If you are familiar with the impacts of struggling with the negative side of mental health, you may understand how this can affect a person in so many ways, not only mentally but physically too. Finding something that has a positive impact on your Mental well-being is pretty important. Especially these days. We all know that every one of us is going through a lot, all of the time. So finding something that can take you away from the stress of day-to-day life, and bring you relief from a hard day, is pretty important in the grand scheme of things.
In reality, You could be sitting there thinking, well you have so much stress in your life right now, loads or washing that has been piling up (honestly who actually manages to keep up with the laundry anyway?), responsibilities, chaos and all of those lifey life things, Just trying to survive the world of being an adult that you didn’t even ask for anyway. Do you really need to find anything else to do?
However, just hear me out for a moment… when was the last time that any of these stresses gave you any satisfaction and put you into a happy and relaxed mindset?
Crafting and mental well-being for me
I have been diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety and PTSD. So when it comes to finding a positive outlet when I need one, I tend to look to keep my hands busy fiddling with something creative. Especially when I feel triggered by something, I can use creating to put myself into a different mental zone.
I am going to be completely honest here, personally, I am a complete hobby addict. Particularly crafting and creating, making new things, and making old things pretty. Give me A digital creation to do, a clay project, A Cricut project, Resin, Art, planners, writing… I’ll try it all.
I could sit here and blame Pinterest and the socials. Finding so many things that inspire me and give me new ideas for projects just by scrolling for hours on that app, (Seriously the scrolling time I spend on these is apps is kinda ridiculous) but that really wouldn’t be telling the truth.
The ability to be able to be creative and sit and craft has helped my life so much in recent years. I have found myself escaping into a craft project for so many reasons.
I can honestly say that crafting has a majorly positive impact on my mental health! and I truly believe it can have a positive impact on others too.
Just by having hobbies connected to creating in my life, I have had a method of keeping myself going.
Crafting is not only a hobby but also a form of self-care. It allows you to devote time to yourself, engaging your mind and hands in a way that promotes relaxation and a positive mental attitude. So, pick up your craft supplies
Crafting to Destress and improve mental well-being
Crafting is an effective way to de-stress and unwind. By engaging in a craft hobby you are allowing yourself to focus your attention on a creative activity, providing a much-needed break from the stresses and challenges of daily life.
Just like grabbing a colouring book, crafting offers a form of distraction. When you immerse yourself in a craft project, you are making choices, utilizing creativity, and transforming materials into something beautiful or functional. This process can be soothing and therapeutic, allowing you to shift your focus away from stressors and enter a state of flow.
Not the post for you? check out my experience with the Glowforge Aura laser cutter and engraver, here.
There have been so many times that I have seen someone say ‘Do some colouring’, and say how colouring can be a good distraction from real life and easily therapeutic. It’s not so different from having a craft hobby. With colouring, you are choosing to pencil, your choice of colour and decorating something nice. Craft is the same except you’re probably grabbing the scissors, warming up the hot glue gun sprinkling glitter and turning an idea into creations.
I have always felt that when I can get engaged in a project it really can have such a positive effect on myself and my stress levels soon shrink.
I have a love for vinyl and polymer clay projects… a passion for printing complex and fiddly designs and can spend hours weeding the excess vinyl away or modelling clay to create miniature things that I am proud of. It does take time and patience but this can be so relaxing. what could be better than finding a new hobby that can be used as a distraction from reality? Leaving my problems and stress behind. I always call my desk my little craft bubble, because when I am there I am in my happy place.
Even when you are out of ideas I suggest a quick trip to Pinterest and within minutes you can be inspired by something and think up your unique way to create a similar project.
Getting your creative juices flowing.
Just by starting a new creation or project, The creative juices in your brain are forced into action from the get-go. No matter what it is that you are busy with, your craft is the doorway to a million other doors.
Once you start something your mind becomes a mental mind map of what else you can do. From seeing something in a shop you could use to create something amazing, to taking something old and making it even better than before. You are constantly finding something new that you will want to get your hands on, or even find ways to make different ideas collaborate and expand. When you are creating something the world is your oyster. There is so much to do and so little time.
craft your expression…
I know that I’ve already mentioned being creative but for me, an expression is a whole different chapter in the book of creativity. Being able to express your feelings creatively is such a powerful and amazing device to consider. There are so many different options that can be inspired by what we are feeling. Pairings, art journals, scrapbooking, drawing and uplifting. just to name a few things that you can use your emotions to empower your creations. From using colours and pictures to reflect your mood, to using tools to manipulate objects and change them to your own envisions. You will be able to find so many new ways to express yourself and your feelings.
Positive reflection.
During the years my crafting experiences have had so many positive impacts on me. I try to think of most projects as a creative challenge. being able to throw yourself into something you can enjoy leads to positive energy. There is something so amazing about that feeling that you get when you are inspired by a new idea when you find a solution to a tricky crafting nightmare, the experiences of learning new things and different ways to do things, and that final moment, Meanwhile the hours that you have spent creating something is finally finished. That feeling of being proud of yourself, for what you have achieved.
Craft an awesome finished project … eventually.
Don’t get me wrong, I have had so many of my fair share of unfinished projects and ongoing ones. Projects that have pained me to finish, maybe they took me absolute months to finish. It doesn’t really matter. You can use your mistakes to learn from just like in real life. That feeling you have when you’ve finally got there, I didn’t give up and completed them. That feeling I love, it is such a warm amazing feeling, embrace it. I feel empowered when I can say I did that. Look at what I have done, I created something and that thing, it’s amazing and it’s all down to me. That feeling is pretty epic. It’s so positive.
Do not forget that even if a project that you have completed isn’t perfect. You still did it yourself. You have still created something pretty amazing. Find the positives in what you have achieved.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Picking up a creative hobby to help with your mental well-being doesn’t need to be complicated.
You could even start by checking out your local store’s craft section to see what craft kits they have available to get you going.
It shouldn’t be a major shock. This is hardly a massive revolution I have had. However, it has gotten me to think about myself, my health, and my mind state. I thought I would share my thoughts on how craft can lead to a positive mental attitude. So how can starting a craft hobby help your mental health?
Let’s start by remembering that a hobby that falls in any arts and crafts category could be absolutely anything. The possibilities are endless and most people can find something compatible for themselves. There are so many reasons that starting a new hobby in the crafting world will have a positive impact on yourself and your mental health
Have I missed anything?
I mean crafting is one of my major hobbies and it does have a special place in my heart and life. When I’m having a down day I can sometimes turn it all around by challenging myself into something new!
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