Most experts on the topic ignore the importance of non-tech creative expression to facilitate a simpler life. Read on to learn why it is, indeed, important, even if you’re not an artist.
The story.
ADHD restlessness coursed through my veins like a frightened snake slithering through the grass. I felt like I might jump out of my skin. My glance darted around our small home, desperate for something to assuage the feeling.
My old Casio keyboard! Perfect!
Setting it up on my desk, I plugged in the power cords and headphones, and began plunking away at the keys. I’d never be anything close to a concert pianist like my first cousin once removed; in fact, I’d been an “advanced beginner” for most of my life, and had only recently begun to sneak up to the “early intermediate” level.
No matter. I relished the sound of the notes going into my ears, reveled in the fact that I could play with near perfection an intermediate-level song, though it had taken over a year of sporadic practice to get to that point.
Ten minutes later, I was feeling sleepy enough to go to bed. And the downward spiral of negative thoughts that had preceded the restlessness had evaporated like a mist in morning sunshine.
What I mean by “non-tech creative expression.”
The human mind is designed to be creative. And by “creative,” I don’t mean being an artist. A guy who loves putting cars together is creative, as is a gal who refreshes the décor of her house with the changing seasons.
So is the teacher improvising when the day is stormy and his students are restless and distracted. So is the airline pilot who comes up with various humorous ways to talk about the weather, the flight plan, and gate connections to her passengers.
Same goes for someone who plucks at guitar strings with no obvious talent, or a non-artist creating line and shape designs on a piece of paper.
Just so you won’t use “I’m no good at anything” as an excuse.
By “non-tech,” I mean creativity done without the help of a computer software or AI to do the actual creation. My Casio keyboard is an electronic device, yes, but I play it like I would play any piano. There is no software pressing the keys down for me.
If you type out a short story in a Word document, you’re using a computer and software, but you and you alone are the one coming up with the story and the words.
In other words, non-tech creative expression requires us to fully engage our minds. This is the root of why it can make your life simpler.
And whatever you can do to make your life simpler is by default a type of self-care. Because simpler means less stressful. In fact, stress relief is the primary reason psychologists and therapists give for engaging in non-tech creative expression.
However, there are other ways in which engaging in non-tech creative expression can help you live a simpler life. Let’s get into those now.
Way #1 that non-tech creative expression can make life simpler: it improves focus.
Whether you’re crocheting a flower, playing an instrument, or assembling bits and pieces to form a Christmas decoration, these activities require some level of focus, even if you’re well-practiced at them. This focus not only pushes down your anxiety and worries, but also improves your focus in other areas of your life.
- Focus on goals.
- Focus on priorities.
- Focus on your job.
The discipline of staying focused enables you not to get caught up in extraneous activities and thoughts that are ultimately a waste of time at best, or lead you down the wrong path at worst.
Way #2: It facilitates awareness.
When you’re in the process of creating something, your mind tends to stay with that something rather than wander about to events from the past or worries over the future. Not only does this awareness reduce stress, but also it often leads to an increased ability to remain generally aware – of the present, of your surroundings, of what other people are trying to communicate.
This simplifies your life by facilitating understanding with other people – how many people have complicated their lives over misunderstandings? – enhancing your personal safety, and cutting back your worrying.
Way #3 non-tech creative expression can simplify your life: it builds self-confidence.
This is a huge reason that engaging in non-tech creative expression is critical for neurodivergent people. We tend to have a lot of insecurities, most of them surrounding our difficulties with interacting with other people or our challenges in dealing with hypersensitivities.
But whatever brain type you have, regular practice with any kind of non-tech creativity enhances feelings of self-worth as you improve and/or see the end product that resulted from your diligence and determination. As your sense of worth increases, so does your self-confidence, helping you feel empowered to face the challenges of life head-on.
How does this simplify your life? Because hiding from your problems only makes things more complicated. Confronting them and dealing with them gets them out of the way, allowing you to refocus on your goals and priorities.
Way #4: It reveals truth.
I have thirty-four novels available on Amazon right now. Well over half of them ended up being cathartic. I used the stories to work out my frustrations, to examine life’s setbacks.
While not all of them resulted with me receiving some great revelation, some illustrated a truth about myself, my way of thinking, my perspective on the world, that I hadn’t seen before. I came away from the stories a bit wiser; sometimes a bit more humble, sometimes a bit gentler.
Writing, even if by brief daily journal entries, is an obvious type of non-tech creative expression to discover truths about yourself and the world around you. But you can receive revelations while knitting a pair of socks, painting with watercolors, or building a backyard shed.
It goes back to the focus and awareness. When your mind is engaged with creating something, you become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, your quirks and your beliefs. This often leads to thoughts about your life and yourself, which can lead down a path of realizing that maybe a favored habit isn’t doing you a lot of favors, or that maybe a relationship you’re in is turning toxic.
Or you might realize a person you’ve kept on the sidelines of your life might be the exact person you need in order to grow, or that a lifestyle change you’ve been waffling about is the perfect choice for you.
Non-tech creative expression: have I convinced you?
If you’re yearning for a simpler life, there are a lot steps you can take. As you move forward in eliminating the complications, don’t let that include throwing out all your hobby-related materials for the sake of becoming “minimalist” or encompassing someone else’s idea of simplicity.
Because a simpler life involves the inner life as well as the outer, and there’s no better way to nourish what’s inside than by unleashing your creativity.
