Key TakeawaysAn ongoing study from the U.K. suggests that partaking in creative activities—from singing or drawing to practicing an instrument—can actually elevate your mood during the pandemic.Just 30 minutes of a creative activity a day can make a difference.

Key Takeaways

An ongoing study from the U.K. suggests that partaking in creative activities—from singing or drawing to practicing an instrument—can actually elevate your mood during the pandemic.Just 30 minutes of a creative activity a day can make a difference.

An ongoing study from the U.K. suggests that partaking in creative activities—from singing to drawing to practicing an instrument—can actually elevate your mood during the pandemic.

“The pandemic is wreaking havoc on all parts of our lives,“Sarah Hunter Murray, PhD,a registered relationship and family therapist who was not involved with the study, tells Verywell. “It has increased our stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future, it has led to financial changes and strains, and it has left us socially isolated with little to no access to the activities that used to fulfill our mental and physical health.”

The study notes that more than half of the participants said they missed activities like going to museums, concerts, and visiting bookstores. Some participants continued their normal arts-related habits, though, and 22% of respondents increased their arts consumption or production since the start of the pandemic.

What This Means For YouIt’s normal to feel anxious and depressed during times of uncertainty. To help alleviate stress, try engaging in 30 minutes of art activities a day.

What This Means For You

It’s normal to feel anxious and depressed during times of uncertainty. To help alleviate stress, try engaging in 30 minutes of art activities a day.

Missing Connection

While most people are missing heading out to concerts or performances, artists also miss the experience of sharing their art with others. The inability to perform has negatively impacted the mental health of many.

“I feel like some part of me has been ripped away,” Katherine White, a professional clarinetist at the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, tells Verywell. “Everyone else goes to concerts for entertainment and because they’re fun and something you can do with family and friends. I do it because it is my calling and is as much a part of me as breathing. I think we need the togetherness and happiness that live music and other arts give us.”

The musician, who has focused on her pet-sitting business during the pandemic, strongly believes in the power of arts, but she doesn’t think online solutions like virtual concerts will ever replace in-person gatherings. “Nothing compares to being in the same space and having the same experience with a group of people on stage and in the audience,” she says. “There is an electricity that happens there and nowhere else.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.APPG on arts health & wellbeing - webinar live stream.

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.APPG on arts health & wellbeing - webinar live stream.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

APPG on arts health & wellbeing - webinar live stream.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?