The Art of Unwinding: How Creativity Became the New Self-Care

These days, self-care looks different than it once did. Alongside yoga mats and meditation apps, you’ll now find adult coloring books, watercolor kits, and knitting needles. On TikTok, millions of posts tagged #selfcare show people sketching, journaling, or sculpting as part of their wellness routines. Creativity, once considered just a hobby, is increasingly recognized as a form of self-care.

Psychologists find that the benefits are real. Engaging in creative tasks can reduce cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, while triggering dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical. Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” — the deep focus that comes with writing, drawing, or playing music — explains why people often feel calmer and more balanced afterward.

Creativity also encourages mindfulness. Unlike scrolling on a phone, crafting or doodling demands full attention in the present moment. For many, that kind of focus provides a mental break just as restorative as meditation.

The rise of creativity as self-care accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. With routines disrupted and stress levels high, people turned to making things — baking bread, painting canvases, or experimenting with digital art. Studies showed spikes in craft supply sales, and hashtags like #quarantineart revealed a global rediscovery of hands-on hobbies.

This shift wasn’t just about filling time. Psychologists note that creating something tangible gave people a sense of control and accomplishment at a moment when much else felt uncertain.

Trend or Transformation?

Like most wellness movements, this one has been commercialized. The coloring book boom became a multi-million-dollar industry, and new apps promise instant stress relief through digital art. Some critics worry that this reduces creativity to a commodity, missing its deeper value. Others point out that while creative activity can boost mood, it is not a replacement for therapy or professional care.

Still, many experts argue the trend is positive overall. Schools are experimenting with art-based mindfulness programs, and workplaces are adding creative workshops to wellness initiatives. Beyond the individual benefits, creativity fosters community, from knitting circles to online writing groups.

What makes creativity unique as self-care is its dual role. It is relaxing yet productive, mindful yet expressive. Unlike professional work, it carries no pressure to perform; unlike passive rest, it leaves something meaningful behind — a poem, a sketch, a loaf of bread.

In a culture of constant busyness, creating simply for oneself feels refreshing. It reframes self-care not as consumption but as expression.

Creativity’s rise as self-care reflects a cultural shift: people are looking for ways to slow down, reconnect, and find balance. It may not replace traditional therapy, but it offers an accessible, restorative practice for anyone willing to pick up a pen, brush, or instrument.

Unwinding, in this sense, is less about switching off and more about creating space — quite literally — for the mind to breathe.