Daily creativity MATERIALS SHOPPING LIST

Written By Rachel Brooks

Integrating an art-based wellness practice into daily life can have a surprisingly broad impact, not just creatively, but emotionally and even physically.

At a basic level, art gives your mind a place to go that isn’t purely analytical. When you’re drawing, painting, collaging, or even doodling, your brain shifts out of constant problem-solving mode. That alone can lower stress and help regulate your nervous system, similar to meditation but often more accessible for people who struggle to sit still.

There’s also a strong emotional benefit. Art provides a nonverbal outlet, which matters because not everything we feel is easy to articulate. Making something, without worrying about whether it’s “good”, helps process emotions, release tension, and build self-awareness. Over time, this can improve mood and resilience.

Consistency is where it really compounds. A regular creative practice builds a sense of routine and personal time, which can increase feelings of control and stability in your day. It also encourages mindfulness: you’re more present, paying attention to colors, textures, and sensations rather than looping thoughts.

On a deeper level, it can reconnect you with play and curiosity, two things adults tend to lose. That shift can improve overall well-being, boost creativity in other areas (like work or problem-solving), and even support confidence as you see yourself creating and finishing things.

In short, daily art as a wellness practice helps you:

  • reduce stress and mental overload

  • process emotions in a healthy way

  • build mindfulness and presence

  • create a sense of routine and personal space

  • reconnect with creativity, play, and self-expression

If you’re thinking about incorporating it, it doesn’t need to be elaborate. 5 to 10 minutes of low-pressure creating is often enough to start seeing benefits.

Here is my shopping list of some of the materials used when embarking on a daily creative practice.

Sketchbooks

Markers and Paint Pens

Pens and Pencils

Mixed Media Materials

Paints

Brushes

Tape:

Making art, even for a few minutes a day, can help lower stress, process emotions, and bring you into the present moment. It’s a simple, accessible way to support your mental and emotional well-being.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rachel Brooks