Valicia Evans Advocates for Everyday Creativity as Mental Wellbeing Tool

Acclaimed designer Valicia Evans is using her platform to highlight the importance of everyday creativity in enhancing mental wellbeing, productivity, and emotional connection. Evans, known for her work on television productions, asserts that creativity extends beyond professional skill to become a vital life tool accessible to everyone. She explains that even minor creative choices can positively shift one's mood and outlook.

Research supports Evans' advocacy, with studies demonstrating measurable benefits from creative engagement. According to the Journal of Positive Psychology, individuals who participate in small creative tasks experience increased positive emotions the following day. A Stanford study further found that walking, a simple form of creative stimulation, can boost creative thinking by up to 60%. Evans observes these effects in her design and event work, noting how small environmental changes can transform both spaces and people's emotional states.

In her interview, Evans shared personal practices that maintain her creative wellbeing, including designated quiet hours without digital distractions, periodic home reconfigurations, and using cooking as a calming, grounding activity. She emphasizes that creativity doesn't require specialized equipment or training, suggesting people can begin with resources already available in their homes, kitchens, or daily routines.

The timing of this message is particularly relevant given current stress levels. The American Psychological Association reports that 76% of adults experienced health impacts from stress last year, including anxiety, fatigue, and diminished motivation. Evans positions creativity as an accessible intervention against these challenges, encouraging people to start with small, manageable actions rather than overwhelming lifestyle overhauls.

Evans offers practical suggestions for incorporating creativity into daily life, such as rearranging one space monthly, trying a new recipe weekly, walking without headphones briefly each day, maintaining an idea notebook, and establishing small joyful rituals. Her upcoming lifestyle series, V's Vittles and Vibes, premiering in 2026, will further explore connections between food, design, and storytelling. Evans concludes that creativity grows incrementally from small, consistent steps that collectively enhance wellbeing.