We know there’s some sort of connection between happiness and using your imagination, but a recent study suggests any creative pursuit — no matter how small — can help you beat the blues. It only takes a single dose of creativity a day.
Photo/illustration by torbakhopper.
The study, published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, involved over 650 participants keeping a daily diary for two weeks. They were asked to describe their mood each day and rate how creative they had been. After analysing the diaries, the researchers’ findings suggest a little creativity goes a long way in being happier in the future. Participants who engaged in creative pursuits one day significantly boosted their mood for the following day. Overall, they reported feeling more energetic, enthusiastic, and excited.
These findings might not seem too surprising, but here’s the kicker: it didn’t take much creative activity for participants to reap the benefits. Just one, small creative activity a day helped. And you don’t have to be a skilled artist either. Something as simple as mindless doodling, making a joke, or even daydreaming will do.
Everyday creative activity as a path to flourishing [Journal of Positive Psychology via Science of Us]
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