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There are many reasons to be stressed in today’s modern world, but that doesn’t mean you have to just sit back and take it – you can do something to help yourself as much as possible and ensure you find a hobby that helps you get away from all that trouble. 

Just as there are many ways that you can be stressed out, there are also many hobbies you can choose to help you get past it all, but which one should you pick? Something that can always be beneficial is crafting, and it’s not just helpful when it comes to stress, either; there are dozens of reasons why it’s such a good idea to take it up in whatever form most appeals to you. Read on to find out what some of those reasons are.

Stress Reduction

One of the biggest reasons why crafting is good for you is that it’s a great way to de-stress, as we mentioned above. The reason is that it can be a truly mindful thing to do because you become totally immersed in the project you’re doing, allowing your mind to forget about what you’re worrying about in the past and the future and only focus on the present – on whatever it is you’re crafting.

Studies have shown that doing anything creative, like the projects you can find on  www.origami.org, for example, can lower the levels of cortisol in your body. This is known as the stress hormone, and although small doses of it can be useful (it’s part of the fight or flight system, and it keeps you alert to danger), too much can cause heart problems and high blood pressure. Lowering it by doing crafts is a great idea that you’ll enjoy at the same time. 

Improved Mood

Your body needs a lot of different hormones and chemicals to function properly, and for some people, getting what they need is harder than for others. A lack of dopamine, for example, can cause a number of different mental health issues, and lead to a low mood at least some – if not all – of the time. 

If you want to find a good way to improve your mood, crafting could be the perfect answer. When you craft, your brain releases dopamine into your system, and that’s a chemical that makes us feel happy and boosts the mood right away. In other words, crafting is something that can make you happy. 

Social Connection 

Although you might think of crafting as being something you usually do on your own, it doesn’t have to be – it can actually be a very social thing to do, and it just depends on which craft you choose and how you choose to do it. You could join a crafting club, for example, or go to workshops, or even join online forums that are dedicated to talking about whatever it is you like to do. 

When you decide to make your particular favourite craft into something that helps connect you with other people who share your interests and have similar passions and goals, you’ll make some valuable social interactions that can help you feel happier and get you past any feelings of loneliness you might be having. Loneliness and isolation are very common, especially as we get older, and they can take a huge toll on your mental health. So, if you can find a way to combat those feelings and even find a new sense of belonging, that’s a positive thing to do, and crafting – and the social connections it can give you and allow you to make – could be perfect for doing just that. 

Improved Fine Motor Skills 

A lot of crafting activities need you to have precise fine motor skills and great hand-eye coordination, and that’s a good thing. Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, doing origami, doing pottery, or anything else, you’re constantly going to need to be moving your hands and being as coordinated as possible. These skills aren’t just beneficial when it comes to crafting, but they can also be extremely useful when you’re doing all kinds of things around the house, like cooking, cleaning, or even using electronic devices. 

Crafting can also be a good kind of therapy for anyone recovering from injuries after an accident or perhaps surgery to their hands or anything else that has affected their fine motor skills. That’s because it’s gentle and enjoyable, but it also rebuilds your strength and coordination, so you’ll be helping your body heal while you do crafts, and that’s a great combination. 

Sense Of Accomplishment 

When you complete a crafting project, no matter how complex or simple it might have been, you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment about it. In turn, feeling accomplishment like this will boost your self-esteem and self-confidence, and it will help to remind you that you’re able to do good things with your own two hands – that’s a special thing to be able to do. 

Plus, the sense of accomplishment you get from your crafting work can help you feel motivated to tackle other challenges in your life, from big to small. It gives you the feeling that you can do anything, and if you can set some goals, you’ll be able to reach them and move onwards from them, all thanks to crafting and the way it helps you feel so good about yourself. 

Time Management Skills 

Creating anything when you’re crafting often needs you to have good time management skills, especially when you’re working on larger projects or following intricate patterns that you need to focus on or you need to have all your equipment ready in time. When you’re able to plan your crafting sessions properly, you’ll have time for each step that you need to take, and you’ll have a better sense of accomplishment, as we mentioned above. 

On top of this, this good time management can be useful in other areas of your life, meaning that you become much more organised and efficient when you’re doing all kinds of different daily activities, and if you also work or run your own business, you’ll have a better work-life balance too, which is always a positive thing.