March 2023
Senior Living to the Fullest!
12 tips to live your best life, starting today!
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Tip #3 is all about Creative Expression!
There’s no age limit to creativity. You don’t even need to consider yourself ‘artistic’ or ‘creative’ to enjoy and benefit from the activities that can help you to express yourself in new and creative ways. Creative expression is the ability to understand and express our personal emotions outwardly and to play with our imagination. Outlets like drawing, painting, writing, dancing, playing music, and so on, can have a multitude of benefits for people from all walks of life, seniors especially. As we age, we tend to forget how important it is to keep expressing, challenging, and reconnecting with ourselves to grow and learn new ideas and skills.
Self-expression is a tool that everyone can use differently. It can be an opportunity to get our frustrations and feelings out on a piece of paper, or to have a good time by singing and dancing like no one is watching, or maybe it’s how we communicate and connect with the world around us. No matter the reason, everyone can benefit, and we all express ourselves in one way or another… so why not get creative with it!
Don’t stress! Here are a few ways you can kickstart your creative side:
- Buy a painting kit – We can still get creative while also having a guideline to follow. Challenge yourself with a paint-by-number or ceramic and see what happens!
- Free write – Grab a blank piece of paper and a pencil and go for it. Whatever comes to your mind, allow yourself to freely write everything down and don’t think twice about it.
- Sing & dance like no one’s watching – put your favorite song on, close your eyes, and allow yourself to move freely without any hesitation. It’s harder than you think but once you let go of your EGO and relax, you’ll be surprised how amazing your mind and body feel after.
- Try something new – How do you know you don’t like it, if you haven’t tried it? Join a new activity or program at the Village and see where it takes you. Maybe you’ll love it… maybe you’ll hate it… what really matters is that you tried and learned something about yourself!
*Remember* the purpose of creative expression is to allow individuals to explore the many ways to discover and express their feelings, ideas, cultures, and values. No matter what you decide to do, try not to take yourself too seriously and have fun! Practice does not make perfect, it makes improvement! It’s all about you and what makes you feel good.
Creative expressions have been found to rekindle memories from our youth bringing about that carefree joy that accompanies such activities. Studies show that improved mood, greater overall enjoyment of life, and stronger social connections are a direct result of creative expression. At Harbour Landing Village, we see the value and importance of integrating this into our programming and activities that are offered to our residents every single day. We provide an atmosphere that invites residents to try new things and get outside of their comfort zone. Between the events, programs, clubs, and activities that are available, there’s a great opportunity to get creative in how we express ourselves!
(306)559-5545 | info@hlvillage.ca | 4000 James Hill Rd.
