Why You Need Creative Hobbies — Show your colors: Self expression as a tool for inner strength

By: Prisha Patil

You probably know that fresh energy of feeling like a whole new person after a recent haircut.

Or maybe you have a friend who everyone knows to be ‘the art kid’: always popping up with new and funky hobbies- whether it be bedazzling their worn down sneakers or spray painting their new bike in a rainbow of colors just for fun.

Everybody has their own thing: some wear philosophical tattoos on their shoulders, some like devoting their time to intricate vegetable gardens and still others show off their goofiness through animal themed socks.

Interestingly enough, these little quirks that make us ‘us’ have some solid positive psychological effects, besides being tons of fun!

First of all, what is self expression?

Simply put, self expression is all the things we do to communicate our inner thoughts, beliefs and emotions out into the world (Ackerman & Nash, 2018).

It might sound complicated but it’s basically another way of talking about our hobbies! Some examples include:

Visual arts
Writing
Music
Dance
Fashion

The benefits of these activities are wide-spanning. They include but are not
limited to:

Providing a safe emotional outlet
Building problem solving skills
Stress management
Fostering better communication
Boosting self esteem

(Richard, 2024)

Studies done by (María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes et al., 2019) and (Jamilah Maliki et al., 2024) focus on self expression particularly in the digital domain, providing fascinating insights on the effects of this tool as social media is an extremely accessible tool in today’s increasingly online world.

So, perhaps you could find inspiration for your next creative venture while
scrolling through Instagram!

How you can start

It may seem overwhelming at first, but the trick is to take it one step at a time. It’s all about making that first decision and maintaining a commitment to it. Some useful tips to start out include:

Focus on your interests! Don’t just go for what’s trending. It is after all an expression of you, so reflect and decide what lights up something in you.
Set a small budget. You don’t want to spend a bunch of money on knitting equipment if you’re going to just make a small plushie!
Be patient. If you want to take up dance, understand that you probably won’t be a prodigy the moment you start. And that’s okay! The goal is expression, not perfection.
Make a dedicated space. For example, if you want to take up oil painting, maybe try setting up an art corner with an easel and the required equipment all set up whenever you’re in the mood. This reminds you of your commitment and encourages you to go back- you have the space set up so why waste it?

(Tanya Sarton, 2025)

Queer Self Expression

Besides being a really good mental refresher and highly effective self esteem boost, creative hobbies have many benefits when it comes to understanding one’s personal identity especially in LGBTQ+ teens.

The identity is an ever changing and fascinating part of the self. Queer

teens are definitely no strangers to this inner turmoil. It can feel overwhelming when every day you feel like a slightly different person, but several studies like ones done by (Dannie Esterline, 2021) and (Alex Stitt, 2019) discuss the positive impact of self expression, particularly art, for teens in the sexual minorities.

These studies highlight the efficacy of art therapy in particular for the emotional healing of LGBTQ+ teens and underline the need for queer youth to be able to express themselves without any fear of judgement.

So next time you’re questioning whether you fit into society’s ‘binary’, perhaps you’ll consider picking up a sketchbook to help you sort it out!

Overall, whether it’s just something you’re picking up to fill free time you have during the weekend or you’re using art to help you answer some complicated personal questions, building yourself a good collection of creative hobbies is definitely the way to go.

Who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself to be a happier, more satisfied person by truly showing your vibrant colors off to the world.