By the time we get to December — particularly after a wet and gloomy November — it can feel like the months of winter are stretching before us like the fish and chip shop queue in Anstruther on a bank-holiday weekend. To combat this, I’m all about finding cosy rituals and daily joy in small things. One powerful way to do this is to enjoy a creative outlet, especially if this involves learning something new.

Creativity is so good for our mental wellness, because it gives us a feeling of accomplishment, which in turn brings satisfaction. We can get this feeling regardless of whether we’ve created a masterpiece or just something useable/passable. And the end result is not the important thing as long as we’ve enjoyed the act of creating! However, we’re likely to improve naturally if it’s something we do regularly. The important thing is not to put pressure on yourself to always produce something amazing, and not to have unrealistic expectations when you first start.

I passionately believe it is vital for all of us to a creative outlet — and by this I mean something that involves the act of crafting something, whether you’re making music, a painting, a cake, a sculpture, a garden or a scarf. But what if you don’t know what you want to do creatively this winter, how can you find an activity that works for you and brings you joy? It may be that you already feel an instinctive leaning towards something, but what if you don’t? You can’t try every form of creativity that exists until you find the right one, not unless you’re a person of great leisure that is!

Several years ago, a creative business owner who’d started their practice later in life mentioned to me that they’d always been drawn to other people’s creations within that area, long before they took it up for themselves. I’ve remembered this since because it seems to me an excellent way to identify what you want to do. Try visiting some art galleries, craft fairs, markets or even concerts, and just seeing what you LIKE. Do you always end up at the jewellery stands? Or the abstract oil paintings? Do you have an inordinate number of chutneys? This could give you a good indication of what you might enjoy creating.

Another great option is to try taking a few workshops or classes to see if you take to something before buying any equipment or materials. For example, in the early summer this year I discovered my next winter project by taking a decoupage workshop. You can find workshops by looking at the Culture Perth & Kinross website, Perthshire Box Office, the Creative Scotland opportunities tool, the Birnam Arts website, and the Perthshire Artisans workshop page. Don’t forget as well that the Wasps Perth Creative Exchange now has a glass kiln, ceramics kiln and photography darkroom available on a pay-for-what-you-use basis.

Once we have discovered the creative outlet we truly enjoy and find fulfilling, there’s still the challenge of making sure we carve out the time for it. Many creative outlets end up with the label of ‘hobby’. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it can diminish its importance, especially in our own minds. It gives the impression that they’re unnecessary, something that can be taken or left with no consequences, and we may even feel guilty for indulging them when any chores or tasks are left undone. And since no one’s chores or tasks are ever fully done, we may hardly ever get around to exercising our creative talents. But understanding the role creativity plays in our overall wellness can help put it back into perspective.

Doing something creative can clear our heads, help us relax, give us a feeling of fulfilment and satisfaction, boost our confidence as we get better at it, and provide needed time just for ourselves. So try and include some creativity in your winter season, whether you work on finding the right thing, or on making time for it, or both.