CREATIVITY IN OLD AGE
As physical exercise is so important, even for the elderly, there is also a need to exercise our creativity skills, or even to find ones we didn`t know we had! Keeping busy as the body reaches a slower pace is so important for the well being of the elderly.
Enjoying creativity keeps the mind healthy and active, preventing a feeling of loss, depression and hopelessness which can so often creep into the lives of the elderly. Everyone needs to have a purpose in life, a reason to get up and go in the morning. Taking up a new interest, hobby or craft keeps one active and interested in life, challenging oneself with word games and crossword puzzles keeps the mind active.
The levels of the brain chemical dopamine, which brings on a natural high, declines as we age, and by seeking out new experience, this chemical can be triggered to create that feeling of satisfaction and fufilment..
George Washington University psychiatrist Gene Cohen, author of “The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Ageing Brain” and an expert on the health benefits of creativity for older adults, maintains that trying new things and being creative also promotes brain plasticity (flexibility and growth) and prompts our brains to rewire, which may fend off dementia and help to maintain health. He explains that when the brain is challenged, its cells sprout new connections, called dendrites, and new contact points called synapses which improve brain communication.
Data also proves that creativity has a powerful anti-aging effect on the mind and body. Taking up a hobby such as painting, writing, poetry, jewelry making, sewing or singing in a choir seems to have a positive effect on ones` overall physical health and those that do indulge in such activities appear to have less visits to the doctor while enjoying a better morale, a feeling of self-control and mastery, and don`t have the feeling of hopelessness and loneliness.
Old Age does not have to become that “dreaded dreary way of life”. We should take our creative urges seriously, and even if we don`t think we have any, find something that you can learn to do, a skill that will keep you occupied so that you can enjoy a rewarding and satisfying Old Age.
There are many forms of art, simple ones that can help relax and distract us from stressful situations, and if we can relieve stress, the longer we`ll live and the healthier we`ll be. Psychologically this can only give one a brain boost, so that one enjoys a healthy and fulfilled life.
So, take a class or join a group, or create a space for yourself, maybe a couple of boxes for your art or sewing materials.
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