It’s no secret that our lives are filled with screens—phones, computers, tablets, TVs—and most days, they’re impossible to avoid. Even when we try to relax, we end up doom-scrolling or checking one more notification. That’s why art has become one of my favourite antidotes to digital overwhelm.
Art pulls you offline in a way that feels natural and soothing. When you’re drawing or painting, your hands are busy, your eyes are focused, and your mind gets transported into a quieter place. It’s a break that doesn’t feel forced. You don’t have to “detox”—you just make something, and the world slows down on its own.
I love watching this happen in real time at workshops and in the studio. Phones go face-down. Conversation starts. People breathe differently. It’s like creativity gently invites everyone out of their heads and into the moment.
Screen-free activities like painting, doodling, journaling, and crafting give your brain a chance to reset. And the bonus? You end up with something meaningful at the end—a drawing, a small painting, a handmade card, even just a colourful scribble that made you smile.
There’s also something refreshing about tactile materials: the drag of a pen, the softness of a brushstroke, the texture of paper. Your senses wake up in a way they simply can’t when you’re tapping on glass.
I’m not anti-technology—I love digital tools when I need them. But I also believe we all need spaces where the digital world can’t follow us so closely. Creativity gives us that breathing room.
Even a five-minute doodle can be enough to shake off the buzz of too much screen time. Art helps us reconnect with ourselves, our surroundings, and that part of us that just wants to play.
So next time you feel overwhelmed by the digital world, try picking up a pen or brush. You might be surprised at how grounding it feels.
Lisa Solonynko: Make Life Colourful 