This Mental Health Month, we dive deep into the power of creativity with Katina Bajaj, a Creative Health Scientist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Katina’s journey from a finance professional to the founder of a health tech company and speaker on creative health exemplifies how integrating creativity into daily life can significantly enhance mental health and overall well-being. Today she’s sharing with us what exactly ‘creative health’ is, and how we can all integrate it into our daily lives.
From Finance to Creative Scientist
Raised in a family where creativity was seldom discussed, Katina grew up with a passion for opera, competitive dancing, and writing. Her creative pursuits took a backseat when she entered the world of finance after graduating from NYU Stern School of Business. Working in investment banking, Katina encountered intense burnout and mental health challenges, which she began to alleviate through spontaneous acts of creativity, like journaling on subway rides or during meetings.
This gradual return to creativity wasn’t just a coping mechanism; it rekindled her passion and eventually led her to pivot her career towards integrating creativity with mental health. In 2017, she started a blog and authored a book on navigating adulthood mindfully, which marked the beginning of her professional journey into creative health. Katina’s academic work at Columbia on “mini-c creativity”—the concept that everyday actions can be creative and bring personal meaning and satisfaction—has been central to her approach (you can learn or more about the 4 C’s of Creativity here).
She emphasizes that creativity is a dynamic practice, not bound by professional or artistic standards but a personal journey of growth and happiness. “I think that a lot of times we see creativity as very one sided, like a thing we have to produce. What’s really empowering to discover is that there are many forms of creativity,” she says.
Creative Health and Daydreaming
Katina founded Daydreamers, a health tech company that develops tools to foster creativity among individuals who might not see themselves as traditionally creative. Through an app and various physical tools, Daydreamers encourages users to engage in creative exercises that improve mental health, enhance workplace performance, and enrich personal fulfillment. “We make creativity accessible, ensuring it fits into everyday life just as seamlessly as any routine wellness activity,” explains Katina.
At Daydreamers, the term “creative health” reflects the holistic impact of creativity on human well-being. Katina explains, “Creative health is about engaging with the world enthusiastically, facing challenges head-on, and feeling connected to the beauty around us. It’s as crucial as mental, emotional, and physical health.”
Besides traditional creative acts, Katina champions “creative daydreaming” as vital. Allowing the mind to wander without guilt can spark creativity and lead to significant insights and innovations. “Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your creativity is to simply do nothing and let your mind roam,” she notes.
How to Kickstart Your Creative Health Journey
- Shift your perspective on what creativity means. For those unsure about their creative abilities, Katina advises a shift in perspective: “Creativity is inherent in all of us; it’s about engaging with your world in new and different ways.”
- Start simple and small: 10-15 minutes a day will do, she suggests starting with simple acts of creativity like doodling on paper during a meeting or tweaking a recipe. You also don’t have to be good at it. Just enjoy trying new things and experimenting.
- Make it consistent: ensure you’re doing it every day to see the impact. These actions don’t need to be time-consuming or masterful but should be regular parts of one’s day to foster creativity.
The Science Behind Creativity and Mental Health
Psychologists and neuroscientists have been studying the links between mental health and creativity since the 1950’s. As a psychologist herself, Katina summed up a positive cycle of creativity for mental health:
- Reduction of Mental Strain: Creative activities help mitigate stress and break cycles of negative emotion.
- Enhancement of Presence: Engaging creatively keeps us rooted in the present, reducing anxious thoughts.
- Boost in Positive Emotions: Creative expression not only uplifts spirits but also motivates ongoing engagement and resilience.
Creativity for Busy Entrepreneurs
For entrepreneurs and business owners, creativity is not an optional luxury but a core skill for business success. “Think of creativity as a short, consistent practice. “Just like you wouldn’t skip other daily activities like a workout or brushing your teeth, don’t skip your daily creative exercise,” she advises. Viewing creativity as a transition practice can also help separate work from personal life, ensuring a balanced mindset.
Katina’s insights remind us that creativity isn’t just about arts and innovation—it’s a fundamental health practice that nourishes our minds, fortifies our resilience, and deepens our connections with the world. This Mental Health Month, let’s commit to fostering our creative health, one small, joyful act at a time.
If you want to hear more from Katina, follow her on TikTok or Instagram, or learn more about her company Daydreamers here.
Empowering the Creator in Everyone
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