Creativity is commonly associated with how people can come up with products, ideas, or solutions that are unique and contextual. But could cultivating creativity enhance our well-being or promote feelings of meaning, engagement, purpose of life, and optimism?
In a psychology research study led by Dr Min Tang, Institute for Creativity and Innovation, University of Applied Management, Ismaning, Germany, Dr Tang sought to find out if creativity could be a means to well-being and social connectedness (I.e., the experience of feeling close and connected to others) when facing a crisis. 1,420 participants took part in the study and responded through surveys about their creative actions, and motivations to engage in the creative actions during a crisis.
The study examined “Creativity” as an activity of devising solutions for our everyday problems rather than in an artistic creative manner which is delightful news for us. In other words, discovering how we can reap the benefits of well-being by engaging in “Creativity” activities even if we are not quite the aspiring Vincent Van Gogh 😊 .
Based on the essential well-being oriented research study by Dr Tang, these are top three reasons why doing creative activities can enhance our well-being:
#1 People’s perceived impact of a crisis triggers creative process engagement, which strengthens their creative growth, and this leads to a higher level of perceived well-being.
#2 Besides creative engagements, perceived creative growth also contribute to the experience of flourishing.
#3 Creativity is also an effective way to deal with crisis and to achieve flourishing experiences
If you are wondering this is great, wait till you discover these additional ideas that can really help us cultivate our own creativity pursuits: by re-uniting with our appreciation of life, recognition of our personal strengths, exploration of new possibilities, or spiritual development. These can all contribute to activation of our creativity which can in turn unlock our enriched well-being.
Here are some creative inspirations that I have uncovered which may help you explore new possibilities, activate our creative process engagements and ultimately let us enjoy a higher level of wellness:
BREAKFAST is a Brooklyn-based robotic kinetic art studio led by artists Andrew Zolty and Mattias Gunneras. The studio, started in 2009, is focused on creating forward-looking software-and-hardware-driven artworks that connect viewers to far-away places through interactive experiences, and tell powerful stories about our rapidly-changing world.
The Mori Building Digital Art Museum is a new digital space that lets visitors explore their way through otherworldly sights and sounds.
With over 1000+ creativity prompts simply a tap away and you’ll never be short of creative inspiration. The App is just like having your own creativity coach on call 24/7 all available in one easy-to-use app. Whether you’re facing a challenge at work or in life, set up a daily spark notification and you’ll be inspired to think up creative solutions every day.
4. Ted Talks
Ted talks is a editor curated video content platform with over 4000+ talks that could stir your curiosity and perhaps juice up our creativity at the same time. I regularly turn to Ted talks when driving or chilling during the weekends to explore new ideas that can boost creativity or explore new possibilities.
5. Coffitivity
According to a peer-reviewed study out of the University of Chicago, "A moderate level of ambient noise is conducive to creative cognition." In a nutshell, this means being a tiny bit distracted helps you be more creative. This is probably why those “AHA” moments can happen when we're brushing our teeth, taking a shower, or mowing the lawn! When we're not focused too much at a task at hand, we come up with awesome stuff. In the coffee shop, the chatter and clatter actually distract us a tiny bit and allows our creative juices to start flowing.
1SE is a video journal that makes it easy for people around the world to create meaningful movies that include every day of their lives. It lets you record and share your experiences and your life journey with those who matter most to you. This could activate our creative neurons, starting with your first video journal. Fascinating 1 second a day idea for engaging our creativity over the long run!
Many have said that creative pursuits like music creation is a truly self-empowering experience, but on the other hand there are also perceptions that most of us are not adept at doing so This online platform Singing Bowls turns that perception around on its head. Simply by setting the parameters of a few slider bars, anyone can now create their own personally customised relaxation music. I have often used this to produce background music sound tracks for relaxation, weekend readings or an evening walk in the park
You may also like to explore the next Wellness Chums blog post on “Hidden Wellness Powers in Your Hands Right Now” and discover the nascent power of your music playlist for improving wellness at work.
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Best of luck, have a spectacular week! - Well wishes from our Wellness Chums team in Singapore.
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