Make Something Just Because You Want To

Creativity has a funny way of getting pushed aside.Maybe you once enjoyed taking photographs, sketching, playing the piano, gardening, sewing, woodworking, writing stories or experimenting in the kitchen.Or maybe there is something creative you have always thought looked interesting but never tried.Todays September Is Healthy Aging Month tip is simple: make something.Not because you need another hobby to master.Not because anyone else needs to see the result.

And certainly not because you have to be good at it.Do it because creating can be enjoyable in its own right.Forget About Being Good at ItOne of the quickest ways to take the fun out of a creative pursuit is to decide that the result has to be impressive.A photograph doesnt have to belong in a gallery.A loaf of bread doesnt have to look like the one in the cookbook.Your garden doesnt have to resemble the pictures in a magazine.The point is the experience of making it.Creative activities give you permission to experiment, make mistakes, change direction and see what happens.

That makes them a natural fit with this years September Is Healthy Aging Month theme, Curiosity Has No Age Limit.Instead of asking, Will I be any good at this? try asking, What would happen if I tried?Revisit Something You Once LovedYou dont necessarily need to find a new creative outlet.Think about something you enjoyed years ago but gradually stopped doing.Did you once play an instrument? Take photographs? Grow vegetables? Paint furniture? Knit? Bake? Keep a journal?Interests sometimes disappear simply because work, family and everyday responsibilities take over.Returning to one can feel surprisingly new.And dont worry about picking up exactly where you left off.Your interests may have changedand that is part of the fun.Give Yourself a Small Creative AssignmentYou dont need to buy supplies or sign up for a six-week course.Take ten photographs during a walk and look for something you normally wouldnt notice.Try a recipe using an ingredient you have never cooked with before.Put flowers from the yard into an arrangement for the kitchen table.Write one page about a favorite childhood memory.Plant a few herbs in a pot.Pull out an instrument you havent touched in years and play one song.The assignment isnt to produce something wonderful.Its to see what happens when you make room for creativity again.There may be benefits beyond simple enjoyment.

Recent research suggests that creative activities may also support brain health as we age.Todays Healthy Aging Month ChallengeChoose one creative thing you would enjoy doingnot something you should do.Give it 20 minutes.No judging the result.No worrying about whether it was productive.No posting it on social media unless you want to.Just make something.You might discover that the most rewarding part isnt what you created.Its remembering how good it feels to create.Enjoyed this article? Sign up for the free Healthy Aging newsletter for the latest stories, tips, and inspiration delivered to your inboxand subscribe to Healthy Aging Magazine for even more ways to live better and age smarter.