Me, I’ve always been a creative person, from constantly scribbling into my journals to choosing dance as my sport by default as a child – how much more creative can you get? I’ve also trialled a bunch of artsy casual hobbies, such as crocheting, knitting and making bracelets, so I feel semi-qualified at advising you how to stay creative during uni.
Joining societies:
One of the easiest ways to explore your creative side is to sign up to new societies, there is an abundance of fun artsy societies, that will help your creativity flow. You can check all of these out at the Societies Fair on 17th-18th September (10am-16pm) at the University Sports Centre. Some examples of creative societies for you to pick from are: Blank Canvas Society, Creative Writing Society, Photography Society, Theatre Society and more.
Give it a go:
If you don’t feel like committing to a society, you can try so many fun creative activities through give it a go. On their Instagram or their website, they often organise things like pottery painting, yoga (which to me counts as a creative sport), crocheting and much more. It is a perfect way to try something new before committing one a deeper level.
Creative with friends:
Why not pull your friends or flatmates into your creative escapades? Putting on a fun relaxing playlist and awakening your artsy cells together with some friends sounds ideal for any day. There is a myriad of possible activities. One, that I stand by, is making bracelets. Me and my flatmates tried that after our exams last year and it was a lot of fun, and you get to keep some nice bracelets to accompany your everyday outfits.
Other, notable options are Paint by numbers, which admittedly I don’t have enough patience for, but my friends had a lot of fun completing their paintings. Or perhaps baking as another fun creative activity to share with your friends, and since there are so many possibilities of baked goods, you might even make it an occurring event.
Go at it alone:
As much as I love being creative around other people, I also love some artsy me time. For me, that includes a lot of writing. So, if you feel like channelling your inner scribbler, I suggest you grab a pen and a journal and perhaps start with Morning pages. It is a fun writing activity, which sole purpose is to just write. Recommended three pages can be shortened to only one, but the point of it is to not go back and edit. Let your thoughts flow free - straight from your head onto the paper.
If writing isn’t your cup of tea, you could have a go at crocheting or knitting. A hobby, which is very easy to learn and all you need is to put on some YouTube tutorials, buy some hooks or needles and give it a try. (You can buy your crocheting/knitting supplies at Grainger Market).
Personally, I would also categorize reading as creative. You might not necessarily be creating anything of your own, but you engage with creative projects of others, which might spark your own artsy interests.
Everyday opportunities:
Finally, it is important to say that being creative doesn’t have to be something grand that you must dedicate a few hours a week. It can be a simple everyday activity. Fashion can be your daily creative outlet. Through putting fun outfits together, you will give your artsy side an opportunity to create.
If fashion isn’t your forte, you might want to get creative in the kitchen. Finding new recipes to follow every week can be both fun, creative and, well, hopefully yummy. So, don’t fret if you are very busy, as you can find creativity in your day-to-day life and there are always ways to build up on that.
