Beyond serving as sources of leisure, hobbies such as gardening, reading, and arts and crafts have now been linked to lower levels of depression and an increase in life satisfaction in people aged 65 and older, research from University College London reveals.
Creative hobbies have emerged as powerful tools for supporting mental health, especially for those aged over 65, with additional insights from IBA – The International Body of Art – revealing 33% of Brits aged 65 and older utilise creative pursuits for escapism and mindfulness, marking it as their primary aid in maintaining mental wellbeing. With these findings in mind, the art experts behind IBA – an arts company that helps emerging artists launch their careers by helping them secure funding – unveil five creative hobbies for enhancing wellbeing.
Painting or Drawing
Expressing yourself through visual arts can be incredibly therapeutic. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, painting or drawing allows you to channel your emotions onto the canvas. The act of creating art can be both calming and fulfilling.
Pottery and Sculpture
Channel creativity through the tactile and therapeutic art of pottery and sculpture making. Learn to mould clay into intricate forms or carve sculptures from various materials. Classes and workshops are available for those eager to dive into this hands-on craft.
Creative Writing
Whether you’re interested in journaling, writing poetry, or crafting short stories, creative writing allows you to express your thoughts and emotions. It’s a versatile hobby that can be done virtually anywhere, providing an outlet for self-expression and reflection.
Flower Arranging
Learn the skills to create stylish floral designs and arrange them in vases. With some florists offering small classes, allowing people plenty of time to work on their technique and take home both fresh and dried creations – the classes allow people to work on their design and visualisation skills and take home something which they’ll cherish!
Crafting
Crafting encompasses a wide range of creative pursuits such as knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, paper crafting, and more. This hands-on hobby allows individuals to craft beautiful, personalised items while nurturing their artistic spirit.
At its core, the International Body of Art believes that anybody should be able to create, access and share art. They advocate for an art world that challenges borders and boundaries, an art world that exists beyond the white cube.
International Body of Art is a contemporary arts company working to create a more inclusive and accessible art world, for both artists and their audience. From helping artists acquire funding to exhibiting their realised projects in art shows around London, IBA supports emerging artists through every step of their development. In turn, the company allows art enthusiasts to engage with the most exciting artists from around the world – artists that they may have otherwise never had a chance to engage with.
