In a recent Australian study, 90% of the nearly 8000 crochet-hook-wielding creatives surveyed said that crocheting makes them feel calmer. Of that same group, 82% said that crocheting made them feel happier, and 70% said that it improves their memory and concentration. With positive health benefits like that, it may be time to pick up that hook and yarn and give crocheting a try!
If you’ve never crocheted, it’s fun and easy to learn. Unlike knitting, crochet involves only one needle, or “hook” and can be done with many types and gauges of yarn. While some may think of their granny’s delicate and elaborate doilies when they hear the word ‘crochet’, it’s by no means the limit of what can be created by this method!
Want to get started? You can Learn To Crochet here.
Crocheting and other kinds of fiber-art techniques can be great creative self-care strategies, that in addition to calm and concentration, help treat insomnia, anxiety, stress, restlessness and depression. The repetitive action of crocheting can wind down the body’s energy to become more ready for sleep; it also releases serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation. Focusing on one task, particularly one that involves your hands, is a natural anxiety-reducer.
I recall a facilitator my employer engaged for a team-building session many years ago that taught us all how to…wait for it…juggle! We each were presented with a boxed set of 3 juggling balls, called “thud-balls” because of the “thudding” noise they made when they were dropped. Trust me, they don’t bounce! For the next hour we practiced the classic “three ball cascade”, with varying degrees of success among the group. The activity was intended as a stress/anxiety management technique, and it worked. Why? Because when those balls are in the air, you literally CAN’T think about anything else, thus clearing and refreshing your mind for whatever challenge you might face next. Want to try juggling? Here’s how.
Crocheting and juggling…two creative paths to well-being that couldn’t seem more different but in fact are more closely related than you might think! Be creative! Be well.
