How to improve wellness through creativity

Wellness is the act of trying to improve one's life to thrive rather than simply survive. A person who is seeking wellness is looking for greater balance and happiness in their life by making goals and trying to reach their full potential.

The University of South Dakota lists seven areas of wellness:

• Emotional
• Environmental
• Financial
• Intellectual
• Occupational
• Physical
• Social
• Spiritual

The UCDavis Student Health and Counseling Services lists the same categories, while the National Wellness Institute doesn't include environmental and financial dimensions of wellness in its list.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness has been a concept since ancient times. In 3,000 to 1,500 BC, a system of wellness called Ayurveda was created in India to "create harmony between body, mind and spirit." In 3,000 to 2,000 BC, acupuncture, herbal medicine and other Chinese practices were invented to promote wellness.

There are plenty of other cases of people in ancient times trying to create wellness. The wellness movement began in the United States when physician Halbert L. Dunn wrote a book called "High-Level Wellness" in 1961. Since then, more and more people have been seeking to take part in the wellness movement.

Check out our recommended classes to take down below.

Dancing can help you express yourself when words can't. Move to the sound of a song or your own drums by taking a fun dance class. According to a 2018 article published by Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects, dancing has the potential to "contribute to our well-being long-term" and reduce negative emotions. 

Draw out emotions you've never expressed or felt before at an acting or improv class. You'll learn how to become a completely different person when acting, which can be invigorating and exciting. Acting and improvisation can also help you to be more expressive in your day-to-day life.

Authors of a 2020 study published by Thinking Skills and Creativity found that "improv promotes divergent thinking" and "produces benefits beyond other types of social interactions." 

Learn different kinds of music genres when practicing on a piano. The versatile piano allows musicians to convey different emotions and tones by simply touching a mixture of keys.

Playing the piano promotes optimal health and wellness, along with improved computer typing skills, according to a 2019 study published by Thriving on Future Education, Industry, Business and Society.

Have more confidence in you and your voice by taking vocal lessons. Find yourself drawing the attention of a room when performing in front of an audience, or enjoy a less strained voice when performing at home alone.

Not only is the guitar a portable instrument, it's also great for social gatherings where everyone can sing along to your strumming. Learning to play the guitar can also help you release unwanted emotions as you hone in on your song.

Interviewees for a 2017 study published by East Carolina University said playing the guitar was beneficial to "their health and well-being, primarily through a process of connectiveness to self." They also said they felt an increased sense of confidence and stress-release skills.

Looking to become a better writer? Why not join a group of writers who are just like you and get their healthy feedback. You can glean plenty of new ideas and writing styles when attending a writer's night. Additionally, you can use writing for therapeutic reasons as you write out all your frustrations and worries.

Writing support sessions for doctoral students helped reduce their stress and anxiety, according to a 2021 study published by the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education.

Explore how you feel and why through music therapy. Play or listen to music as you reflect on your past or look toward the future. According to a 2018 study published in Music therapy: Research and evidence-based practice, music therapy helps individuals enhance their quality of life and establish healthy habits.

Use symbolism and creativity in a drawing class to better convey emotions and thoughts. Drawing can help you take a break from the everyday stressors of life, too. A 2019, Portuguese study published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing found that art therapy "indicated improvement in anxiety, stress, self-acceptance and overall psychological well-being" for interviewees. 

At Stepping Stone, our instructors are dedicated to helping you cultivate your talents and wellness. Our beautiful space in Rosendale, NY not only provides you with an area for you to focus on improving your life, but it also provides you with easy access to the area's best attractions. Book a class with Stepping Stone today.