Is September 14, 2022

Creative is a word that has been around for a long time – it is based on the Latin word ‘creo’ which means to make or create.
Random fact:

Did you know that 72% of people say ideas come to them in the shower – more than any other place!
I’m just not that creative a person…
Creativity is something I value highly – it is in my top ten values, personally – but one that seems to stop other people in their tracks. The thing is, you cannot be creative ‘wrong’ & you cannot fail at it. Difficult concept, I know, for you perfectionists out there, but creativity is by definition unique & different.
When you embark on something creative, you need to let go of that black & white thinking. Creative activities are in the top 4 categories of adaptive coping (the others are distracting, energizing, & soothing/relaxing activities). It could mean a lot of things – journaling, coloring, art, making something else, planning, music, problem solving, cooking, writing…on & on. The point is to produce something. It could be a playlist or lines of code but you are making something. Whatever that might be. And it is not necessarily for other people – it can totally be just for you!
Creative Activities
Here are some ideas to boost creativity from the Modern Met.
We all need some kind of creativity – it keeps your mind alive! Creativity has a lot of health benefits – there is a reason why art therapy is really helpful in a variety of settings. Need a little more concrete benefits – here is an article from the Journal of Positive Psychology with numerous other citations. It is helpful in business, though there they tend to call it ‘innovation.’
How does creativity benefit you:
- Improves mood
- Improves self esteem
- Alleviates stress & anxiety
- Improves your cognitive function
- Improves your social functioning
- Boosts intuition
My favorite creative activities:

- Art – colored pencils & oil pastels are my fav
- Coloring
- Making jewelry
- Photography – taking & processing photos & using them in different ways
- Decorating (& redecorating) my house
- journaling/planning
- Making lists
- Making playlists
- Gardening
- Cleaning & organizing
- Painting rooms
- Writing

I hope this gives you some ideas! Now go forth and live creative today!