Putting a bunch of fresh flowers on your desk, or wearing some brightly coloured jewellery, can be an instant mood booster, but the reason for this
goes beyond simply adding a splash of colour to your daily life. The colours themselves can have a powerful physical and psychological effect, leading us to feel calmer or more confident.

Nature bursts to life in summer, and is abundant with colour, texture, and fragrance – a sensory delight. Here, we look at four beautiful, summer flower crafts that celebrate the season, and make the most of fallen flowers.

Mindful practices are a popular antidote to this. And sewing, as well as knitting, is increasingly recognised as an effective way to help with anxiety and depression.

The concentration these demand not only helps to calm the mind, but learning to repair clothing helps tackle the environmental impact of fast fashion, too. Here’s a quick look at why you might want to explore the world of needlework.

The following are great ways to explore the things that we have experienced so far – they can help us plot our lives and assess where our happiness lies, and think about what we would like to take with us as we look ahead.

While it’s undoubtedly eye-catching, and a fun crafting activity, there’s much more to a vision board than just aesthetics. In reality, a vision board is a manifestation tool to help you realise your goals.

The truth is, putting pictures on a board won’t magically make things happen – you have to be willing to put in the work. But the purpose of a vision board is to help you gain a clearer idea of what you most want in life, and to serve as a daily reminder of what you’re working towards.

There is no set of strict rules for how you go about crafting this – it’s all about expressing your vision in a way that works best for you. Perhaps you want to think about long-term goals, and the bigger picture. Or maybe it’s a case of focusing on a specific area in your life that you want to pay particular attention to. Have a look online for some ideas and inspiration, but know that there’s no wrong way to do this. Make your vision your own!
To help you get started, here are six steps to create a vision board that actually delivers...

And combining these benefits with the wonders of nature just gives the whole activity an added boost. To really get mindful about it, consider your posture and how you are interacting with the artwork. Can you feel different textures, the sun on your skin, or the breeze brushing over you as you work? Follow your instincts about what you want to draw, sketch, paint etc., and don’t put any pressure on yourself if you make a mistake, or it doesn’t look how you planned. This is expressive; this is about connecting with the world around you deeply and intuitively for a moment.

Find what fascinates you with thousands of inspiring classes for creative and curious people, on topics like drawing, watercolor, calligraphy, photography, graphic design, illustration, hand lettering, icon design, pattern design, and more. Learn to use popular creative tools like Procreate, Fresco, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Or grow your career or business with classes in entrepreneurship, social media marketing, productivity, and more. With Skillshare, you can also learn with masters of their craft like Aaron Draplin, Jessica Hische, Roxane Gay and thousands of other acclaimed creators eager to share their knowledge with you.

With so much to discover, projects to create, and the support of fellow-creatives, Skillshare empowers you to accomplish true growth. And Skillshare classes are designed for real life, so you can find inspiration that fits your routine, moving your creative journey forward without putting life on hold.

After working in the fashion & art industry for a decade, I founded Zense Space soon after my yoga journey began. It is the embodiment of everything I love- art, yoga, mindful living and creating, but most importantly, healing and growing! It is my joyful attempt at trying to make sense of life ~ through making “Zense”. I hope my work can help serve the world with a little creative healing magic, so we can all live life like three-year-olds and come home to our true self: shameless, curious, and free!

But it turns out that children are not the only ones who need a creative outlet to explore their imagination. A report from the National Alliance for Arts, Health and Wellbeing (APPG) suggests that having a creative hobby can actually benefit our mental and emotional health.

It follows two years of research, which found that the arts can help to keep us well, aid recovery and support people to live longer and healthier lives. And it doesn’t matter how old we are.

So whether it’s drawing, singing, playing music, writing, baking, dancing or gardening, having a creative outlet can work wonders for your mind. Here are some of the ways that different types of creative activities can benefit you, and what the latest research says.

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