4 Ways Creativity Benefits Your Brain

Not only are art, writing, and other creative activities fantastic forms of accessible self-expression, but they also do wonderful things for brain health. They’re an excellent way to improve cognitive function, reduce stress levels, process complex emotions, and promote neuroplasticity. 

Expressing yourself

Beyond their cultural and aesthetic significance, creative activities are a valuable form of emotional expression. For example, art, in its various forms, allows us to tap into our deeper thoughts and feelings and externalize them in a physical form. This can be an incredibly cathartic process that can help relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

Over time, it can also help to promote stronger emotional resilience and a sense of self-awareness. Studies have also shown that the creation of art can stimulate the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. 

Being mindful 

Similarly, creativity benefits us by immersing us in the present moment. Focusing the brain on a particular task can provide a state of flow that significantly reduces the physiological effects of stress. 
On top of that, cultivating mindfulness through creativity can increase gray matter density in the regions that are associated with attention levels, memory, and emotional regulation, meaning that there are also long-term physical brain benefits.

Keeping active

Keeping the brain active is yet another desirable side effect of getting creative. Expressing yourself keeps your mind flexible, re-enforcing existing neural connections, and helping to create new ones. 

More welcome news is that engaging in creative pursuits has been shown to stave off cognitive decline associated with aging, and it may also benefit those with existing neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. 

Writing it down 

Putting pen to paper also has a profound impact on mental health and cognitive function. Writing can help to enhance mental clarity, organize cluttered thoughts, and process experiences. In this way, it is a therapeutic tool for the mind that can also help to reduce stress levels and lessen anxiety. 

Creative writing stimulates the imagination, enhancing cognitive ability. For instance, in order to develop complex plots, form believable characters, and construct coherent narratives, the brain must employ a range of cognitive processes such as memory and problem-solving. 

So if you’ve been looking for a sign to sign up to that new art class in town, or start working on that novel you’ve been talking about, this is it!