Arts and crafts are often seen as activities that are mainly for children. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! An increasing number of adults are turning to arts and crafts as a new hobby that promotes relaxation.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that we all need to take better care of our mental health. Arts and crafts are a great way to do this, and in this blog, we’re going to explain exactly why your mental health will benefit from crafting!
Here are 4 reasons that arts and crafts are good for your mental health!
Bright colors stimulate your mind.
The science behind colors is pretty fascinating if you dive deep enough into it. Our brains respond to the colors we are exposed to in our environment, so if you spend all day staring at a computer screen in a greyscale office, it could be that you are in need of some color therapy.
Arts and crafts projects like knitting, coloring, drawing, building or sewing all involve using materials that are brightly colored. Research has shown that your brain releases hormones that promote calm and clarity of mind when looking at bright colors like greens, yellows and blues. Who knew?
So whether you are pulling out your craft glue guns for a fun craft session or busting out the knitting needles, using brightly colored materials can benefit your mental health.
Arts and crafts encourage you to be off your phone.
Does anyone here feel like they are more addicted to their phone than they’d like to admit? Guilty as charged. Our minds are somewhat addicted to the ever-tempting scroll, whereby we stare at our phones, sometimes for hours, with little realization of just how much time we are spending looking at a screen.
By taking up arts and crafts, you are actively stepping away from your pocket-screen and stepping into a holistic activity that engages your brain in a different way. Looking at your phone is a passive activity; crafting is creative, it is active. Doing something mentally active can be soothing to your mind, and can help you be free of the temptation to sit and scroll for hours on end.
It might be difficult to start eliminating your phone from your day at the start, but even doing twenty minutes of arts and crafts without your smartphone present is a good start.
You can do crafts by yourself in silence, or be part of a wider group.
Some arts and crafts enthusiasts enjoy this hobby because it gives them time to be alone with their thoughts. Others find it beneficial to craft in a group setting, either with their kids, friends or work colleagues.
Whether you crave that sweet alone time you’ve always wanted, or perhaps you want more social interaction, you can achieve both with arts and crafts. As a solo activity or as a social engagement, crafting is a lighthearted pastime that helps people to unwind after a stressful day, week, month – or even year!
If you have children, crafting can be a great way to spend time with them on rainy days, especially if you are trying to stop them from spending too much time using tech. Get back to basics and try taking up crafts – you’ll be amazed at how your mental health improves.
Creating small pieces of art is good for your brain.
In this day and age, it can be hard to be creative. Work, family – everything piles up on top of us, so having the space to just make something creative without the pressure to show anybody can be impossible to achieve.
However, psychologists believe that making little art works, even if you never show them to anybody, is highly beneficial for your mind. People find integrity and tranquility in creating things, even if you don’t think you are “talented” at art.
In addition, in an increasingly monetary society, it can be very refreshing to remove money or “being impressive” from the equation, and instead do something just for you. Arts and crafts can be a helpful stepping stone towards having a healthier attitude to what you do in life, and how much it is worth at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts
Even if you have never tried arts and crafts before, it could be time to start anew. Why not use this blog as your guide to crafting for a calmer mind, and you could find yourself falling in love with your new hobby.