For many mature people who have retired from their jobs, finding activities to make use of their time can be a hard task. Sports can sometimes be too strenuous on their bodies, while knitting can be seen as a chore. However, an activity that has been rising the ranks in the activity race has to be art therapy. Like pet therapy and music therapy, art therapy gets your loved ones moving without straining their bodies too much, and is calming enough without being boring. Here are some of the great benefits of art therapy for your loved ones!
Improves Your Memory
Art therapy is great at utilizing the least damaged part of the brain and can impact one’s ability to remember things that have happened in the past. As utilizing certain art mediums require you to remember steps, your brain gets stimulated and is forced to absorb more information, hence improving memory. This therapy can be done even through a simple trip to the museum, or with more hands-on activities such as painting.
Reduces Pain, Stress, and Depression
As we mature, our joints start to hurt a lot more than they used to. With such pain, many people are deterred from doing more physically strenuous activities to prevent the joints from being inflamed. However, art therapy enables you to relax your body and brain a little more and when you focus on your small projects, it takes your mind away from the pain that you normally feel while improving your dexterity and blood flow. Art is also great for providing relief from chronic illness.
Many aspects of our lives will start to deteriorate as we mature. Chronic illnesses start to arise, memories become blurry, and all these can sometimes take a toll on our mental health, causing stress. Art therapy is perfect for anyone from any age group. This is because you lose your train of thought the more you focus on your art, and it makes the session almost seem like a meditative experience.
Art therapy also helps to ease depression symptoms as it influences the mood and cognitive part of the brain. For those who have always found it hard to express themselves, they finally have an outlet that lets them speak, and that is through art.
Promotes Socialization
Anyone can use art therapy as a means of communication, and this creates another medium of connection between the artist and their peers. By showcasing your artwork or sharing your love for art with others, your sense of loneliness reduces and you feel more connected with the people and the world around you.
Improved Brain Function
Art therapy is a great way to keep your mind sharp while the body matures. Art helps to stimulate the cognitive functions of the brain and encourages you to use your sense of reasoning and logic, giving you opportunities to solve problems when it arises and overall improve your memory.
