Making is more than just a hobby; it’s a transformative activity that can improve your overall well-being. From reducing stress and anxiety to increasing cognitive abilities and promoting an active lifestyle, DIY crafting has a host of mental health benefits.

The process of creating something by using your hands is a form of meditation that promotes mindfulness. By focusing on the task at hand, you’re able to tune out your everyday worries and fully immerse yourself in the moment. This state of concentration helps to reduce anxiety levels and promotes relaxation. It’s also a great way to decompress after a stressful day at work or home.

Incorporating DIY into your daily life also provides an opportunity to learn new skills. As you practice and hone your craft, you’ll develop greater confidence in your ability to create. This increased confidence can lead to a more positive self-image, which in turn can help to combat depression and improve overall mood.

Aside from providing a sense of accomplishment, DIY crafts can also be a great way to teach kids how to problem solve. For example, if a piece of art doesn’t come out as they expected, encourage them to think about how they might change it in the future or try again. This teaches them that it’s okay to make mistakes and that they can work through them rather than immediately becoming frustrated.

Crafting also helps to improve memory and attention. This is because it’s often necessary to follow a pattern or remember the steps to complete a project. In addition, you’ll need to remain focused on the intricate details of a particular project which can help to improve these cognitive functions over time.

Another benefit of crafting is that it can help to aid the grief processing process. Loss is a natural part of life and it can be hard to cope with, whether the loss was expected or not. Crochet and knitting have been found to be one of the most comforting crafts for people who are grieving. The repetition of stitches, the up/down motion and the warm textures can all help to distract people from their pain and for a short time allow them to feel normal again. This can be especially helpful for those who have suffered from a major loss like the death of a loved one or a long-term illness.