Health & Aging | Miscellaneous
Summer is a great time of year to enjoy the arts with friends and family. You might attend a music concert in the park with your favorite neighbor or host a craft night for the grandkids during their summer break. Besides being a great way to connect with loved ones, the arts are linked to a variety of mental health benefits.
People who make art a part of their life, whether it’s through music, craft projects, photography, or another artistic endeavor, may benefit from:
- Lessened feelings of stress and anxiety
- Improved concentration
- Increased self-esteem and personal pride
- Greater sense of joy and happiness
If you need a few ideas for incorporating the arts into your summer, we’ve rounded up some you might be interested in trying.
Suggestions for Living an Artful Life This Summer
- Capture images of nature: While you can connect with nature through photography in every season of the year, summer weather often makes it more pleasant. And you don’t have to invest in expensive camera equipment. Get started with the camera on your cell phone and see if it’s something you enjoy.
There are lots of online resources that can help you make the most of your phone’s camera. Two you might find useful are the Student Conservation Association and Nature TTL. Also, check with your local park system to inquire about nature walks or other programs you can attend—they’re wonderful opportunities to practice your photography. It might be a great activity for you and the youngest generation of your family to enjoy together. - Engage in art projects for non-artists: If tackling projects like watercolor painting or drawing seem a little intimidating, rest assured there are many opportunities for people who don’t consider themselves to be artists. Adult coloring books, paint-by-number kits, and garden stone kits are just a few you’ll find at your local craft store.
- Craft with found natural objects: Depending on where you live, spending time gathering driftwood, flowers, shells,
and unusual stones can be fun. You can then turn them into keepsakes to remind you of the summer. Use the shells and driftwood to create windchimes. Make rhinestone pinecone ornaments to adorn an indoor tree. Or create a driftwood sailboat. - Take in musical melodies: Many park systems and local municipalities offer free or nominally priced summer music events. They range from barbershop quartets to regional and national musical groups. Summer might also be a good time to take an in-person or online class to learn how to play a musical instrument. You can also set up a playlist to listen to summer-themed tunes while you work in your yard or take a morning walk.
- Start a four-seasons nature journal: If you live in an area of the country that experiences four distinct seasons in a year, try journaling what you find in nature. Pick a favorite tree and take photos of it to chronicle how it changes throughout the year. Use a photo spray to secure it to the page. Dry flowers or leaves from your garden to add to your journal. You could even try your hand at drawing an area of your garden and then filling it in with pastels or watercolor pencils.
Remember, you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy and benefit from spending time engaging in the arts. It’s the physical act of creating or spending time soaking up music that yields the rewards.
Visit a Presbyterian Senior Living Community This Summer
If you’ve been considering making a move to a life plan community, summer is a great season to come for a visit. You’ll experience firsthand all PSL has to offer, from viewing resident gardens to walking across one of our beautiful campuses. Call a community near you today to set up a time!
