creative, constructive way. I do not recall being taught to be creative as a coping mechanism, but as an adult, I’ve found it to be a good way to take care of myself so I can continue to take care of everything else. Especially for those of us with littles in our lives, not only do we have to cope with stressors, but we are also modelling how we deal with it for our littles.
Here are some of our favorite suggestions for getting back to exploring your creativity.
Doodles or Zentangle - super accessible, anytime, anywhere, all you need is a pen or pencil and a piece of paper
Knitting or crochet - one ball of yarn and either a hook or needles and you can take this stress buster anywhere
Painting - this art is very expressive, and thanks to color mixing, you can get started with just a few paints
Coloring - either in a coloring book or coloring in your own doodles, this activity is enjoyed by people across the age spectrum
Journaling - sometimes, nothing beats writing out your feelings
And a bonus creative outlet, Gardening! As the weather turns nice, getting out in the sun and fresh air can help boost your mood and provide tasks with long term goals.
Times are hard. Sometimes it feels like things are spinning out of control. Taking the time to make is one small way you can regain some control. Do you have a favorite way to deal with stress and other negative emotions? Feel free to share in the comments. Maybe your way can help inspire someone else. Take care and go out there and make something!
