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Feeling stressed lately? Lifestyle in the digital age is moving at supersonic speed, from being constantly hyper-connected to work due to deadlines to notifications never stopping, feeling left behind and struggling with problems. Imposter syndrome occurs when you tap into peers’ ultra-shiny highlights on social media. In other words, sometimes, everything seems too stimulating, leaving your mind confused and emotions thrown into disarray.
Also read: Feeling stressed? 5 types of calming music you need to have on your playlist
How do you pause the fifteen tabs constantly running in the background of your mind? How do you control constant noise? Is there a way to divert your attention productively? often, when Hit by stress, many people may resort to questionable coping mechanisms, such as emotional eating, like how you eliminate brain freezes and eat tubs of ice cream, or throw caution to the wind and go on a shopping spree in the name of ‘retail therapy’. In both cases, you are harming yourself, either to your health, overeating high-calorie foods (and gaining weight) or making terrible financial decisions.
It turns out that art can be a productive solution to stress-relief. Typically, art is viewed as a hobby, but sometimes it serves as a creative outlet, providing you with a much-needed tool to put a pause on your buzzing thoughts and emotional clutter. And if you want the art to be more impactful, workshops provide a supportive environment by connecting you to a community. If you’re afraid to commit or don’t want to follow a schedule, you can also turn to art at the end of a busy day, keep it casual and pick up a brush.
HT Lifestyle caught up with experts to find out how art can help your emotional well-being.
What happens in your brain during creative arts activities?
First, let’s zoom in and take a closer look at the physiological response. Dr Ajit Dandekar, head of mental health (psychiatry and psychology), Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai, tells us that creative activities reduce emotional stress.
“Any creative activity, such as painting or crafts, engages the visual, motor and executive systems of the brain, enabling them to work together. It strengthens attention, working memory and planning. Because of this constant cycle of seeing, imagining and creating, the mind remains focused on the present, thereby relieving emotional stress,” the psychotherapist explained, highlighting that creative activities actually train your brain positively.
Dr. Ajit Dandekar also emphasized that art can be intrinsically beneficial, as well as strengthen cognitive skills such as better attention span, which may also be lacking in the digital age.
“Creative activity also engages the brain’s reward system, making focused engagement feel pleasurable. Over time, such intensive art practice improves concentration, facilitates emotional expression and provides a calming, mentally relaxing experience,” Dr. Dandekar said, explaining how art also works as a mood enhancer and stress reliever. The simple act of creating something helps you manage your emotions better.
The psychiatrist also highlighted the power of group art sessions. They serve as a safe space for creativity. “Such settings help build emotional understanding, improve interpersonal communication, and promote collaboration, allowing participants to express emotions, tolerate differences, and gain self-confidence. Working together on creative tasks creates positive social experiences,” she said.
The workshops also enhance creativity, improve self-confidence and create a sense of companionship, the doctor said. When art workshop participants collaborate, their cognitive and emotional skills also improve. Dr. Dandekar encourages creating art like watercolor painting, which is ideal for beginners.
How can you start using art as a tool to relieve stress?
To understand how one can practically get started with watercolor painting for relaxation, HT Lifestyle spoke to watercolor artist Abhijeet Bahadare. Sharing her experience on how art helps her relieve stress, she said, “Art serves as a powerful means of self-expression. It helps relieve stress, create self-awareness and create a sense of peace. Art helps bring clarity.”
This means that with art, turbulent emotions begin to calm down and you begin to gain self-awareness. Painting also releases pent-up emotions as you express yourself. You embody scattered ideas, finding a solace amid the whirlwind of chaos.
If you’re a beginner, Abhijit recommends these materials for watercolor painting: artist-grade brushes (something round and flat and a rigger for details), watercolor paper that should be 100 percent cotton, mixing palette, masking tape and a water container, paper napkins to clean brushes are good to start with.
Every performer has a warm-up routine that helps them get in the zone. If you’re considering incorporating watercoloring into your daily routine, you’ll also benefit from a structured routine that will help you get into a creative mindset. Like a training session, you don’t jump right into it; You become comfortable with the warm-up routine. Similarly, art is no different.
Abhijeet shares his pre-painting routine to de-stress, “Play light instrumental music, good lighting, mostly natural, fresh air, and start with a wet-on-wet wash painting – no subject, just let the colors flow and mingle freely for a few minutes before moving on to the main painting.,
Next, if you’re still hesitant because you might not have expert-level drawing skills, it turns out that you don’t need any strong drawing experience to enjoy watercolor, according to painter Abhijeet.
Abhijeet shared these techniques, which do not require any great experience, and can be done by anyone:
- wet-on-wet color blending
- washing
- Brushwork (using different types and orientations of brushes)
- textural effects, such as the use of salt
- Scattering colors for grainy textures
- picking up color from tissue paper
- abstract color flows
watercoloring is a productive and accessible stress-relief tool. You are making something. In contrast to the routine of doomscrolling while rotting in bed, month-end shopping, and binge-eating late at night, there is something deeply rewarding and gratifying about the possibility of creation, not just mindless consumption. So make it a habit to turn to art, even if just for a few minutes a day, the simple act of painting will restore your emotional balance and help you feel better.
But it’s important to note that creative activities like watercolor painting can’t replace traditional guidance from mental health experts, so don’t try to use them as a substitute. In addition to professional care, artistic activities are complementary tools to support your emotional well-being.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
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