Have you ever played your favorite band’s music after having a bad day and felt better afterward? Maybe dancing to the music helped too? Or, maybe you played your favorite song on your guitar? Perhaps, instead, you got some paper and pencils and doodled and felt your mood shift? Some people like to write and imagine stories and feel better after putting words on the page.

There are many reasons why engaging in creative hobbies helps to boost your mood. For one, you are distracted from the negative emotion you are feeling and two, you are expressing those feelings through the chosen creative activity. This process takes a proactive step from having feelings “stuck” in you to “processing” them out in a healthy way. The key is to choose something neutral that has nothing to do with your current mood. For example, if you were on the road and got angry at another driver, it would be more helpful for your mood if you drew a house rather than a car. Expressing your creative side lets you focus on another aspect of yourself that you might not get to use often. This expression can lead to you feeling more whole, especially if you feel naturally inclined to be creative. 

Another reason creativity works to improve mood is because, for many people, engaging in a creative activity like dancing, listening to music, drawing, painting, writing or playing an instrument just feels entertaining, soothing, and fun. Our brains are soothed by repetitive patterns and rhythms in music, dancing, writing, drawing, etc. Regularly taking the time out for yourself to address your emotions rather than let your feelings get stuffed away also helps you to improve your emotional and mental well-being in the long run by practicing self-care. 

I hope you are able to find the creative outlets you enjoy and use them to your advantage to feel better whenever you need a pick-me-up.

Jessica got her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Chapman University and her Master’s degree in Counseling at California State University, Fullerton. She completed her internship hours through working at nonprofit community mental health agencies where she worked with children and adolescents and specialized in the 0-5 age range with preschool-aged children and the psychological issues that affect their development and their families.  Jessica is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Play Therapy. She enjoys painting, meditation, playing tennis, and baking as hobbies.