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Hobbies and Creativity
Hobbies and Creativity
Hobbies lend themselves to creativity in more than one way. Hobbies are the application of the mind to pleasurable activities. The nature of hobbies have changed over the years. Today, hobbies have evolved from traditional physical activities like painting, drawing, cooking, and baking to blogging, gaming, movies to digital designing, etc. Yet, as creators and storytellers, the physical act of “doing” certain activities inspires the creative mind.
Creatives are artists, and advertising creatives are applied artists; the former sometimes being more satisfying than the latter, but the latter being more financially viable.
Hobbies, although initially encouraged, are self-gratifying as we grow up; they become a part of our lifestyle and being. Sometimes, they become our identity and part of our profession. They cannot be forced, as forcing a hobby on someone defeats the purpose.
According to Einstein, ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun.’ This exemplifies that creativity is rooted in a pleasurable state of mind. Everyone has a different definition of fun, and rightly so. This makes creativity subjective and hard to critique. Hobbies are an outlet for creative expression in multiple forms.
Sometimes creativity is a difference in processing and thinking. It is a different way of looking at situations, people and events. Creativity expresses itself through seamless possibilities. Often, one is faced with the question regarding the nature of creativity, whether it can be learned, or whether it is inherently present.
I personally believe that creativity stems from indulging in the cravings of the soul that tend to change as we evolve. In a way, hobbies romance creativity, thus making creativity a product of constant evolution defying any pattern or structure.
Hobbies gratify the cravings of the mind; they inspire a creative mind by mere indulgence. Activities like cooking, reading, napping, working out, drawing, painting and doodling furnish the mind with random, yet creative thoughts. It’s interesting to notice how digital hobbies like browsing the Internet can sometimes serve as inspiration.
The expression ‘The creative adult is the child who survived,’ is testament to the mind of a creative, which is in the constant search for new experiences and information. These experiences are further nurtured by the individual’s set of hobbies.
Sometimes, creativity is triggered by feelings and emotions evoked through hobbies. In the advertising workspace where creativity in thought and process are the basics of functioning, hobbies refuel the mind and help getting over creative blocks. They also serve as a distraction to the conscious mind, making way for the subconscious to take over.
With advertising becoming more and more interactive, hobbies enable better explanation or execution of an idea. Hobbies keep us immersed in social trends and popular culture, resulting in creative solutions that resonate with the public at large.
The typical schedule of a creative makes it rather difficult to pursue a demanding hobby. However, having a simple ‘go-to’, be it in the form of photography or physical exercise, like an evening run, or other activities we can squeeze into our schedules, can be stress relieving and mind calming.
