Do you have a creative activity that you’re desperate to try? Do you think it’s too late in life to get started or is fear holding you back? Well I’ve got news for you, it is never too late!
So, first of all, let’s put to bed those fears, you know the phrase ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ right? Well neither was that first story penned by literary genius, or a first picture painted by a rival Picasso…..EVERYONE starts as a beginner, and starting later doesn’t mean that it’s impossible or out of reach.
And that fear to start, it will cause far more stress for you as recurring, regretful thoughts than the huge benefits getting creative can bring. Here are just a few as listed by Verily Magazine;
It Relieves Stress
Probably an obvious one, but it’s all because your brain goes into a kind of meditative zone, known as the ‘flow’ state when making things – so if you ever want to switch off and stop endless mind-chatter, then pick up a paintbrush, pen or knitting needles etc. Trust me, this works.
It Increases and Renews Brain Function
As the Verily article suggests, we nurture different areas of the brain when we do creative things and this can help with the production of new neurons, helping to maintain a healthy central nervous system.
Kirsten Nunez also explores the benefits of creative acts as a way to enhance and improve memory which, when paired with other lifestyle habits, may help slow the process of brain degeneration.
It Cultivates Your Community
Humans, as a species, need to be part of a community in order to survive, but more importantly to enjoy life. It’s where we connect and reaffirm our place in the world. Creative Clubs can greatly enrich your social life, with the added bonus of a common interest and purpose.
It Improves Your Mood
Doing something creative can enhance your overall mood and emotional health. It can help us to feel happier and calmer. This is due to us being more self-reflective when when we’re in the creative process.
Still need some convincing?
What’s Holding You Back?
If the fear relates to a little lack of confidence then it could be worth looking at what motivates you to encourage you to take that next step. If it feels too scary to start by yourself, that could mean joining a supportive group where you feel safe enough to practice (and can learn from others), or that you give creative time a shove up your priority list and plan it into your busy schedule, i.e. create the time to create!
Remember this can be part of your self-care routine and that doesn’t mean ‘selfish’ time. As the great Suzy Reading (Author of the Self-Care Revolution) says, ‘It’s not, me first, it’s me too!’.
Carving out those self-care opportunities is so important in today’s full-on lives, and creative projects can be the perfect antidote to make you slow down, and relax.
Here are some further tips to help get you started on your creative journey:
Join a Creative group
As I’ve said before, this can be such a beneficial part of getting creative, a chance to meet and connect with like-minded people and create that sense of community which can lead to some great new friendships too.
For example, if you’re a wannabe writer but sometimes feel stuck for ideas, joining a creative writing group can be a real game changer! I joined a group, lead by a retired creative writing teacher who sets us writing tasks (you soon get into the swing of it) and then we all share and feedback. It’s great for firing your imagination and trying new ideas to get the writing flow going.
Similarly I joined a local village Art Group, as a complete beginner (amongst some very talented artists!) and whilst it was scary at first, I learned so much from them and demos that now, two years on, I no longer wince at what I draw and paint.
Plus you can’t beat that buzzy, joyful feeling of creating something, all by yourself!
Look For More Experienced People to Help You
For example, I joined another group, The Yorkshire Writers Lunch – a wide selection of writers including some published authors who have all the knowledge to help me with tricky aspects of writing and the publishing process – worth their weight in gold!
Learn! Teach Yourself, You Can Be A ‘Creative In Training’
It can be information overload these days but there are some good resources to help you too from books to Instagram accounts. There is a huge, active creative community out there that are very willing to share their knowledge and skills.
My most-helpful gift to myself last year was getting into the podcast world – what a revelation! Now those mum-taxi journeys and chores are much more interesting! Podcasts have exploded over the last few years with many interesting and inspiring creative podcasts now available, click here to access my creative resource page which lists all the resources I use.
Future Learn
The Open University is another great resource that has loads of free, online short courses in all-sorts of subjects, such as, fiction writing, animation and photography to name just a few.
YouTube
YouTube is also a great resource, particularly for step by step Art demonstrations that you can follow along from your kitchen table!
Visit Inspiring Events Such As Festivals And Workshops
A great way to fire your imagination, learn a new skill and have a fun, different day out with friends. There are plenty of arts and literature festivals across the country, and search locally too, usually your council has a creative events website or you can sign up to community Facebook pages, to keep an eye on what’s coming up.
If you’re a fan of a particular author or artist, connect with them on social media so you will instantly see what tours or events they are doing. You can’t get better inspiration than from listening to the story of a person you admire.
Have Some Sessions With A Coach
If you have no clue what creative direction you would like to take, it’s a good idea to talk it through with someone who can offer support to identify what will work best for you
Lots of coaches in training offer pro-bono sessions in return for feedback to help them hone their skills. I did this for a few weeks and it really helps having someone impartial to work with you to achieve a specific goal and have some accountability in place.
And Finally; Set Your Stall Out
By this I mean, find a good place to be creative in your home, whether it be a little nook in the hall, an office or simply your kitchen table. Make the place you do your creative work inviting so that you are only too pleased to sit down and get into the zone; for me that means somewhere tidy and quiet, with a view out of a window. For you it might mean music blaring, and materials spread out everywhere. It really doesn’t matter so long as it makes you want to be there.
However, if you’re the kind of person that works better away from your home, and the chores you can see out of the corner of the eye, then escape the house and go to a local library or café. I do this also at times and enjoy the low background noise of chatter (plus it can be really useful to learn about dialogue if you are a writer, just don’t get caught eavesdropping).
Similarly if you are just starting out, go get yourself some kit, such as art materials, a gorgeous notebook, a nice storage box for your bits and bobs. Don’t spend a fortune initially, just get the basics and build up as you go along. It’s all about sparking that excitement to get you going.
So now you have all the tools to begin. Ready? Set, Go!!
Wishing you all the best with your creative journey and to living a more curious, fulfilled and purposeful life.
If you enjoyed this article, why not read our post with ‘happy tips’ for self-care or 9 of the best self-care podcasts.
Bio:
Juliet Thomas, aka The Curious Creative, is a self-confessed creative addict, combining her 3 passions of writing, art and photography into her website and Blog; The Curious Creative Club.
She blogs weekly to encourage and inspire people to live a more creative, curious and fulfilled life and also helps to promote other local creatives via her insightful interviews.
In addition to currently writing her first novel, she delivers creative writing workshops and designs and sells her own collection of Art cards locally.
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay.
