Crafting is more than just a fun activity. It is a powerful tool for enhancing your mental health. It allows you to reconnect with your creative inner child, it relieves stress, and initiates physical changes in your brain and body that ultimately improve your overall well-being.
Engaging in crafting acts as a form of mindfulness, encouraging you to immerse yourself in a project. This focus helps you temporarily set aside everything else in your life and focus on the "task" at hand.
Research-Backed Benefits of Crafting on Mental Health
Numerous studies highlight the benefits of engaging in creative activities for mental health. For example, research published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals who participated in creative projects reported up to 50% lower levels of stress and anxiety compared to those who did not engage in similar activities.
One standout benefit of crafting is the release of dopamine, a brain chemical linked to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. When you focus on a creative task, your brain becomes engaged, promoting joy and accomplishment. According to a study at Drexel University, spending just 45 minutes on a creative activity can reduce cortisol levels—often called the stress hormone—by 20%, helping you achieve a calmer state of mind.
Crafting also cultivates a sense of community when shared with others. Group activities such as a hand knit blanket workshop or pouring fragrant candles can encourage special bonding with others, enhancing mental well-being.
Where do I begin? I'm not crafty :)
Sign up online for one of our public workshops here at Create Studios! Our workshops are ALL beginner level and we provide all the materials you will need. All you have to do is show up with an open mind. Our friendly and patient instructors will guide you step by step through your craft, and they are there to assist you whenever you need them. Which means you can just exhale and immerse yourself in your project. And of course be social if you want to! We are so friendly here! You will love the process, and you will love your completed craft!
Comments