Creativity’s positive impact on humans – more important now than ever?

In a time of 5 seconds tik tok-clips, influencers and hours of screen time, lots of people seem to experience increasing stress levels and mental health issues because of social media. In the 2016 published book Depress Anxiety- Association between Social Media Use and Depression among U.S. Young Adults, study shows that social media use can make symptoms of anxiety and depression worse.

But what to do if you want to cut your screen time and increase positive emotions?
According to a study in The Journal of Positive Psychology, creativity can reduce stress, decrease anxiety, lessen depressive symptoms and increase positive emotions.

Blue, coral, green and a small hint of yellow. As he strikes the brush lines of bright orange appear on the big canvas. His studio is filled with paint cans, empty canvases and brushes. Calm music is playing in the background.
In the middle of the studio, the artist Jacob Wandrell is working on his latest piece, a colorful abstract painting. When the painting is done the new owner is coming to pick it up. Jacob has always enjoyed being creative, ever since a child creativity has been a part of his life.

– In my early twenties, other things in life got in the way of me being creative, but in the pandemic my identity as an artist and painter was born.
Suddenly I had lots of time to reflect and that opened up a part of me that had been locked down deep inside. I can spend hours painting, it makes me feel calm, satisfied and my paintings show how my inner self is feeling at that exact moment. 

As he dips the brush in water Jacob tells me that he is a firm believer that creativity plays an important role in humans mental health. 

– I believe that creativity is crucial for human beings, and that everyone benefits from opening up their creative side. Creativity through painting reminds me of the same truth everytime – that there is no right or wrong. The only existing boundaries and limitations are the ones we construct ourselves!

Similar to meditation

The Therapy group NYC describes creativity’s benefits as “The way the brain acts during creative activities is similar to the experience during meditation, mindfulness, and yoga exercises. These activities are designed to help you find peace, calm, and happiness by blocking out external stimuli. Like these exercises, creativity can produce a natural “high” or feeling of joy and contentment.” 

Even though creativity is proven to benefit humans, it can be hard to start if you’re not comfortable and used to it. One way to implement creativity early is in school.

In many schools in Sweden, creativity is being used as a tool for students to get more engaged and focused. Mia Ericsson works in a Swedish elementary school as a teacher, has an education in creativity and teaches specifically painting and drawing. She believes that everyone can be creative if they just get the right possibilities. 

– Creative activities and a rich selection of materials in a permissive environment breeds creativity and I have never met anyone in my professional years who cannot or who has not found their ability and desire to create. Also students who have difficulties/functional variations are usually deeply engaged and focused in art lessons or in creative activities at the leisure center, Mia says.

She is convinced that all people, young and old, need to be given the opportunity to discover and develop their creativity. The sooner the better. 

–This is because children (usually) are not as critical of their own creation, so if they start early with creativity, it can follow them in their adult-life as well.

Since she was a child, Mia has always been creative, which is something she continued with as an adult.

-I create in many different materials and every summer holiday I try to challenge myself in a new material or technique.
Today, I have less time to create on a daily basis, but I make sure to go to inspiration courses every now and then do maintain my desire to create, she says.

The day is slowly changing into evening outside of Jacobs painting-studio in Stockholm, and the light is dimming over the colorful canvas. As he cleans his brushes and puts the paint cans back on the shelf, I ask him if the painting is done. He looks at it in silence.

-No, I’m not fully satisfied yet, I will be back tomorrow, Jacob says with a smile.