Celebrating the Importance of Staying Creative & Positive - By Marli Anglim
Celebrating the Importance of Staying Creative & Positive
Finding creative outlets that suit us is a beautiful and important thing that we can do for our own mental health
By Marli Anglim, Student Worker with The WELL
Before this pandemic swept the world, did you ever fantasize about having infinite days of free time? I definitely did. I would imagine the hours and hours of laying in bed, watching my favorite netflix shows, and sleeping in. Well, after about a week of doing exactly that, I can say that it wasn’t quite my dream come true. I found myself constantly lethargic, routine-less, and lacking motivation to do anything. Of course there's nothing wrong with sleeping a lot and watching netflix, but I realized that I would be a lot happier if I found something a bit more gratifying to pass the time.
I love anything artistic, so I decided to try and tap into my creative side. I started by making a list of all the little tasks and ideas I've let accumulate in my mind the last few months, but hadn’t given any time to bring to reality. Next, I tried working my way through the list to accomplish these mini goals. These days, I try to draw something, paint something, or even sew something everyday. There is something about the satisfaction of creating something that makes life much more meaningful.
I have found that taking the time to hem clothes that have needed some care or sew up holes in jeans is a great way to feel useful, and makes me excited for the future when I can wear these items. I also love painting landscapes of Santa Barbara because doing so makes me extra grateful for the beautiful place I call home. I also adore drawing my dearest friends and family members. This allows me to be nostalgic about the times we’ve had together, and also gives me the space to appreciate their impact on my life. Being an artist often falls to the wayside when life gets in the way.
Pre-quarantine times, I always let work, school, and everyday tasks overshadow making art. This is the reality for many, and sometimes it feels irresponsible to take time for hobbies that you love but don’t make money or get you closer to a degree. But if I have learned anything these past few weeks, it would be that this mindset should be flipped on its head. It should be our duty to ourselves to find those things that make us happy, and do them. Making time for ourselves and finding creative outlets that suit us is a beautiful and important thing we can do for our own mental health. These days offer us the gift of time, and the gift of reconnecting with the things that make us who we are and who we strive to be.