There’s nothing quite like the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a DIY project or craft. Whether you’re doing it for fun or as part of your business, it helps to foster a feeling of self-worth and pride. Plus, it’s a great way to learn something new and add a new skill to your repertoire.

But there’s even more to it than that – the act of making itself has many benefits that are good for you, both mentally and physically. The art of making has been shown to boost mental health and well-being, relieve depression, improve cognition, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost happiness.

When you immerse yourself in the process of creating, your mind is focused on that one task at hand. This can help to distract you from other negative thoughts and anxieties that might be on your mind, as well as to refocus your attention and open you up to new possibilities. This is especially true if you are working on something creative, such as painting or beading – there’s a rhythm to these types of tasks that can lull you into a state of calm and focus.

Making can also be a wonderful way to experiment with new ideas and tools. This can help to improve your skills and teach you a lot about how different materials work and how they may be combined. This knowledge will help you in your future projects.

In addition, the creativity involved in making allows you to make mistakes without too much consequence. This is a wonderful life lesson for children too, teaching them to be willing to take risks and explore new territory. In fact, allowing them to get messy and make a mess can be a great stress-reducer for kids (just make sure you do this safely!).

A final benefit of making is the sense of connection that it brings to your community. When you’re involved in a project that has a goal of helping someone else, it connects you to the people who are supporting you in your endeavors and to your fellow makers. It’s these connections that can bring people together to form stronger communities.

It’s no wonder that making is so important to all of us. We need to be able to express ourselves in a way that is more than just words or images. And when we’re able to do that, we become more resilient to the difficulties of life and the stresses of work and home. That’s why we encourage you to keep on making – your mind, body and soul will thank you for it.