This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Dalal Daher. Find her on Instagram at @dalalllldaher. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Feeling stressed? If you’re anything like me and you immediately start browsing for a new wardrobe as a form of retail therapy, put the credit card down! There’s a new form of self-care crystallizing that is much less costly than online shopping and a lot less sweaty than simply exercising away your stress: art therapy!
What is art therapy? Perhaps you’ve noticed a sense of relaxation permeating over you when visiting a museum, or maybe you put on your favorite music to destress when life gets overwhelming. There’s a reason why we play hype music to feel better and watch a comfort show when we’re sad. The positive link between art and mood has actually been scientifically backed. Being around art can lower your anxiety and stress, whether you’re creating it or viewing it, allowing you to feel more relaxed and even helping cognitive function.
Art therapy is still a burgeoning field of research, but it’s essentially an application of this positive feeling creativity gives us to combat mental health troubles. While art therapy is useful for anybody struggling with a depressive mood or anxiety, research has shown that as making art activates our brain’s reward center, it’s particularly helpful for those combatting mood, eating, and addictive disorders.
So how can you engage in your own art therapy? The good news is art therapy is quite customizable to the individual person. Any kind of creative pursuit will help you destress, and we’ve come up with art therapy activities for adults to help get you started.
For the gallery enthusiast
Are you more of an art observer than a creator? Do you feel more relaxed contemplating the paintings in an art gallery than creating your own piece? Then make your way to an art museum! Visiting places like the Mangelsen Photo Gallery Jackson offers an immersive experience where you can slow down and connect with nature through fine art photography, making it a peaceful option for mindful reflection. Many museums will have student discounts and seasonal exhibitions as fall rolls around, and a museum trip is a great lower-budget hangout for groups of any size. And if you’re not feeling like traveling all the way to a museum, try looking into online museum exhibitions to achieve that same sense of refreshment.
For the multi-disciplinary artist
For those who don’t want to be limited to just one medium, try art journaling! The perfect DIY de-stressor for creatives who feel equally at home writing as they do collaging. Art journaling is almost like a personalized, self-made moodboard: you can decorate it with collages, stickers, paintings and drawings, as well as write down any thoughts running through your head. It’s a great self-reflective project for those who don’t want to limit their creativity to one medium.
For those who love to paint
The great thing about painting is that you can honestly paint so many different objects. You could try your hand at painting still life on a canvas, challenge yourself to create an art piece in a bright, cartoon-ish pop art style, or perhaps channel your inner Picasso and try some cubism. If you’re feeling more social, you could even attend or host your own paint and sip, bringing along some friends and wine.
If you don’t feel comfortable painting a whole canvas, there’s plenty of other ways to put those paintbrushes to use. You could go to a pottery painting studio (or try it at home!) to make your own DIY ceramics, or even try candle painting!
For fashion fanatics
If you really want a therapeutic hands-on project, and have always been drawn to fabrics and textiles, try to sew or knit your own pieces! If you’ve never sewed or knit before, don’t be daunted. Once you get the hang of it, you have the creative freedom to create anything you desire, from a coaster to a jacket, as well as fix up your own garments!
If you’re not too into the idea of sewing a whole project from scratch, there’s other ways to upholster your clothes and channel that energy that don’t involve sewing. You could personalize your denim pieces with glue-on applique patches or attempt to acid wash your clothes for a grungier vibe with just a spray bottle, some bleach, and some water.
For sparkle lovers
Are you the kind of person who loves anything sparkly? Lucky for you, you can add shine to pretty much anything with just a bedazzler kit from Amazon, from phone cases to clothes. While it may be more time-consuming, adding rhinestones to anything at a whim is a fun and low-effort activity that you can do during date nights, while watching TV, or listening to your favorite music, and it’s perfect for upcycling your household basics.
For the best accessorizers
Lastly, making jewelry and accessories are another versatile and personalized activity one can do to destress! From DIY charm bracelets to beaded keychains, head to your nearest craft store or buy a jewelry making kit to craft your own bling, or maybe invite a few friends over and swap what you make.
The beauty of art therapy is any creative outlet you pursue can help you feel de-stressed, so there’s an opportunity for anyone to try it, and even bring friends along. Any creative form of expression or exposure can be art therapy, so as life gets busy, don’t forget to take some time to yourself and let your creativity roam wild.
Have you ever tried art therapy? Would you try any of these art therapy activities for adults? Let us know in the comments below.
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