For most of us, work is the space between morning and leisure time. We spend copious amounts of our brain power focused on getting the most out of the time that we spend at our desk, to the point where we often forget how much we need other outlets outside of work to keep us motivated.

Having a creative outlet may also help us mentally prepare for our day-to-day work. We may gain lessons and skills that will serve us in our roles, as well as finding ways to express the frustrations of day-to-day life. If you don’t have one already, below are some examples of some forms of creative outlets, and the ways the outlets assist the practitioner’s lives.

A physical creative outlet is one that promotes both movement and creativity. Often the practitioner will be taught a specific set of moves by an instructor, and can use this as an outlet once they reach a certain level of competency.

A good friend of mine often tells me he has the perfect creative physical outlet to deal with his hectic daily life. As a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a ground based martial art he has both the fitness, mobility and mental side of the outlet down. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also teaches many other lessons about how to remain calm during a stressful situation, finding good posture throughout the day and proving an outlet for aggression.

Another example of a physical creative outlet is Aerial classes. Another good friend who is a general manager at a financial firm gets her kicks and lets off steam through this type of movement. Aerial involves suspending oneself via a piece of ribbon, which you then use to bend yourself into a variety of shapes. Aerial also works like a mental puzzle, as you both tangle and untangle yourself in the ribbon. It’s these types outlets that give rise to being calmer and less stressed at work.

Mental creative outlets are activities designed to stimulate your mind, but not necessarily affect your body. An excellent example of this is chess, which has simple rules and allows for the practitioner to focus intensely on a seemingly infinite number of possibilities on the board. Gaming is also another excellent example of mental creativity, as more often than not games require a player to develop skills and tactics in order to win.

Emotional creative outlets are activities that help the practitioners express their internal thoughts and feelings. This may be from writing, playing a musical instrument or even working in the garden. If it involves a form of expression, it will mean that you have something that you can use to let out what you’ve experienced, and in turn help refresh for the next day.

Overall, the importance of the creative outlet cannot be stressed enough. Having a creative outlet allows for you to use your mind for something else other than work. Not having something to turn to apart from work is a leading cause of burnout, and can lead to turning to other, less productive outlets.