{"id":25586,"date":"2015-05-21T18:27:18","date_gmt":"2015-05-21T22:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=25586"},"modified":"2016-06-02T18:20:10","modified_gmt":"2016-06-02T22:20:10","slug":"why-creating-for-fun-is-not-waste-of-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/ja\/journal\/why-creating-for-fun-is-not-waste-of-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Creating for Fun is Not a Waste of Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was a child, I spent hours in my family\u2019s unfinished basement playing with felt dolls, writing short stories, and creating plays using Polly Pockets as\u00a0actors. In these moments, there was no pressure to create a masterpiece. There was no boss or professor I needed to please. Like many other children, I was creating for the pure joy of it.\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

As we get older and stressors increase, we forget to indulge in creative play. We often defend this neglect with the excuse, \u201cI don\u2019t have enough time\u201d or \u201cthere are more important things that I need to do.\u201d However, studies<\/a> have shown that stress and creativity are directly linked. Too much stress, and the creative mind suffers. And it goes both ways; engaging in creative activities helps to ease stress, allowing the mind to stretch and explore fun, new territories.<\/p>\n

Dr. Robert Epstein<\/a>, a visiting scholar from the University of San Diego, suggests incorporating creative activities into one\u2019s daily routine. By doing so, we not only allow our imagination to grow, but we take away some of the tension experienced throughout our everyday life. By denying ourselves creativity, we make ourselves more susceptible to stress, and therefore we\u2019re more inclined to feel fatigued and unproductive.<\/p>\n

When I initially began creating for pleasure, I felt like I was wasting time. I felt guilty for not working on paid projects. And yet once I forced myself to engage in creative activities (painting, collaging, writing, etc.), I found that I was more relaxed and imaginative. I approached other projects with ease and confidence. I was nurturing the left side of my brain, and it was giving back.<\/p>\n

Regardless of your profession, bringing a little\u00a0innovation\u00a0into your daily life\u2014whether you’re creating\u00a0a piece of art\u00a0or a new experience\u2014can provide numerous benefits. Get started with these simple tips.<\/p>\n