Improving our mental health has huge benefits for our body and mind. Positive mental health pastimes should be a feature of our everyday lives, as they can help lower our stress and anxiety and have physical benefits like lowering blood pressure. Unfortunately, in our busy world, this is not always easy to achieve, and, for all the ubiquity of wellness culture, we can often be left feeling that we are not actually ‘achieving’ wellness. However, positive mental health can be found in many forms, with creative pastimes being a great example.
Go with the creative flow
Creativity and mindfulness go hand in hand. This is why creative pursuits are so beneficial for our mental health. Have you ever heard of the scientific concept of flow? You may know of it as ‘being in the zone’. This is where an activity engages body and mind in the moment, so you can become fully immersed in a feeling of energised focus. Creativity is exactly this process. You lose yourself in the moment and let time pass peacefully.
Where does my smartphone come into this?
Smartphone photography can be a great avenue for creativity and, with it, positive mental health. We all have easy access to a high-quality camera right in our pocket. This means that whenever we want or need to, we have a camera available for a moment of creativity.
But my phone is part of the problem!
Doomscrolling or receiving an unwanted email is certainly distressing for our mental health. But while we may think of our phones as communication tools, they don’t have to be. Pop into your settings and switch to aeroplane mode. You can now enjoy your phone’s camera to your heart’s content without being bothered or distracted!
Getting creative and mindful in the process
Our smartphone camera can achieve so much and be used in any location. You might be walking back from work after a stressful day, thinking about everything you have to do tomorrow, when you look down and see a puddle. It reflects a set of walkways between two buildings that look golden in the afternoon light. You take out your phone and go to the camera, bending down to bring in the depth of the reflection. You adjust the contrast to bring out the shadowing and deepen the blue of the sky, and you take the picture. Happy with your snap, you carry on walking home. All those thoughts of work are now at the back of your mind, and instead, you spend the rest of the walk home noticing all the fascinating things around you.
It's a small but powerful example of everyday creativity and how a simple snap can make a real difference in our mental health.
Would you like to learn more about your smartphone camera?
Anyone can try smartphone photography, and that’s why we love it! If you would like to learn more about smartphone photography and editing, and how you can use it every day, why not join us on a smartphone tour? We run sessions throughout the UK, West Ireland, and the South of France. Click below to find out more about our team and the sessions they offer.