Remember how we used to play as children? Running around without a care in the world? It didn’t matter what we were wearing, if the toys were shop-bought or fashioned from sticks, or what the weather was doing, there was such utter delight and a wonderful sense of freedom.
I look back at my childhood running around barefoot, using incredible feats of imagination, conjuring up all kinds of scenarios with my friends and I marvel at the way we lost ourselves in our own little world.
I had the advantage of growing up in beautiful South Africa where, even in the towns, there was lots of nature to lose ourselves in. A nearby field had a stream at the bottom of it, lined with willow trees. We used to swing across the stream on its branches. And if they snapped and we fell in, even better. We used to pretend we were camping and crouch together under a bush, sticks in hand toasting marshmallows. There was no end to our activities. Even on my own at home, I would spend hours with my toys, dolls and books, losing myself in the world of my imagination.
These days, in the grownup part of my life, time is the biggest luxury and it’s easy to let go of that playfulness. In midlife we tend to put our imagination on the back burner. What a shame.
The truth is that creativity and imagination are good for us. They support our mental health and are wonderful for stress. Having a creative outlet is what we all need. Any kind of hobby where we lose ourselves, no matter what it is, will do us the world of good.
I always think of an enjoyable, absorbing activity as a form of meditation. It focuses the mind and puts it completely into the present. There’s no ruminating or projecting into the future.
This is what creating Ageless has done for me. Writing content for my website, making videos for my YouTube channel, and even coming up with daily posts on Instagram, has been a wonderful outlet for my creative juices. It’s true that it’s a lot of work, but I hugely enjoy it.
I’ve also chosen to go into a creative industry as an actress, so I’ve spent a great deal of my adult life using my imagination. However, there are many other parts of my life that are the opposite. The mundane and the load of responsibility we all face at this stage of our lives, can be all consuming. In fact, the acting industry itself is often far from fun. Being out of work (something that most actors are only too familiar with) is tough. It’s one of the reasons I started Ageless. It gave me purpose and a creative outlet, no matter what else was happening in my life. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
Do you have to be a great artist to have a hobby or a creative outlet? Absolutely not. It doesn’t matter if you’re painting a wall, a bench, or a landscape. The effect will be the same. You could go bird watching, train spotting, play golf or a game of cards, and if you enjoy it, you’ll reap the benefits.
So, what are these benefits exactly?
Being creative is a natural extension of stress management. It’s an active meditation.
Science shows that being in a “flow state”, where you lose track of time in a creative task, is one of the most effective ways to lower cortisol, the stress hormone. It has a calming effect on our system. Not only that, but it triggers dopamine, giving us a sense of pleasure and increasing our motivation. It gives us purpose and joy which helps keep us healthy and youthful. The very essence of the Ageless mindset. .
Imagination is not just for children. Growing up shouldn’t mean giving up our creative spark.
Keeping the imagination active prevents mental stagnation. And who knows what could come of that? A life change? A new direction? A new business? Using our imagination is the key to re-invention and new adventures.
Can’t come up with anything? Look for inspiration around you. Instagram is full of women doing all kinds of things. Let them inspire you to try things, go places or do things you’ve never done before.
Perhaps there’s something you like doing but dismiss it as not being that interesting? If it’s interesting to you, then it’s perfect. Or perhaps you just can’t seem to find the time to do it? That needs to change. Maybe let go of something that no longer serves you and find something that does.
Once you give yourself permission to do something just for you, there’s no knowing where it could lead you. At the very least, it’ll help keep stress levels down and at best, lead you to a whole new big adventure.
Here are some ideas to help you along:
Gardening
Jigsaws, puzzles, card games
Cooking & baking
Walking and taking photos of interesting things you see
Crafting & DIY
Reading & writing
