Thank goodness! The world is finally beginning to agree with me that crafts are great for wellbeing.
Because I'm a bit of a geek for research, facts and the big part that hormones play in our wellbeing. So if you're curious as to how craft can possibly help with your mental health and overall wellbeing. Stay tuned and I'll give you a little more food for thought. Or metaphorical yarn for craft.
It's no secret that one of the things I love about my relationship with my crafts is how it supports my mental wellbeing.
Why Crafts Are Great For Wellbeing?
And over the years an abundance of science and research studies have shown a vast range of mental and physical health benefits to enjoying arts and crafts like the ones we love here at Ray's Room.
Here are a few of my favourite research based reasons why getting a little crafty now and again can benefit all of us.
1. Reduces Anxiety and Depression
Crafts are great for wellbeing. That's why choosing arts and crafts as a hobby can reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
As someone who's spent the last 15 years trying to navigate and manage my mental health. This one's a biggy for me.
Like many of us that were born any time before... I don't know the year 2000. I grew up in a world where people who had mental health issues were portrayed as 'crazy', unstable, unreliable or just not talked about.
Thankfully as I see it, the world has changed. And now I see mental health just like physical health - it's something we all need to take care of and to varying degrees could all benefit from support with from time to time.
Working on a craft project can have a similar effect to meditation which research shows can help with managing anxiety and depression. Being someone who's suffered both, I have felt first hand the beautiful benefits of meditation and crafts in all their magical power.
Studies also show that arts and crafts reduce the stress hormone cortisol. And can help to increase serotonin which is important for satisfaction and optimism.
And dopamine is a hormone associated with the reward centre of our brains. It allows us to feel pleasure and motivation. Doing arts and crafts is a great way to stimulate dopamine - ultimately helping us feel more happy!
I'm not suggesting that when I was at the depths of depression that whipping up a blanket would have solved all my worries. But at the same time I hand on heart can confirm that I have gone from deeply stressed to relaxed and happy by choosing a nice simple project to work on. Crafting is part of a package of ways that I now take care of my mental health and avoid anxiety and depression without medication.
If you're struggling with your mental health and don't know where to start - get in touch - I understand - you're not alone.
I can listen and signpost you to support. And if you're ready to make a start with a new craft I can help you find that too.
2. Community
For every craft there is a group of crafters waiting for you to join!
Online and/or in person crafting is a great way to build a network of gorgeous crafters who you can bounce ideas off, inspire and be inspired by, support and be supported by.
Groups like this help people with loneliness and isolation and research tells us that community is a vital element to a happy, healthy life.
In all the years I've crafted together with Ray's Room crafters I can't tell you the amount of times the session felt like therapy for me and others. We talk and share and support on so much more than craft.
If you love to craft or are interested in starting, the Ray's Room Crafters Community Facebook Group might be just the place for you.
3. Break From Social Media and Tech
Crafts are great for wellbeing, so more time crafting = less time scrolling.
I LOVE social media and always have for the connection and inspiration it's given me. But like anything, too much of a good thing comes with its disadvantages.
Too much screen time is linked with a multitude of mental and physical problems such as neck, back, strain injuries, sleep issues, concentration and mental health decline.
This is due to the affects excessive screen use can have on our hormones such as triggering the stress hormone cortisol. And delaying melatonin release which affects our body clock.
And the way that information is delivered to us on social media these days can for many people be totally overwhelming.
I'm not sharing any of this to tell you off for doing something you love.
I feel all of these effects which is why I find the reasons behind it so interesting. I'm currently suffering a strain in my arm from how I hold my phone and the fact that I could do with having it in my hand a whole lot less.
How does this link to craft I hear you say? WELL for all the hours I spend crocheting or embroidering or making quilts - I'm not scrolling. And that makes the time I do spend on my phone, much more enjoyable.
Other stuff I love to do to help reduce the amount I'm scrolling without purpose are reading, decorating my body with henna, meditating, working out and walking the dog.
How do you manage your smartphone/social media use? I'm in the market for new ideas.
You can see and we are only at number for how crafts are great for wellbeing.
4. Boosts Confidence
There's nothing like the sense of achievement you get from learning a new skill or completing a piece of artwork.
Learning a new skill can be tricky and often pushes us right out of our comfort zones. But only when we step out of our comfort zones can the real magic we're capable of, happen!
This one comes back to dopamine - that lovely hormone responsible for helping to make us feel good.
The sense of achievement you'll feel when you've learned something new that at first you found tricky is one of biggest confidence boosts I see in crafters when they leave a session having learned to crochet!
And you'll get that same boost when you complete a beautiful project and share it with all your crafting buddies or gift it to someone you love. No matter how long you've been crafting for I can tell you, that feeling never gets old.
5. Brain Power
Yes, it's true! Crafting is great for wellbeing and your brain!
Research has shown that crafting can help cognitive abilities such as memory and concentration. With some studies even suggesting that regular crafting can reduce the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. Which can lead to dementia.
The reason crafting is good at slowing down the rate that the brain ages is that it uses so many different areas of your brain such as memory, attention span, problem-solving abilities, creativity and hand eye coordination.
And right back at dopamine again. The increase in this hormone which is experienced while crafting enhances the creation of new neurons. Which can help you with focus and learning.
How awesome is that?
6. Work With Colour
Colour can uplift you and inspire you in ways you wouldn't believe!
Ending on a high with my favourite thing about crafting. If you follow me and Ray's Room on social media you may have noticed. I LOVE COLOUR!
I've always loved colour and all things creative. But when I first started out designing projects and colour ways I wasn't so confident. I'd often choose colours I thought would work but once the project was complete I wasn't so keen. But with lots trial and error, experience and inspiration from other crafters use of colour. I know much more about what colours and colour combos make me feel good. And it's come to be one of my greatest loves.
In fact one of my favourite ways to use colour now is when I see a collection of colour that makes my heart sing. In nature or anywhere else, I capture it, dissect it. And colour match every shade to yarns or threads or fabrics to design a project with.
The chance to play with colour that craft brings me is entirely JOYOUS.
And it's no wonder really. As Karen Haller explains in her beautiful book "The Little Book of Colour". When referring to her previous chapter about colour being light and light being energy, Karen explains. "When that light strikes the eye, it is converted into electrical impulses. And those electrical impulses pass through the same part of our brain that processes our emotions."
Working with colour is undoubtedly uplifting! And I don't know if its just me but in the same way that others describe how a song, a taste or smell can take them right back to a nostalgic childhood memory. I get that with colour combinations.
If you're looking to bring more colour into your life or boost your understanding and confidence with colour. I'd totally recommend this book and Karen's Instagram.
For my own wellbeing, this week, I have planned some time away from my phone. To craft more and scroll less.
Crafts Are Great For Wellbeing
If you already love to craft - what ways does it help you?
If you don't currently have craft in your life, what craft would you love to have a go at?
Check out the selection of Ray's Room Craft Kits here.