Introduction

This section of the blog post may surprise some of you if you’ve never thought about using art to relieve stress. Yes, absolutely. Have you ever wondered why art never disappeared in light of so many newer, exciting innovations? Did you know that many well-known celebrities take classes in various forms of art as a way to express themselves?

Started Doodling to Help My Kids with a Project

Good things often happen amidst the struggles of life, but we often choose to discount or ignore them. Looking for a job after a layoff is a unique experience, as it involves a variety of activities in a short period:

I had to;

• Realizing my potential while going through the acceptance phase of my layoff.
• Identifying skill gaps and learning new skills.
• Attending interviews while preparing for them.

Many of you can relate to these experiences.

One day, I wanted to prove to my kids that I could draw better doodles than they could. I drew my first doodle, and it came out well. Then, I drew a second one that also came out well. Before I knew it, I had drawn six doodles while my kids appreciated them. This simple act made me feel better, and I realized at the end of the day that drawing doodles made me happy. That’s how I started my doodling journey.

Flow & Focus

As someone interested in data and studies, I am curious to see if my personal experience can be supported by research.

The short answer is yes. Drawing, painting, and other creative activities can be effective stress relievers for many people. While we often hear about meditation, exercise, breathing techniques, walks, naps, and good sleep as stress relievers, studies have shown that art therapy can also be effective. In fact, most people who have tried art as a form of therapy or stress relief have experienced significant reductions in their cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a hormone that naturally occurs in the body and is often produced at high levels in stressed people. The higher the cortisol levels, the more stressed a person may feel. A study published in the journal Art Therapy found that when cortisol levels were measured both before and after participants engaged in 45 minutes of creating art, 75% of the participants had a decrease in cortisol levels.

Interestingly, whenever I get the chance to draw, I lose track of time and the 45 minutes feel like only five. When an activity that takes 45 minutes feels like only five, it is a wonderful sign that you are in the flow state.

How Doodling Became a Fun Family Activity for Kids

We started doodling as a 20-minute family activity and stumbled upon the Google Doodle project. The project allows kids from different grade levels to submit their work once a year (as of writing this), sponsored by Google. We then used the project as a fun family activity, with the kids developing design ideas.

Expressing Ourselves as Humans

I believe that as souls experiencing human life, we all have the desire to express ourselves. Just like joy and happiness, stress is also an expression that we want to communicate, even if it’s unpleasant. Personally, I experience joy when I express myself through art, which is why I believe art has persisted despite so many technological advancements. Writing this blog post is also a form of expression that helps relieve stress.

Conclusion

Living in modern times is a blessing where most predicaments have been well-studied, and solutions have been discovered. Even getting stressed during layoffs can have a hidden blessing built into it. It’s no wonder that many people discover their true gifts in moments of adversity. Personally, I discovered a new gift that I had never explored before.

How about you? Did you have any gifts that you discovered in the darkest moments of your life? Would you like to share them?