E98 - Creativity + Movement = happiness
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Speaker: [00:00:00]
Hello, my creative friend. Welcome back to another episode of Create Today with Beth Buffington. Now, ever since I started this podcast, I have been sharing how creativity can make you happier and healthier in heart, mind, body and soul. And today we're going to explore more closely how creativity can be combined with living.
Healthier and how when you combine the two creativity and health, you improve your health and happiness in heart, mind, body and soul.
now, I've been learning and living this path for years, and I'm here to share that creativity doesn't just make us happier. It can be a vital tool that can also make us. Healthier. Now you've heard [00:01:00] me talk about the joy of creating, but lately I've been wanting to share something that I've been feeling even deeper.
The more I weave creativity into all of my life, like how I move and how I eat, how I rest, the stronger and more grounded I feel. So today I want to share with you how having a steady creative practice supports whole person health in heart, mind, body, and soul. Now, mind you, it's not a quick fix. It's not gonna happen overnight, but it is something that you could start right away.
And little by little creativity can become one of the most enjoyable ways to care for your wellbeing. And the best part is that when you include consistent creativity into your life, it will be become the [00:02:00] most fun and enjoyable part of your day. So I really started thinking about creativity and my health during the pandemic.
During all of those days during the shutdown, I started paying closer attention to how I was feeling during the day, and not just emotionally, but also physically, that balance, you know?
And I noticed that when I skipped my creative time, I felt a little bit more tense.
And when I skipped movement time, my creative ideas were slower to appear and evolve. When I let creativity and movement slip,
My sleep wasn't as restful and overall I had less patience for the stress that I encountered during the day. So I started blending small creative moments and movements into my health habits. [00:03:00] So I would draw in the evening while I watched television.
I doodle on my iPad instead of scrolling on social media on my phone, and I took short walks. Lifted weights or biked indoors for at least 30 minutes each day. And I would combine my creativity with my movement by taking photographs of future art ideas during my walks.
And I would keep a notebook in my exercise room for those ideas that would pop up in my head while I was lifting weights and my friend. let me tell you, this is a common occurrence. I have some of my best ideas while I am exercising and while I biked, I have a stationary bike In my workout room, I would watch documentaries or YouTube videos about creative things that I'm curious about.
So new techniques for procreate or new ideas for teaching new thoughts about how to market my art. [00:04:00] And when I prepped food in the kitchen,
I tried to fix food in as many colors of the rainbow as I could find. Partially because I know that the nutrients in all these colors are plentiful and.
Partially because, well, all those colors, when you arrange them on fun plates and platters, they just make you happy. Now, I didn't do all of this all at once.
figuring out how I could combine creativity with movement and when. I started focusing on creativity and my health together. None of it really felt revolutionary at the time because I started small and, and I built up to what I do regularly today.
But, you know, after a few weeks I noticed, I noticed that my energy was improving and the world seemed a little brighter and lighter and, you know, back during the pandemic days. [00:05:00] Feeling lighter and brighter during the day. That was a gift and my thoughts, they also seem to feel clearer and I was handling stress with a bit more grace.
I wasn't perfect my friend, ask my husband, but I truly noticed a change in how I was finding creative solutions in my work and how I was dealing with the stress of the world in my life.
My focus on creativity combined with the focus on my health, well, this had shifted from being something I would fit in when I could to something that supported my daily wellbeing and my energy. I knew that this was something I needed each day, and here's the best part of my Creativity plus health experiment.
There's real science behind the connection between the two. [00:06:00] Researchers have found that engaging in creative activity, even for just 20 minutes a day, can lower cortisol, which is that hormone that is linked to stress and Lower cortisol means a calmer nervous system, steadier blood pressure, and even better immune function.
And art making has also been shown to increase dopamine, which is the brain's natural reward chemical. That's the feel-good boost. You get when you are in flow, when you are absorbed in color and rhythm or movement, and over time that repeated dopamine release can lift mood and build resilience against anxiety and depression.
Creativity also supports better sleep Activities like journaling or gentle drawing before bed help quiet the brain's racing thoughts and it allows the mind [00:07:00] to shift from doing to resting, and perhaps most importantly, creative activity improves heart health by reducing the body's stress load. Studies in art therapy and music making have linked regular creative engagement to lower heart rate, and improved cardiovascular function.
So yes, painting, cooking, gardening, writing. These aren't indulgences my friend. They're not guilty Pleasures. If they're legitimate science backed forms of self care that improve both mental and physical health. And then let's add to these creative benefits, my friend. When we pair creativity with movement, like walking or biking, gentle stretching, we open the door to fresh perspectives, problem solving breakthroughs, and a release [00:08:00] from the creative block that might have been holding us back.
Research from Stanford University found that people who walked, produced significantly more creative ideas. On average, about 60% more than those who were just sitting still.
In my own creative practice, when I step away from the desk and I take out my bike or stroll through the neighborhood with raspberry on one of her sniff walks, I noticed the tension in my mind loosen and ideas drift in more easily and obstacles
that were blocking my progress in my studio, I feel them shift and I find that I figure out solutions on these walks or these bike rides that just suddenly, you know, came to me out of the blue. So by getting out and moving myself even slowly, because raspberry needs to [00:09:00] sniff everything, every rock, every tree, every fire hydrant.
So we don't go very fast. But I find that I calm my mind, I find solutions, and I build my creativity. And I also know that this strengthens my whole health. So talk about a win-win right now. I want to be clear finding health through your creativity and movement. It is an overnight magic. It's more like planting seeds.
You don't see the change right away, but with steady attention, the benefits begin to bloom. And here's the key, consistency and my friend, remember just. Have fun. Your creativity should be something that you can't wait to do Again, it shouldn't be about perfection. It's not making that [00:10:00] next great masterpiece. It's just creating for joy and then the movement you choose to start with. Well, that should be easy and gentle. if you've never been a runner or a swimmer or a biker, just get out and do some gentle strolls or take some beginner classes for yoga or stretching exercises.
Small as mighty in the beginning. Beginning is important and then staying consistent. Well, that can be the hard part, and that is why you should give yourself two things. Number one, give yourself grace. Don't expect to be perfect at your creativity or don't expect to be perfect at the movement you choose.
You don't have to be the fastest person that's running. You don't have to bike a ton of miles. Just start and. Just allow yourself to go a little ways and then love on yourself because [00:11:00] you started. And then I want you to give yourself grace as you slowly ramp up the time that you give yourself towards your creativity and your movement.
Number two, you must give yourself permission to do this because creativity is fun. It often feels like a guilty pleasure, one that you should maybe wait to do when all the other things on your to-do list is done. But my friend, when you allow yourself to realize that your creativity is going to make you happier and healthier.
You'll see how important it is to give yourself this time each day to have some creative fun. and the same goes for movement. It's really easy to think, nah, I'll do some movement as soon as I dot, dot. Do fill in the blank of your latest responsibility that you feel guilty about.[00:12:00]
But you know what? Your brain's always going to have one more thing that needs to get accomplished before you begin your movement. So allow yourself the permission to make movement a priority. Because we always make time for our priorities. So put it on your calendar and then know exactly what you're going to do with your time.
I want you to be ready, know what clothes and equipment you'll need and get it out ahead of time so you can just be ready and hit the floor running.
When it's time to start moving. So I want you to choose creative acts and movement that feel natural and fun for you, something that you will look forward to, not something that feels like another health chore. Now, you know, I love a good list. So to help you get started, here are 10 easy ways to combine creativity and health.
In your [00:13:00] daily life. Number one, the daily idea stroll. So I want you to plan a walk that includes looking for predetermined things. Now this could be a color or a shape, or an animal or a plant, maybe some certain tree. And when you see your focus for the day, take a quick picture and when you get home, I want you to quickly draw or edit the photo
or write a quick poem about what you saw in your walk. Have fun sharing your findings with friends or family, or even pop this on social media.
number two, nature notes. Now this is another walk, while you're on this walk, you're going to collect leaves or flowers, and then you're going to press them into a journal as reminders of the calm moments that you enjoyed while you were walking. Your brain is gonna love the creativity of this natural treasure hunt [00:14:00] as much as your body will enjoy the gentle movement of walking and bending as you search for your treasures.
Number three. Take a sensory walk. Now on this type of walk, you're going to leave behind your music, your audiobook, and yes, even your favorite podcasts. And I want you to just listen, what are you hearing? The wind, the birds, even car noises I want you to focus and, and think on it.
Focus on those sounds that are far away. What are you hearing? And then very slowly, I want you to begin to listen to sounds that are closer and closer and closer to you. As you walk, allow yourself to get lost in the sight and the aromas that these sounds are bringing to your mind. This is a powerful [00:15:00] way to combine movement.
Creativity and when you have a sensory walk like this, you will come home with ideas about what to do next with your creative passions. Number four, eureka ideas and exercise. So this is where you're going to make sure that you have a little notebook and a pen or pencil beside you at all times while you exercise.
While your body is busy moving, lifting weights, or doing yoga or, or Pilates, your brain is always busy thinking. Exercise has been one of the biggest times where I find my best ideas, they just hop out of the clear blue sky, and I found that if I don't write down these explosive ideas, they will disappear by the time I'm back in my studio.
I have notebooks near my bike by my weights [00:16:00] and in the pockets of most of my coats. So I'm ready to jot down those ideas no matter what I'm doing or where I am. Number five, colorful meals. So here we are in the kitchen. Making food, we all need to eat.
We might as well have a good time doing it. So I want you to treat each plate like, like a palette. so choose your ingredients, choose your food for their color, not just for nutrition, but for the, the creative sake of just having pretty things on a plate. And I've done this with my family for decades.
There are nights where we'll have complimentary color nights where all the food is orange. One of my favorite meals to fix my girls when they were growing up was macaroni and cheese, carrots, peaches, and oranges on blue. Plates that were shaped like leaves those complimentary colors, sitting beside each other on those plates.
They were [00:17:00] powerfully beautiful and the girls were always extra hungry when we had orange dinner night on blue plates. So how can you make art with your food? Is it making a funny face? Is it plating it really pretty? Is it adding edible flowers? And sometimes. This is done by simply using your beautiful dishes that you keep tucked away for those special occasions.
So get out those gorgeous dishes and create. And number six, more kitchen creativity. Try a new recipe once a week focusing on sensory joy. Again, these are colors and smells and the rhythm of cooking. So I want you to pay attention to what you're smelling, what you're seeing, and the rhythm of your hands as you're chopping or saing.
And my friend, a really great way to add movement to this kitchen, creativity and your food prep [00:18:00] is to put on some great music and well just dance. Kitchen dancing is fabulous. Number seven, movement art. Now speaking of dance, I want you to dance or stretch or flow to music that inspires you.
This is a great way to take a break during a long session of sitting and just blast the music and freeform dance like no one's watching because probably no one is. I want you to notice how it changes your breathing. This is a fabulous way to get in some creative movement, especially if the weather is too rainy or cold for a nice long walk outside.
Number eight, mindful doodling. Now, if you don't have time for a movement, when you need to take a break at work, I want you to sit near a window where you can enjoy a good view, and then instead of scrolling on your phone or watching mindless [00:19:00] videos.
Take out a small notebook and doodle look out the window and doodle, doodle, and look out the window. This is allowing your brain to at least enjoy some natural creativity as you are taking your break. This is a fantastic time to manifest what is in your heart. As you are doodling, let the universe know that you are doodling your biggest dreams and plants.
Keeping a visual journal of this on a day-to-day basis will be exciting as you discover that by doodling your dreams, you've released your thoughts into the world, and you've started your path to achieving these goals. number nine is an evening unwind, so replace your nighttime scrolling with this creative ritual.
Start painting or knitting or doing collage while sipping some [00:20:00] chamomile tea. Doing something that does not involve screens and bright lights is going to help you just settle your mind because you're doing something very repetitive with your movement, through your creative process, and it's going to help you settle yourself for sleep.
And number 10. Well, this is a sleep sketch. When you wake up in the morning, try beginning your day by jotting down a few words or drawing some quick doodles of one image that represents something that you just dreamed about. Now my friend, you do not need to attempt all these ideas.
Just find one or two or more that you find intriguing that you could eventually make into a creative process that is consistent day to day [00:21:00] and week by week. And also remember that while you're doing these activities, don't focus on perfection. Don't try and make a creative masterpiece out of any of the art that you are producing during these times of loose creativity.
These activities are about the doing. They're about being present in the time that you are doing, and when you engage your senses creatively and you are in the present, your body's chemistry while it begins to shift. Releasing tension, deepening your breath and reminding your nervous system that you are safe.
Now, if you've been listening to this episode about creative health and you're thinking, whew, I want to feel that balance, but I am confused. I don't know where and [00:22:00] how I should actually start. My friend, that is exactly what I help people do in my one-to-one creative coaching. Together we create a gentle, personalized strategy for you,
to allow you to make those gentle changes. To increase your creativity that will lead to better health in heart, mind, body and soul. So whether you want to focus on your creative goals or you want to focus on increasing your health and mindfulness.
Your creativity, or you would like to enjoy a balance of both. You can go to www dot bdi, create today and under menu you'll find a link for coaching. Go to that and it'll take you right to the signup,
If you would like a free creative consultation to chat about what this might mean for your creativity, email me at Beth [00:23:00] at bdi, create today and just say, I need to chat and I'll get you set up now. There are live links in the show notes to help you get happier and healthier with your creativity in hearts, mind, body, and soul.
Now if you're thinking really Beth drawing or painting or crocheting or cooking, that can make me healthier, really, the truth is our health and our creativity are deeply intertwined. And when we create, we breathe more deeply. We slow down, we relax, we process joy into our souls, and we notice details.
These small shifts affect our entire system, the heart rate, our mood, even [00:24:00] how our body processes stress. And when we additionally tend to our physical health, through good sleep, nourishing food and mindful movement, our creative energy flows more freely. So one accents the other that accents the other, and it's like stirring cream into coffee.
Delicious. That creativity plus movement equals powerful tools for maintaining your health. And you do not need a full studio filled with fancy art supplies.
You don't need tons of the latest exercise equipment, and you don't need hours of time. What you need is willingness and permission, and a quiet promise to yourself that you will show up to allow yourself to play. A few minutes each day, that maybe will add up to a half an hour or an [00:25:00] hour each day. And with time, your creative practice will become more than a hobby, more than something you look forward to doing.
When you add movement to your creative process, this becomes a foundation for health, a way to process stress, regulate emotion, and build resilience, and that whole creative health looks like small daily acts that are combined with gentle movements that will remind your body and mind that they belong to the same story of joy.
And if you are ready to feel better, really better in heart, mind, body and soul, start here. Just pick a creative activity you already love to do and then pair it with something that you need to do for your health. Dance in your kitchen. Photograph leaves during your walk. [00:26:00] Write down your ahas as you do some gentle stretches or exercises, and then let the act of creating become a form of care for yourself
purposely. Combine it with movement and you'll soon begin to notice that your mind relaxes, your creative ideas begin to pop up more often out of nowhere, and your energy is going to increase. And my friend, you will feel happier.
It's not instant. It's not dramatic, but it is real. Take it from someone who's been reveling in these benefits for years. Because when creativity and health walk hand in hand, your whole life starts to feel more alive. So keep creating, keep moving, keep caring for the beautiful creative [00:27:00] body that carries you through all of life and doing this will help you stay creative, my friend.
