When was the last time you engaged in an art project and found yourself losing track of time, becoming immersed in colors and materials, and finishing up with your hands covered with pastel or clay and a smile on your face?

If you can’t remember, it’s time to give yourself permission to reconnect with your creativity. Making art is fun and shouldn’t be reserved for professional artists or children — tapping into the creativity that resides within us all is beneficial to people of all ages.

If you’re a perfectionist, give yourself permission to explore and play! The goal is not to create a perfect piece of art or become a professional artist but to enjoy the process, learn new skills and reap the many health and cognitive benefits that come with creative endeavors.

For example, if you’ve ever been stumped by a problem at work, you may find the solution by letting it go and tapping into your creativity. When you engage in coloring, drawing or your choice of creative endeavor, your mind will wander and make connections along new neural pathways. You may be surprised to discover a different approach to the problem at hand.

The more you cultivate your creativity, the greater the rewards. The state of flow, when you become so involved in an activity you lose track of time and place, can be found in creativity. The flow state increases dopamine, the feel-good chemical in your brain, which in turn lowers stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation.

Happiness, it turns out, is good for us in many different ways. It improves immune function and can make us feel more alert and optimistic. Studies find that creative endeavors, because they exercise the senses and help one reconnect with childhood (when creativity was more accessible), improve mental health and can even reduce the effects of dementia.

Bonuses: Writing can help manage negative emotions, and art can help us process trauma. Playing music increases communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain and improves cognition.

Repetitive activities such as crafting, sewing and gardening have been found to calm the mind and body, much like meditation. Drawing, whether by making original art or filling in coloring books with mandalas or landscapes, is also relaxing and calming. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, spending time creating art has been found to lower participants’ stress (as measured by cortisol) levels.

What is your medium? Painting, sculpting, baking, scrapbooking, knitting, playing an instrument, gardening — all have their devotees. Delve into one that appeals to you, and if you’re not sure, try a few. There are free online classes and group meetups where you can explore your interests and find your favorites.

Tips:

• Make time for creativity every day, even if it’s brief.
• Create a workspace, whether it’s on your kitchen table or a dedicated corner.
• Let go and find your flow!
• Notice how creativity changes your attitude and mood.