This month, we’re continuing to spotlight mental health in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. As our lives become increasingly digital and online, we believe that’s it essential to maintain a healthy balance by setting aside time to slow down and unplug. Spending a little time out of your day to exercise your creativity can build a strong foundation for your mental health. Drawing or just doodling not only helps you open up your creativity but can also help you manage stress and anxiety. Here are 5 ways drawing and doodling are beneficial to your mental health:
Drawing enhances your creativity and activates your brain
Drawing actively opens your brain to creative thinking. Developing a sense of imagination helps stimulate the brain, creating new pathways allowing you to process new ideas and engage in creative problem-solving. This practice can help you not only create something beautiful but also apply that same imaginative power and critical thinking skills to your everyday situations.
Drawing is an act of mediation and promotes mindfulness
What can be perceived as mindless doodling or sketching is actually the opposite. Taking the time to focus on a sketch allows you to be more mindful of the world around you. Centering yourself and setting aside time with a pencil or paintbrush in hand can help you find a sense of balance in your day to day.
Doodling can help you get your mind off of things
Doodling can help induce what scientists call the “flow” state. During the process, you become fully engaged with the project at hand. This increased concentration can help push away any distractions or negative thoughts that you may be experiencing.
Drawing allows you to communicate better and develop a visual language
Drawing is like learning or practicing a new language. Exercising your creativity can help you express complex thoughts or emotions that you may not be able to find the words for. Developing this visual language helps you better understand yourself and your own personal thoughts, feelings, and desires. Through this, it may also help benefit the way you communicate with the world around you.
Art is therapeutic and an effective form of stress relief
Art therapy is a common and effective practice. It is scientifically proven that engaging with art reduces stress and anxiety. Putting pencil to paper allows you to control what is being created. When you create something, your body releases dopamine, activating the reward centers of your brain. This sense of achievement and accomplishment can help alleviate some amount of stress that you may be feeling.
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FAQs
Don't Stress, Paint!
There is a positive connection between art and mental health—artistic activities such as sculpting, painting, or drawing are known to lower stress levels and promote mental calmness. Creating art takes your mind off of your everyday life and provides a relaxing distraction.
What are the mental health benefits of drawing? ›
Don't Stress, Paint!
There is a positive connection between art and mental health—artistic activities such as sculpting, painting, or drawing are known to lower stress levels and promote mental calmness. Creating art takes your mind off of your everyday life and provides a relaxing distraction.
What are the mental benefits of doodling? ›
The study theorized that doodling helps memory recall by keeping the brain alert and awake during otherwise boring tasks. Doodling also helps memory by taking some strain off the brain when it's ingesting large quantities of new information.
What are the benefits of drawing on the brain? ›
Drawing increases many of the cognitive functions that researches typically label as the 'creative' and 'right brained' activities. Intuition increases. Produces positive brain chemistry like Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.
What are the psychological benefits of painting? ›
It can help reduce stress levels, improve focus and concentration, boost confidence, provide a creative outlet, and promote mindfulness.
How can drawing help with stress and anxiety? ›
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that can decrease in individuals with anxiety and depression. Because art therapy increases these brain chemicals, it helps people feel happier and more balanced. Art also helps an individual relax and get in touch with their emotions.
Is doodling good for ADHD? ›
When a person with ADHD feels overwhelmed or stressed, doodling can serve as a healthy coping mechanism to alleviate these feelings. Enhanced Memory – Doodling can also help to enhance memory retention. Drawing visual representations of concepts or ideas can help to reinforce them in the mind.
Can drawing help you concentrate? ›
As it turns out, those simple scribbles can do everything from sharpening your creativity to boosting your productivity, focus and mood. In this article, we'll delve into everything you need to know about the science of doodling, including the myriad of benefits of your brain.
What happens to your mind when you draw? ›
Not only is drawing a form of literacy, it also helps your memory! A study from Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology found that participants that doodled were 29% more likely to remember mundane information. IT MAKES YOU HAPPY: When you draw, you release Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.
Does drawing release dopamine? ›
When the artist's hand begins a drawing, the mind releases dopamine. That tells the brain to “Pay attention—this will be rewarding in the end”. Motivated to see that reward, the brain focuses on the drawing, and then relaxes when it is complete: reward.
Drawing — and other forms of art — can help you release stress and anxiety. You can draw at home to boost your imagination and creativity, be more mindful and grounded, and relieve anxious thoughts. You can also work with an art therapist to help you manage mental health conditions or trauma.
What are the psychological effects of drawing? ›
Drawing enhances your creativity and activates your brain
Drawing actively opens your brain to creative thinking. Developing a sense of imagination helps stimulate the brain, creating new pathways allowing you to process new ideas and engage in creative problem-solving.
Why is art good for mental health? ›
Whether it's part of a creative arts therapy exercise, or something you experience in your everyday life, art can help: Increase serotonin levels. Increase blood flow to the part of the brain associated with pleasure. Foster new ways of thinking.
Why do people love drawing? ›
We live in an increasingly isolated world. Sketching helps you connect with yourself and others. Creating is a mode of expression that validates your individuality and improves self-esteem. It not only helps you see yourself, but also makes you more curious about others and the world around you.
What is the benefit of drawing your mental models? ›
Mental models provide a framework to help you break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces. With practice, you can develop mental discipline and become more adept at solving difficult problems.
What is the power of art on mental health? ›
Benefits of Art for Mental Health
Art possesses the ability to boost one's confidence and facilitate a journey of self-discovery. Engaging in art helps individuals explore their inner thoughts and feelings, leading to a deeper understanding of the self and enhanced self-esteem.
How does drawing reduce anxiety? ›
When people engage in creating art, it also increases mindfulness and helps them become aware and conscious of their thoughts and state of mind. Mindfulness helps reduce the body's chaotic response to stress and allows a person to create a buffer of emotional space.
