As a craft-lover, the act of making something inherently brings me joy. It challenges me, tests my creativity and ultimately feels like time well spent when it is such a precious commodity. But for those who have yet to delve into the creative world to discover this for themselves, there are a plethora of scientific studies that have reported the positive impact of the arts upon our wellbeing. So join me in discovering why crafting should be your new hobby for 2020!

Happiness and living in the moment

For many, our daily lives are consumed by work, overcoming daily hurdles to reach our goals. But how do you spend your time off? Exercise, traveling, reading and playing music are all excellent go to’s for combating the pressures of modern living. However, there is a growing community of crafters proving just how beneficial being creative can be.

In 2018, the Great British Creativity Test was launched, led by Dr. Daisy Fancourt of University College London. Almost 48,000 participants completed a questionnaire examining the impacts of creative activities on their mood, from cooking, gardening and singing through to photography, music and painting. Three main benefits were revealed:

• Distraction: redirecting attention from unwanted thoughts and feelings

• Self-development: providing a sense of purpose and achievement

• Reflection: upon life and how to overcome the problems faced 

Read a summary of the findings from this two-year study and how they discovered arts to benefit society here.

Described as ‘diversional therapy’, arts and crafts were utilised by returning soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following both world wars. Basket-weaving and knitting were just some of the skills-based therapy provided to encourage distraction from negative emotions and pain, whilst also preparing the repatriated soldiers for civilian work in the future.

Today, these same artistic activities promote emotional regulation, supporting positive mental health in daily life. In particular, engaging in creative tasks is of benefit to people suffering from long term illness and depression, providing an alternative method of expressing inner thoughts. 

Furthermore, participating in craft groups permits new friendships to blossom and encourages social interaction, paramount to aiding the isolation crisis amongst the elderly by allowing them to continue to contribute to society.

The act of intently focusing upon a craft project also automatically draws concentration, enforcing an inbuilt ability to relax and focus on your project and surroundings in the given moment. With mindfulness growing as a method of self-care, coupled with knitting being described as ‘as relaxing as yoga’, there’s no better excuse to pick up some yarn and join a knit-and-natter group. 

The additional benefits of decreased stress levels lowering blood pressure and distracting from chronic pain have an undeniable benefit on improving the overall sense of well-being and maintaining a healthy heart too.

Healthy brain and boosting self-esteem

Neuroscientists are currently researching how best to keep our brains healthy as we age, a task of utmost importance as the World Health Organisation estimates 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with 10 million new cases every year. 

Whilst activities such as reading and solving puzzles give your brain a workout, crafting is thought to be a particularly beneficial brain-booster through exercising the various regions of the brain responsible for concentration, problem-solving and creativity.

Jill Riley (Cardiff University) and colleagues completed an international online study of knitters to ascertain the benefits of this craft to personal and social wellbeing, identifying strong feelings of calmness and relaxation, particularly as part of a group. 

Additionally, being able to follow a task from start to finish and have a tangible product to showcase your skills at the end provides a real sense of accomplishment that bolsters your self-esteem. This can be furthered if you have the opportunity to work on group projects as part of arts and craft classes, feeling a sense of belonging and pride from contributing to your team effort.

But crafting provides the wonderful opportunity to be solitary or collective to suit your mood, whilst colours and textures associated with yarn and fabrics were also found to assist in creating a sense of happiness and wellbeing, particularly over the darker winter months. So be bold and step out of your comfort zone – it might be the best thing you do this year!

It's never too late to learn something new

Some of the greatest joy and achievement in life comes through learning a new skill – experiencing the initial challenges and subsequent pride upon completion is something that should occur at any age. 

With crafts such as crochet, knitting, needlework, ceramics, and woodwork requiring relatively repetitive actions, they create an immersive state that enables your skill level to continuously be improved with practice. As you learn, you can put your new-found skills to the test by knitting for charity – perhaps baby clothes for hospitals or poppies for Remembrance Day.

So no matter where you are on life’s path, take up the creative baton and give it a go – you might just fall in love with it!

Share your love of crafts with us using #citygirlnetwork.

Written by Charlotte Bird who can be found at @charlotte_m_bird