Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/calmingcore/
Importance of creative content/Research
In today’s world, there is a need for online content that can help with the management of stress and anxiety. Social media plays a huge role in the influence of an individual’s mental health and the management of stress and anxiety. However, social media isn’t always bad, there are avenues that can be presented online that can help assist in the management or anxiety and stress. Through research and participatory observation, it is shown that cultivating creative and calming content online to assist with coping mechanisms and mindset changes can be extremely effective in providing resources for individuals looking for such advice. According to NYC therapy “being creative can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and even improve immune system functioning” (Brenner, 2019). Creative content not only helps participants to release tension and stress, but also helps to focus the mind, and due to its calming effect on the brain and body can be considered as a type of meditation (Stahl 2018).
There has been the production of apps that can be downloaded by individuals that can help track their stress and provide creative outlets to manage stress. The app ‘Clear fear’ is an app that provides activities like journaling and meditation, information on anxiety, space for self-monitoring, resources, and a ‘safety net’ which has contacts of your own choosing that you can contact. Apps like Clear Fear are great for users who want to manage their anxiety and keep tabs on their progress whereas content on social media apps such as Instagram and Tok-Tok provide a level of connection apps don’t.
The media niche
Creative and calming content produced to manage stress and anxiety is becoming a large niche amongst social media platforms. Within this niche, there are multiple areas that content can be considered calming and creative but for this project, the aim is to distinguish and represent the content that conclusively helps manage stress. There is art, drawing (mandala), meditation, quotes/affirmations, journal entries, and anything that allows an individual to ease the mind enough to allow them to distract or think clearly. Within this niche, there is many content creators, who like myself, aim to produce content surrounding creativity or calming methods on a variety of platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Emma Carey (Instagram – Mandala)
- LaurDiy (Youtube – DIY)
- Jessica Lambert (Instagram – surfboard art)
- Wetheurban (Instagram – Quotes/affirmations)
- anxiety_wellbeing (Instagram – focuses on anxiety)
Jess Lambert and Em Carey are two Australian artists who focus on Mandalas. Mandalas can be used as a means of art therapy which is widely used as a tool to slow and calm down the mind in moments of stress and is considered a form of meditation (Wong, 2020). These creators produce videos, lives, and images where they provide tips, advice, and simply show off their own work, which encourages other users such as me in the niche to embrace our own creativities through mandalas. They are not pages that focus on the management of stress and anxiety, but their content links to the effectiveness and importance of art therapy for stress.
However, to truly grasp the importance and influence content has on an audience I had to conduct research as both an audience member and a content creator. So, my page Calming Core became a page where I used my own experience, research, and knowledge to create a space where creative and calming content was used as a tool for managing stress and anxiety.
Autoethnographic research
This process of conducting research as an audience and a content creator is known as participatory observation. Through participatory observation research is gathered through mapping as I observe, take notes, and listen to content these other creators such as LaurDiy and Jess Lambert are putting on social media. By observing as part of the audience I was able to discover not only new tips and tricks through art forms, but also ways in which as content creators they develop personas, frameworks, and a voice for their audience that defines them in this niche. Then I further displayed these findings through my own content.
The research was conducted via both platforms TikTok and Instagram, however, as time progressed and epiphanies showed that this media niche had a larger range on Instagram, I focused my research into the niche mainly on Instagram. I used methods of mapping from the start for things such as the field site, which allowed me to map out the areas in which I aimed to research, as well as, mapping my observations throughout the entire process. These observations allowed me to develop epiphanies which helped to transform and enhance my research methods and overall research results.
The autoethnographic research approach meant I used qualitative research skills to define my research methods and to gain a clearer understanding of the niche.
Exploring – Exploring different platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram to research engagement and content.
Sensitivity – Being sensitive regarding the topic.
Narrowing – Narrowing my niche to mild anxiety and stress.
Perspective – Using perspective to create a realistic approach to my research.
Approaching – Approaching the topic and content through an ethical perspective.
I used a personal analytical framework and inclusive framework as the root of this research process. By creating this idea of personal and inclusive content, I was able to design a persona that fits just this as well as gain an audience that fits this framework.
Overall, this project as both an audience and content creator, and through the autoethnographic research method, I found that creative and calming content online can play a huge role in the management of stress and anxiety and the importance of establishing a place where people can visit to find this content. There are many forms in which calming and creative can come in from art, words, advice, to just simply providing a space where these individuals or groups can come to for help and support.
References:
Research report:
Brenner, Brad. 2019, Creativity is your secret advantage for mental health and well-being, https://nyctherapy.com/therapists-nyc-blog/creativity-is-your-secret-advantage-for-mental-health-and-well-being/
Stahl, Ashley. 2018, Here’s how creativity actually improves your health, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2018/07/25/heres-how-creativity-actually-improves-your-health/?sh=901f7e113a64
Wong, Cathy. 2020, How to use colouring mandalas as a meditation technique, https://www.verywellmind.com/coloring-mandalas-as-a-meditation-technique-4161160
Video:
hitsteps, unknown date, ‘Are Instagram Stories More Engaging Than Instagram Posts?’, https://www.hitsteps.com/blog/are-instagram-stories-more-engaging-than-instagram-posts/
Moore, Christopher & Barbour, Kim & Lee, Katja. (2017). Five Dimensions of Online Persona. Persona Studies, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317558972_Five_Dimensions_of_Online_Persona
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