Creativity may be key to healthy aging. Here are ways to stay inspired.
Creativity may be key to healthy aging. Here are ways to stay inspired.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/creativity-may-be-key-to-healthy-aging-here-are-ways-to-stay-inspired/2021/07/10/679e20fc-e0e1-11eb-9f54-7eee10b5fcd2_story.html
By Matt Fuchs at the Washington Post
July 12, 2021|Updated yesterday at 2:29 p.m. EDT
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If you’re interested in staying healthy as you age — and living longer — you might want to add a different set of muscles to your workout routine: your creative ones. Ongoing research suggests that creativity may be key to healthy aging. Studies show that participating in activities such as singing, theater performance and visual artistry could support the well-being of older adults, and that creativity, which is related to the personality trait of openness, can lead to greater longevity.
When researchers talk about creativity, they aren’t limiting it to the arts. Author and Georgetown University psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal defines being creative as “having the ability to make unexpected connections, either to see commonplace things in new ways — or unusual things that escape the attention of others — and realize their importance.”
James C. Kaufman focuses on “everyday creativity” when teaching his introduction to creativity course at the University of Connecticut. The phrase, which comes from creativity expert Ruth Richards, refers to ordinary tasks such as parenting, yard landscaping or advising a friend.
Kaufman believes anyone can be creative. “Creativity can be cultivated by following passions both old and new,” he said. “Try not to compare yourself to genius creators or be so focused on the outcome that the process stops being fun.” In addition to Kaufman, I talked with other experts and people known for creative longevity to learn the best ways to keep ideas coming over the decades.
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I use Garageband and am learning guitar. It's usually an hours long process. I have a decent set of pipes, but my lyrics can be pretty atrocious. Still, I find the process of writing and recording a song very enjoyable, challenging and cathartic and it keeps my mind occupied instead of dwelling on some really negative shit happening in my family, post-TFG. I'm sure my friends would rather I not send these songs to them, though.
