Image: maesaelephantcamp.com
Still can’t get a good night of sleep because of your workload? Reach out for the paintbrush. A study published in the journal Art Therapy found that 45 minutes of art creation, reduced levels of cortisol, the “stress” hormone. Better still is the fact that you don’t even have to be “creative” or have any skills at all.
In the study, participants equipped with art materials, such as paper, pens and clay were asked to create anything they wished. Before and after the stint at being artists, researchers took saliva samples from each participant, and around 75% of the participants had lower cortisol levels.
Half of the people taking part reported little to no experience in making art. However, the team of scientists found evidence that younger participants experienced a higher reduction in cortisol during art-making than older subjects.
So if work or life ever get a bit too much put the beret on and head to the studio.