Stop Apologizing for Making Time for Art
Since cortisol is such a hot (and widely memed-on) topic at the moment, I decided to hop on the bandwagon and give an actual, actionable method of reducing cortisol - no need to consume weirdly excessive amounts of raw garlic or anything like that. All you have to do is make a little bit of time in your day for a creative task.
Making art is a life-enhancer, it makes us better at managing our emotions, our focus, and our stress. We're increasing mental flexibility by practicing creative problem solving, creating new pathways in our brains. We're using repetitive movements to access a meditative flow state and quiet anxious thoughts.
One study in particular is referenced over and over again in regards to the observed benefits of art-making; in this study, participants' salivary cortisol (the hormone that controls stress) levels were tested before and after a 45 minute session of creating visual art. 75 percent of participants showed a statistically significant decrease in their cortisol. It was also found, surprisingly, that the experience level of the artist had no impact on the reduction of stress; beginners and pros alike felt the benefit.
If making art is so good for us, why does it feel like everything else in life takes priority? Why should we feel guilty for carving out time for a hobby if it's genuinely such a healthy thing to do? I get it, it's hard enough to eat well and get enough physical exercise on top of everything else in life. But if you've felt like you're battling brain fog and mental fatigue, the answer might lie in active participation in creative tasks.
As part of a personal experiment last year, I set a timer on my phone every day for 15 minutes of creative making (for me, that meant drawing or painting.) Usually the session ran longer, as I became absorbed in the task. What surprised me more than anything was that I did have time for it - when it was scheduled in advance, it was like giving myself permission to drop everything else in favor of personal creative time. Laundry and dishes still got done, I still made it to the gym, and my productivity and mood didn't suffer like it does from doomscroll distractions.
The biggest things you can do to facilitate your creative making time are:
Scheduling it in advance, when you know you'll have a short break.
Putting simple art materials in an easily accessible spot. It can be small; think post-it note and pen, or sketchbook and pack of markers. If you're more of a writer/journaler, maybe it's putting a physical notebook somewhere you can easily see it.
Of course, it helps to also have a dedicated workspace for creative activities, which isn't always the easiest to carve out. For anyone wanting a special space to make, our Artcade doors are open to you.