Who would have thought that Crafting was so beneficial to our overall well-being? We live in a world where creativity is preceded by convenience. Almost any kind of human need or want can be obtained with the click of a button. With the help of the internet, never leaving your home is now possible more than ever. Not only that, it also hinders creative and health aspects. Human beings need to create by hand and self-express with our brains. When we eliminate creating and self-expression, we’re also eliminating a sense of well-being and feeling satisfaction.
Using your hands to craft something meaningful is necessary to exercise areas of our brain controlling creativity. When we don’t exercise this important area of the brain—we can be left simply not feeling, tired, and in some cases mild depression and anxiety. When we truly appreciate creativity, it makes our lives more meaningful.
Crafting Therapy
What’s cheaper than therapy? Crafting with our hands of course! When we’re crafting something we’re proud of with our hands, we feel productive which is a good thing. Crafting using our hands allows our minds to explore the things we enjoy, thus, allowing us to let go of worry. And when we feel good, that boosts our mood.
Crafting Meditation
On countless occasions I found myself emerged in crafting, only to look up at the clock to realize that four hours flew by like nothing! I was in the moment and focused—which is key to letting go of everyday stresses. In some ways, completely engrossing yourself in crafting is very similar to meditating. You feel calm, less stressed, and guess what? Your happy!
Take crochet crafting for example. Crocheting involves a vast amount of different stitches, techniques, and of course counting. Keep stitch count is important to your overall crochet project, otherwise, your project ends up misshapen, too small/big, or unwearable. So, crochet (or even knitting) is a great way to focus your mind on what you hands are doing and forgetting everything else. The repetitiveness gives you a feeling of comfort, familiarity, and control.
Crafting—Exercise for The Brain
According to the latest findings in Neuroscience, your brain reaches its peak performance at 16-25 years, and thereafter cognitive functioning declines. Kind of surprising isn’t it? However, there’s good news! No matter your age, science proves that excising your brain can in fact benefit your overall health. In order to increase intelligence, an increase in brain activity is needed. And guess what’s a great way to increase brain activity? You guessed it! Crafting and creating! Crafting helps spark connections to different parts of our brains. So, it’s true—the more crafting and creating you do, the more brain connections you’ll make, therefore, making you smarter! So, the next time a friend or family member comments on the size of your craft supplies, just tell them you’re fostering intelligence!
Crafting Connects us to Our Pasts
Crafting allows us to create something sentimental, something more personal. From scrapbooks to quilts—it’s a beautiful way to document our lives on our terms. These handmade items are wonderful ways to create family heirlooms which can be passed down from generation to generation.
Crafting Helps Us Connect Deep With Others
Crafting is magnanimous and altruistic too! While creating something handmade allows us to benefit from self-expression, handmade gifts we create for others connects on a deeper level. It allows us to show we care that others are worth the extra time it took to create something by hand.
More often than not, I make the gifts my son brings to birthday parties. I could have easily ordered something on Amazon, but I enjoy seeing the joy my creations bring to little ones. On countless occasions after sitting through what seems like an endless amount mass-produced gifts being unwrapped and carelessly thrown to the side, there sits my son’s gift just begging to be opened. When the child finally has our gift opened, the room fills with gasps of amazement (from children AND adults) and of course, “OMG! Did you make that?!”
I recently made one of my famous faux unicorn head wall decor pieces for my son’s girl friend (he’s only five lol). Of course, the little girl absolutely loved it (she love’s unicorns), but something else totally unexpected happened later that evening. See, her uncle (which is a very good friend of my husband and I) texted me to let me know what an amazing job I did on the unicorn head. Now, if you’re thinking “Ok, stop patting yourself on the back already”, this friend of ours it totally not the type to get excited over a rainbow, glittery unicorn head. It made me feel great and appreciated!
Crafting is Magnanimous & Altruistic
Handmade self-expression is about you. It’s about your happiness, your health, and your creativity. But it also helps and lifts others. For starters, when we are happier, healthier and less anxious as we create, we are able to be more generous, patient and kind to others.
Final Words on Crafting
Creatively using our hands is as necessary as it is valuable and should never be underestimated. Invite creativity into your life and find out for yourself just how beneficial it is to your overall life, health (mental and physical), relationships, joy, and happiness. So, the next time you feel the need for a little R&R, don’t reach for your phone—instead reach for a crochet hook and some yarn, a paint brush, knitting needles, a ball of clay, etc. You get the picture! So, exercise your brain—after all, creativity takes training! Have fun and let your mind run wild and free!
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