Rather than scrolling on Instagram or watching YouTube videos, how do we take advantage of impulses to create and explore? Art, writing, and other creative outlets are excellent ways to stay purposeful and fulfilled. Creative outlets allow us to activate under-used parts of the brain, decrease feelings of stress, and improve mood through the naturally stimulated flow of dopamine.
Below, we’ve created a list of ways you can use art to enrich your free time.
1. Arts and Crafts
Even the simplest arts and crafts can function as mood boosters by keeping your hands and mind busy on a pressure-free act of creation. A good place to start is to peruse your home looking for unused or recyclable materials.
Ask yourself: “What kinds of sculptures or pictures can I build out of these bits and pieces?” For example, old magazine ads can be cut up and glued together to form a collage; empty cans and egg cartons can be assembled into the shape of a robot or a suit of armor — not to mention all the elegant artworks you can make using a single sheet of paper. Check out this collection of paper craft ideas for inspiration.
2. Worlds of Sound
Not everybody prefers to create visually. Fortunately, there are so many worlds of sound and music open to exploration for all ages and experience levels. Is there a keyboard piano or guitar lying around that hasn’t been used in months, or even years? This is the perfect time to practice, and even beginners can teach themselves for free using these DIY instrument-learning resources.
Even without access to a physical instrument, you can still give voice to your inner musician. Take a look at these free beat-making and recording software programs that can help you produce instrumental beats, record your sung or rap lyrics, or even just play around with bizarre sound effects!
3. Creative Writing
And then there’s writing. Although writing can feel grueling when you’re trying to complete a last-minute homework assignment, creative writing exercises help us make sense of our own experiences, give life to daydreams, and develop a vision of the world around us. If you don’t like writing essays, try journaling about your experiences. Even if you’ve spent countless hours thinking about a particular memory, getting those thoughts down on paper can help you dig deeper, opening up new realizations.
If you don’t want to write about yourself, consider writing a short story. You don’t have to fill pages and pages with ink; many powerful stories can be told in less than a paragraph. Likewise, if you hate worrying about grammar and complete sentences, try poetry, which allows you to make your own rules! These poetry prompts can inspire if you’re having trouble finding a topic. If poetry’s not your thing, consider writing rap verses or lyrics to an original song. The possibilities are endless — all you need is a pen or pencil and the desire to create
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Sketch
Many people are quick to use phrases like “I’m a terrible artist. Somebody else should do this part.” Even if you haven’t been trained in the visual arts, that does not mean that visual art is off-limits! You don’t need fancy paints or thirty-piece charcoal pencil kits to enjoy drawing.
Sketching pushes your brain to think in unfamiliar ways, helping to stimulate memory and relieve stress. Dreams, memories, and fantasies can be frustratingly hard to put into words; why not draw them instead? Check out these “Free Online Drawing Classes” for a place to begin!
5. Digital Art
There exists an unfortunate misconception that computer work is purely technical, devoid of curiosity, and committed to efficiency, rather than creativity. As millions of digital artists and designers can attest, however, the keyboard and computer screen can become powerful outlets for self-expression.
Graphic design and other modes of digital art offer creative alternatives for students who feel most in their element when working with tech. There are plenty of ways to access these skills using a computer or tablet. For example, Khan Academy’s Pixar in a Box offers free tutorials on various animation effects and techniques. 
These are just a few possible ways to focus on your creative powers. Everybody has modes of expression available to them; creativity is a way of living.
How are you using creative expression to empower yourself? Let us know your ideas!