Being the biggest procrastinator, I know a thing or two about avoiding work while still doing something relatively productive.

Being creative is the biggest way that I release the stress from the day, and is perfect for a quick break from work life, while still being engaged instead of sitting in front of a phone screen.

If you’ve been looking for an effective mood-changer, or something to get your mind off of the stress of the day, then a creative outlet is meant for you.

What is a creative outlet?

A creative outlet is any form or fashion of being creative in order to release emotion. It can be anything from sewing to interpretive dance,or as small as coloring in a coloring book to as big as sculpting a realistic bust of Harry Styles (If you have made one, please leave me an email), as long as you are using your mind to create something.

So how do you find one?

First, take a look at the people you admire or follow on social media. Do they have an amazing sense for fashion, or are they musicians? Take the elements that makes those people admirable, and see if there is a way to convert it into creativity.

YouTube is my best friend when discovering a new hobby. Just one video of woodburning can lead me to being convinced that I’m able to hollow out a tree and craft a canoe on my own. But sometimes, you just can’t cut down a tree and make a canoe in your limited spare time, even if you totally could (I totally can). There are still plenty of sustainable outlets out there.

Here are some ideas to get some ideas of your own flowing:

Fashion Outlets

• Learn to sew your own clothes
• Get into tie-dying
• Start your own blog and review different clothing brands and their releases
• Do you like vintage? There is a whole community of vintage clothing lovers! immerse yourself by trying to recreate vintage outfits of your favorite figures from an era

Music Outlets

• Create various playlists for every mood in the human brain
• Write your own music
• Don’t know how to play an instrument? Learn!
• Don’t have the money to pay for an expensive new instrument? Ask a friend if they have one you can borrow, maybe they could even teach you!
• Scared to release your own music? If you’re proud of your work, why wouldn’t all of your listeners be?

With that sentiment, my musical artist friend had to correct me with this great advice:

… some see it as that but even if it’s not the best and they hate it, don’t take it to heart. It’s good feedback on what to do [next] and apply it to your next project.

The Official Reality

Food Outlets

• Creating new recipes
• Creating your own cookbook
• Explore plating arrangements
• Become a host and share your creations among your friends
• Challenge your baking skills

Personally, my creative outlets include:

• Collaging

• Painting

• Writing

• Exploring my own fashion inspirations

• Basically anyhting, I can craft, I’ll give it as try.

Ever since I was in Elementary school, I would create doll furniture out of cardboard boxes and make origami frog families. While I am not a textile learner in school, I love to invole my hands in cutting, gluing, painting, and coloring anything I make.

In a way, making things by hand is my way of exerting the stressed energy I had collected from the day and turned it into something I am proud of.

I’ve created self sustaining terrariums, crafted huts in my dad’s forested back yard, and have even tried my hand at crotchet, when I can find a needle and yarn. And when I get into a creative outlet, I go all out. I will do that creative act until just the thought of it makes me sick. For example, my old obsession with making paper cranes, stirred up by a scene in a book I read, was all I wanted to do for a few weeks until I was burnt out.

So don’t be afraid to go all out, even if you have no idea what you’re doing. I am ameture at best in all of my art, but the point is not to land myself an exhibit in a museum. The point is to release emotion, and to express one’s true self. Away from the social pressures and expectations, just fo a little while, it is just you and your craft.

The value of finding a creative outlet is immesurable, and can be utilized by anyone. And if you get burnt out, there are hundreds of different hobbies that branch off of your intrests.

Don’t be afraid to explore outside your comfort zone as well, and who knows, maybe you’ll end up crafting a canoe by hand.

-Katelyn