Why Creativity Belongs in Your Health Routine with Dr. Daisy Fancourt
- Dr. Mindy Pelz
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
EP357 with Dr. Daisy Fancourt
When most women think about their health, they think about food, movement, sleep, supplements, and hormones.
They usually do not think about music or the picture that's hanging above their desk.
Dr. Daisy Fancourt believes that needs to change.
Her research looks at what happens when people engage with the arts, not only through formal therapy or cultural institutions, but through the ordinary creative moments that used to be part of everyday life.
Listening to music without doing three other things at the same time, getting lost in a book without counting every page you've read within the hour, and
In this conversation with Dr. Mindy, Daisy explains why these activities can have a measurable effect on stress, mood, cognition, and connection. She shares how music can help slow the heart rate, why fiction may make us more empathetic, and how a weekly creative class can offer women a renewed sense of purpose during a season of identity change.
The episode also challenges the belief that creativity only matters when you are good at it.
You do not have to be talented, have expensive supplies, and you only need less than an hour a day. You may simply need a few minutes, something that holds your attention, and permission to enjoy an activity without turning it into another form of productivity.
Key Takeaways
Why creativity became separated from everyday life
How to choose music that meets your nervous system where it is
How regular creative activity may support healthier cortisol patterns
Why book clubs provide more than a reason to read
What the research suggests about art, brain fog, and cognitive reserve
Whether online creative classes offer the same benefits as meeting in person
Simple ways to bring more creativity into everyday life
Resources Mentioned
Instagram: @daisy.fancourt
Meet the Guest
Dr. Daisy Fancourt
Dr. Daisy Fancourt
Dr. Daisy Fancourt is a researcher and author whose work examines the effects of arts and cultural engagement on health and well-being.
Her research explores how activities such as music, reading, crafting, dancing, and visiting cultural spaces may influence mental health, stress, cognition, social connection, and physical health. She has published extensively in the field and works on projects examining the biological, psychological, and social effects of creative participation.
Her book, Art Cure, brings this research together with practical ways people can begin using creativity in their own lives.
Instagram: @daisy.fancourt
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This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional about your individual situation.
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