It’s no secret that regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet are essential for a longer and healthier life. But, very few know the benefits of painting as a hobby and how such activities can contribute to a healthier, happier life. Aside from keeping your mind strong and improving the quality of life, there are 10 proven painting benefits you need to know about:
1. Promotes Mental Health
Of the many benefits of painting and similar creative activities, promoting mental health is the most important. Yet, so many don’t recognize how painting and mental health interlink. Painting is a simple activity that can benefit your mental health in many ways.
The psychology behind painting is quite simple. When you enjoy a particular activity, your body releases neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin. Both tell your body and mind when you’ve achieved something good, giving you a complete sense of happiness and pride. And of course, once you discover how painting and mental health help one another, you’ll never want to give up your hobby!
2. Relieves Stress
Vague as it may seem, painting for stress relief is another incredible benefit! Stress is a problem that everyone deals with to some extent during all grades of life. But, high stress and anxiety levels can lead to all kinds of mental health struggles.
When things become too heavy to handle, you’re more likely to see the importance of painting as it gives you a sense of worth and independence. You can think of painting as a time to forget all your troubles and let loose!
Physical, mental, and emotional pressure build ups can cause severe chemical imbalances. If this happens, you may experience high blood pressure, heart rate, or even blood sugar levels. Unless you de-stress once a week, that bottled-up tension can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, anger, and even depression. And if you don’t do something to relieve the pressure, your feelings may become too difficult for you to manage.
So, it’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as having no time for your hobby. Every once in a while, put yourself before everything and everyone else. Take half an hour out of your day to do something you love – it’s not selfish to enjoy painting for stress relief!
3. Supports Your Emotional Well-being
Many painters release emotions through their artwork, and each piece represents something sentimental. Whether that’s a recent or past personal experience, a family member, friend, or something they love.
Artists often express their emotions through their artwork. They take the time to observe and understand the factors that contribute to their moods. They can use different painting forms to understand what triggers feelings such as happiness, sadness, love, or anger. This helps them better manage their moods. Painting can heal through abstract emotional expression. Lots of people love to unwind, switch off and do something good for the soul!
4. Helps Prevent Memory Loss
Preventing memory loss is one of the most significant cognitive benefits of painting. According to neurologists, painters and writers have less chance of developing memory loss as they grow old. Painting helps sharpen the mind through imitating what your eyes see and can often bring back repressed memories.
Many residential homes plan weekly painting sessions for their residents living with memory loss. It creates a peaceful and happy environment for them to reminisce fond memories through their artwork.
Adding to the cognitive benefits of painting, artists get the chance to express their feelings and emotions without words. In situations where you may be too overwhelmed to speak, painting can help you express your thoughts and emotions. When you can’t find the words to explain how you’re feeling, let your painting do the talking for you.
5. Allows You to Spend Time Alone
One more reason why painting is good for you is the time you get to spend alone while you do it, especially if you often lead a busy schedule. Many painters love to switch off from what’s going on in the world and indulge in their imagination. Hundreds of artists claim this has helped them create some of their best work!
No matter how busy your schedule can get, remember to take a little ‘me time’ now and then. Being surrounded by people all the time can get a little overwhelming, so find a calm and quiet space and relax. Switch off your phone, grab your painting kit, and put all your troubles aside for a minute or two – just do you! It’s always better to unwind before things start to get on top of you.
6. Inspires Non-verbal Communication
Inspiring non-verbal communication is another example of why painting is good for you. Not everyone understands the importance of painting, but for artists, it’s not just a hobby. Artists sometimes convey messages through their work.
Every painting tells a unique story, and often one that’s personal to that artist; a story no amount of words could ever explain. People living with anxiety and depression sometimes use art to cope with the overwhelming feelings associated with everyday life. Their paintings tell a story that holds a deeper meaning; a story that only those who appreciate art would understand.
So, when you don’t feel like talking, or you can’t bring yourself to open up, one of the best painting benefits is that you can tell your story through the canvas. A picture is worth a thousand words, after all.
