Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash
We’re not wired to grind endlessly. The body knows it. The mind begs for it. And yet we rarely give ourselves permission to pause without guilt — unless we’re doing something “productive.” But here’s a twist: what if doodling on a napkin or dancing alone in your kitchen is doing more for your stress levels than another productivity hack ever could?
The Chemical Case for Creativity
Stress is physiological. You feel it in your chest, in your jaw, in your gut. But creative expression? That’s physiological, too. When you draw, write, sing, or shape clay, you’re not just passing time — you’re activates your brain’s reward pathway. That simple act of self-expression triggers dopamine release. That’s your brain saying, “This feels good. Do it again.” And when your reward system is activated, your body downshifts. Blood pressure lowers. Muscles relax. The internal alarms go dim. It’s not about talent. It’s about chemistry. But it’s not just dopamine. Creative focus brings you into the present. It interrupts looping thoughts. It slows your breathing. And maybe most powerfully, it gives form to the formless — the stuff you can’t say, but feel. That translation? That’s relief.
Creative Expression Isn’t One Thing
When people hear “creativity,” they often picture a tortured oil painter or someone strumming a guitar in a candlelit room. But real-world creative expression is broader, messier, and much more accessible. You don’t need a studio or a soundtrack — you just need a start. That’s because painting, music, dance, writing, theater and crafts all qualify. Creativity isn’t limited to the arts — it includes anything that involves making something where there was nothing before. Knitting a scarf. Building a playlist. Rearranging your bookshelf until it feels right. These acts are not trivial. They’re intentional disruptions of overwhelm. They’re small declarations: “I still have choice. I still shape things.”
Studying the Why: Learning as Relief
For those who want to go deeper, there’s power in understanding how the mind works when it’s under pressure — and how expression becomes a pressure valve. That’s where learning comes in. Formal study in behavioral health, emotion regulation, and human resilience can shift how you relate to both stress and expression. Programs in online psychology and social science offer more than theory — they offer insight into how creativity serves as emotional scaffolding. Not everyone will become a therapist. But understanding these connections can make you more equipped to care — for yourself and others — when things get heavy.
The Moving Body Knows First
Sometimes the head doesn’t know what’s wrong until the body says it out loud. That’s where movement matters. We’re not built to sit and stew. We’re built to move emotion through us — literally. And that’s what dance, rhythm, and music allow. Whether it’s swaying in your chair or dancing in your socks to that one track you always feel in your ribs, rhythmic movement lifts mood and eases tension. It reconnects your brain and body. It makes space for feeling without having to name it. And in a world obsessed with language, that nonverbal relief is a gift. Even humming can regulate your nervous system. Even stomping your foot to a beat counts. You don’t need choreography. You need movement that feels like yours.
The Quiet Power of Doodles and Dirt
Not every creative act needs to be expressive. Some are simply rhythmic. Repetitive. Quiet. Doodling is one. Gardening is another. These aren’t about output — they’re about soothing input. There’s neuroscience behind that. When you draw small shapes or patterns, doodling relaxes by calming your nervous system. You’re activating the brain’s default mode network — the same one involved in daydreaming and self-reflection. It gives your conscious mind a break. That’s not zoning out. That’s strategic restoration. And it’s portable. Waiting in line? Draw spirals. Burned out between meetings? Sketch boxes. These aren’t distractions. They’re repairs.
We don’t live in neutral times. The nervous system isn’t just tired — it’s overloaded. Which means creative expression isn’t a luxury or a cute side hobby. It’s infrastructure. It’s how people survive their own lives. It’s how they metabolize uncertainty and digest emotion. It’s how they hold on. You don’t need to be good at it. You don’t need to share it. You don’t need to finish it. You just need to begin. Let your hands do something. Let your body remember movement. Let your mind offload what it’s been looping. Let your nervous system breathe again — through paint, through sound, through shape, through word.
Discover the secrets to living a joyful and passionate life at any age with insights and resources from Dr. Mara Karpel. Explore her best-selling book, her blogs, and her inspiring podcasts!
Find out more about Justin and Bereaving. net at www.bereaving.net and contact Justin at [email protected].
