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What if you gave yourself a creative challenge this week?
Not to paint a masterpiece. Write the great American novel. Or to learn Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
Instead, to set aside seven days to make, move, remember, listen, experiment and play.
Creative pursuits can exercise your mind and body, stir memories and bring people together. The National Institute on Aging reports that activities such as music, dance, theater and writing benefit memory, emotional well-being and social interaction.
So, clear a little room on your calendar. Here’s what seven creative days could look like.
Monday: Add a Splash of Color
Start the week with a paintbrush, colored pencil or even a crayon in hand.
Creating visual art requires you to make dozens of little decisions: Which color comes next? Where should this line go? What happens if I try this?
Painting, drawing and coloring engages your memory and thinking skills, supports coordination and movement, provides a meaningful outlet for self-expression and reduces stress.
And when done in a group setting, these activities encourage social connections that play an important role in healthy aging.
Tuesday: Turn Up the Music
Make Tuesday’s soundtrack something you know by heart.
Listen to your favorite songs, sing with a group or pick up an instrument. Music engages the brain while tapping into emotion and memory. And when enjoyed with others, it creates opportunities for companionship.
Notice where the music takes you. A song from high school might bring back memories of a first date. A familiar hymn may recall Sunday morning church services. A Big Band favorite might even get you dancing.
Research shows that music can enrich the lives of older adults. Music can lift your mood, balance emotions and reduce anxiety. Music therapy can also boost your cognition, memory and executive function.
Wednesday: Get Your Hands Dirty
Midweek, trade your paintbrush for a garden trowel.
Then plant some herbs, tend a houseplant, arrange flowers or walk through a garden and photograph whatever catches your eye.
Planting, watering, pruning and tending a garden encourages movement and supports physical function, while nurturing plants can boost your mood and wellbeing. Garden with friends and talk together as your work the soil.
Thursday: Tell a Good Story
Everyone has a story.
Maybe it’s how you met your spouse. The trouble you got into as a kid. Your first job. The vacation that went spectacularly wrong. The family recipe that nobody has ever written down.
Thursday is for remembering and sharing.
Reminiscing and storytelling calls on memory and honors a lifetime of experiences. Sharing your stories also lets loved ones discover parts of you they may not know.
Pull out an old photograph and see where the conversation goes.
Friday: Cook Up a Memory
Food is creative, but it’s also personal.
The smell of cinnamon might take you back to your mother’s kitchen. A favorite soup may recall school snow days. One bite of a familiar dessert can bring to mind holidays from decades ago.
Choosing a recipe, measuring ingredients and following steps in sequence engages your thinking and problem-solving skills, while chopping, stirring and mixing fine-tune your fine motor skills. Cooking up a favorite dish delivers a satisfying sense of accomplishment and a meal to share with friends.
Saturday: Make Something
Saturday is project day.
Try a seasonal craft, collage, an easy sewing project or a craft you’ve never tried before. Working with your hands exercises your fine motor skills, while planning and completing a project boosts your creative problem-solving.
Painting, knitting, woodworking or collage-making spark creativity, sharpen focus and fine-motor skills and offer an outlet for self-expression.
Perfection isn’t the goal. It’s having fun and creating something uniquely yours.
Sunday: Slow It Down
Finish the week with a walk, gentle stretching, journaling or sitting outside and noticing what’s around you. Sketch a leaf. Write down three things that made you smile. Take a photograph. Breathe.
Gentle movement and mindfulness can support flexibility and balance and reduce your stress. So, make Sunday an opportunity to recharge before the new week begins.
What’s on Your Calendar?
Capri Communities offers diverse creative opportunities for varied interests, abilities and personalities. We also adapt activities so older adults can participate at their own pace, with the emphasis on enjoyment and accomplishment rather than perfection.
So, what’s on your calendar this week?
There is always room on the calendar for a little creativity.