Does Drawing Help Relieve Stress?
Adult coloring books have been a huge hit in the last couple of years. When the pandemic hit, I was like what am I going to do for the next couple months? I used to draw as a kid and thought maybe it would help get my mind off being cooped. So, I bought some stuff and found out I could draw and draw pretty well. After I was done with my first piece, I stared at it for awhile and was like "I can't believe I've been sleeping on this talent for so long." I noticed that it relieved a lot of my stress and tension too. Art therapy is really great for your mental health. According to Yahoo, art therapy "Pairs the creative process (drawing, collaging, etc.) with psychological theory and human experience to help individuals address concerns, emotions and different situations that might be concerning to them."
The great thing about art is you don't have to be crazy good at it because everyone has different taste. What is subpar to you, might seem really great to others. One of my favorite things to do with my friends is set a timer for 5 minutes and pick a person in the room to draw and then pass the pictures around. It's hilarious and really cool to see how different everyones style is. Even if you feel like you're not the best at drawing, there's tons of different ways to make art.
Doodle
Doodle anything and everything! Doodling is still a form of art. You can do different shapes, or trace things. One of my favorite things to trace when I was a kid were fallen leaves. Lucky for you, it's the perfect time of year. If you have really nice handwriting, there's always calligraphy!
Collage
This is a super easy way to be creative and practice art therapy. You may have seen my article on vision boards, they're a great way to set goals for yourself without the pressure. All you have to do is grab a couple magazines and poster board, paper or a cork-board and get to snippin'.
Paint
I'm not the greatest painter, but it's still a ton of fun and very therapeutic. You can head to JoAnn Fabrics or Michaels and grab a couple canvas' and paint. Or go to Painting with a Twist! There's one in Lansing right off of Frandor Ave. If you've never been, it's so much fun! You have to try it one day.