How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution of Being Less Stressed Through Art

Winter is best known as a time of rebirth. As we settle into the New Year, you might have found yourself setting goals to improve your well-being. A common resolution, and one you might have found yourself making, is reducing stress. Art offers the perfect room for achieving your commitment, providing relaxation and enjoyment in a creative space where you can calm your mind, boost your mood, and express your emotions. But sticking to your goal isn’t always easy: like anything, it’s easy to give up when you’re not seeing results. If you’re looking to keep your resolution of being less stressed through art, here are some tips to set you on the right path to making creativity a lifelong and healthy coping habit!

How Art Helps Reduce Stress Being Less Stressed Through Art

Art encourages mindfulness, which means focusing on the present moment. When you paint, draw, or sculpt, your attention shifts away from worries and distractions. Studies show that even short periods of creative activity can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Creating art also allows you to express feelings that might be hard to put into words. This emotional release can be very healing and help you understand yourself and your stress better. Plus, the sense of accomplishment from finishing a piece is an amazing way to boost self-esteem and motivation!

Tip 1: Commit to an Art Class Emphasizing Learning

One of the main reasons people give up on their artistic resolutions is because they set idealistic standards, expecting too much, too quickly. What’s more, unrealistic expectations create stress, making individuals feel as though they need to work harder to achieve their goals, and ultimately exhausts them when realizing the unattainability of their standards. If you are looking to bypass this common problem, art classes are perfect for expanding your skills in a slow, progress-oriented way. Choosing classes that emphasize structured learning allow tangible results to emerge: you’ll begin with simple projects, and create increasingly rewarding works as you slowly improve. At Yulia Artspace, our classes focus on a gentle approach, blending organized structure and personal expression. This creates the perfect space for budding artists to grow stress-free, as they not only learn fundamentals, such as composition, observation, and colour, but also find their very own voice, all at their own pace. By engaging in art classes with a warm atmosphere, calm guidance, and simple explanations, students are able to learn to have fun with creativity. They can improve at their own pace, making works they never believed they could create. By emphasizing relaxation, creativity, and growth over technical perfection, our classes are the ideal space for art-based stress relief.

Art classes also allow you to keep your resolution by setting a commitment. By setting time aside every week to dedicate yourself fully to art, you are creating a mental zone where work, school, or any other stressors must be put aside; it is a space where art becomes part of your daily schedule, and which you become forced to attend to in a fun and relaxing manner.

Tip 2: Find the Artistic Craft That Works For You

Many people think that they are not “artistic.” In reality, art is not a skill that someone is born with, but which must be practiced consistently. The best way to ensure you make art a habit is by finding a medium which you are passionate about. Building the desire to practice often is key to making art a part of your day-to-day schedule. By experimenting with various artistic crafts, you’ll be exposing yourself to a wide variety of disciplines, and increase your chances of finding something you love. From traditional forms like painting, drawing, or sculpting, to more contemporary practices like weaving, crafting or mixed media, each medium has its own set of techniques, tools, and styles that can influence your experience and enjoyment.

There are a variety of ways to begin your journey of finding the medium just right for you. First, begin by looking through your house and seeing what items could be used as materials. You don't need fancy materials for art-making, and using what you already have is the best way to discover new techniques on your own. Use bits of paper to make collages, scraps of yarn to weave, or even coffee or tea to practice the basics of watercolour! Once you have played around with the concept of a medium, you can invest more time in learning more complex techniques, and splurge on better materials.

Art classes are an amazing way to try your hand at different mediums through short-term commitment only. These classes offer a unique opportunity for individuals of all skill levels, from complete beginners to seasoned returnees, to explore their creative potential in a structured environment where instructors can guide you and offer gentle advice. This means that when signing up for a class completely outside of your comfort zone, you will receive the needed support to help you succeed and thrive. Plus, if you find that the medium isn't quite right for you, no worries! You'll still come out of the class with new knowledge, fun memories, and a beautiful new artwork to display, but simply none of the commitment associated with buying necessary materials and tools. It's the best way to learn more about your preferences, all while keeping your resolution of using art to decrease your stress.

Tip 3: Using Online Art Classes to Stay Consistent  

If you are looking to stick with your resolution of making art, consistency is key to developing and honing your skills long-term. Online art classes are an effective way to maintain a steady practice, offering a structured approach to learning that is perfect for all artists, no matter their skill levels. Take advantage of the online platform to take the classes where ever you'd like, whether it be from your cozy bed to a beachside holiday. It's the perfect way to wind down, relax, and stick to your resolution in a stress and commitment free manner.

At Yulia Artspace, our online art classes are created with flexibility in mind. Through simple, easy to follow videos and instructions, you will be able to create beautiful artworks that you'll be proud of using only simple materials and accessible art supplies. With no schedule and no deadlines, you’ll be able to keep your New Year’s resolution of creating meditative art, all while working around your free time: all about enjoyment and skill-building, not expecting perfect results on your first try! Plus, take advantage of instructor feedback and course groups to chat and help you grow your skills. By blending a comfortable environment with an enjoyable learning experience, you'll be sure to make art a fun hobby that you'll want to come back to time and time again!

You've got this!

Stress relief through art is not just a short-term fix but a long-term habit. By making creativity part of your lifestyle, you build resilience against daily stress. Whether through online classes or local art classes, the key is to keep exploring and enjoying the process! Embrace the journey with kindness toward yourself, and you will find that your New Year’s resolution of being less stressed will become a rewarding part of your life.