We’ve all been there — sitting on the sofa, scrolling endlessly through videos of people creating beautiful things. Painters blending dreamy colours, potters shaping clay, calligraphers swirling ink with ease. You feel inspired, maybe even satisfied, as if a small part of you has joined in. But when you finally put your phone down, there’s a quiet ache: you watched someone else do the thing — but you didn’t do it yourself.
In our always-connected world, we spend more time observing creativity than experiencing it. Our brains get tiny bursts of dopamine just from watching others make — a reward without the real effort. But that false sense of fulfilment fades fast, and what remains is a longing to feel something real again.
The Illusion of Doing
When we consume content about creativity — tutorials, process videos, inspiration boards — it can trick the brain into thinking we’ve accomplished something. The satisfaction is fleeting because it’s passive, not embodied. Real joy, however, comes when we engage our senses: the smell of paint, the weight of a brush, the roughness of paper beneath our hands.
Why Making Feels So Good
When you make art, you enter a state of flow — a calm focus where time slows, and your mind and body work in harmony. It’s a natural form of mindfulness. Research shows that creative activity lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, and boosts mood-enhancing chemicals like dopamine. In other words, art literally changes your brain for the better.
Small Swaps, Big Shifts
You don’t need hours or expensive materials to start. Try swapping just five minutes of scrolling for five minutes of making.
Here are a few simple ideas:
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Keep a sketchbook by your phone charger — doodle while your battery charges.
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Use your morning coffee as inspiration: paint its colour, or write a few lines about how it smells.
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Set a timer for 10 minutes and collage whatever’s nearby — receipts, scraps, old magazines.
The key isn’t to create something perfect. It’s to experience the quiet joy of doing, even imperfectly.
The Joy of the Real Thing
When you finally dip a brush into paint, scribble onto a page, or shape something with your hands, it’s like taking a deep breath after holding it in too long. Your body wakes up. Your mind quiets. You remember that you are capable of creating, not just consuming.
Next time you catch yourself endlessly scrolling through art tutorials or studio tours, take it as a sign. Inspiration has already found you — it’s waiting for you to pick up the brush and do the thing.
Because the truth is, you don’t need to watch someone else’s creativity to feel inspired.
You just need to begin.
This post is a collaborative effort between AI and myself in order to work a little bit faster.
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Why Making Art Is Better Than Scrolling: The Joy of Doing.
