Everyday creativity: make room to explore

You do not need an impressive sketchbook or a finished project to make room for creativity. A photograph, a few lines of writing, a simple collage or an arrangement of colours can be a place to begin.

The purpose can be curiosity, enjoyment or trying something unfamiliar. It does not need to become another measure of how well you are doing.

Choose an activity small enough to try

• Take three photographs of interesting textures on an ordinary walk.
• Use two colours to make marks on a page without planning a picture.
• Write a few sentences about an object you can see.
• Make a small playlist, fold paper or arrange things you already own.

Choose materials, movements and sensory experiences that are accessible to you. You can adapt an activity, stop early or decide it is not for you.

Notice the pressure to get it right

If “I am no good at this” appears, pause before treating it as an instruction to stop. You might ask: “What would I try if the result did not need to be shown to anyone?” Keep the answer modest. An experiment is allowed to remain unfinished.

Review the experience

Afterwards, consider whether you felt interested, absorbed, frustrated, connected or simply indifferent. There is no required emotional outcome. Keep what was useful and adjust what was not.

For example, someone who finds an open-ended drawing task uncomfortable might prefer photographing objects or following a simple craft pattern. The aim is to find an activity that fits, not to force a particular response.

Creativity and therapy

A personal creative activity is different from a therapeutic intervention with a qualified professional. These suggestions do not promise healing or replace psychological care. If an activity brings up distressing material, you can stop and seek suitable support.

For therapists, agree a clear purpose before suggesting a creative task. Ask about the person’s preferences, access needs and experience of the activity rather than interpreting their work for them.

Further reading

• NHS: Five steps to mental wellbeing

General education and reflection; not individual assessment or treatment advice. Updated 24 October 2026. The examples are fictional.