Benefits of Crafting and DIY Projects

If you are a pond enthusiast, start building your own above ground pond or creating your own décor like a barrel container fountain with flowers! These crafting and DIY projects will not only add a beautiful aesthetic to your yard but they also have many benefits.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Crafting and DIY projects help to reduce stress and anxiety and may help to decrease depression by promoting relaxation. Getting involved in these types of activities not only help to occupy your thoughts, but they actually suppress them. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, from the Psychology and Management department at Claremont Graduate University, compares crafting and DIY projects to meditation. At a TEDTALK in 2004, he spoke about ‘flow’, the act of engaging in a creative activity as a form of meditation. He said, "When we are involved in [creativity], we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life. You know that what you need to do is possible to do, even though difficult, and sense of time disappears. You forget yourself. You feel part of something larger." This meditation type of activity results in a Zen-like state that promotes happiness and relaxation. It also helps with quieting the mind for a better quality of sleep. Whether it is building a pond, knitting, or painting, creativity can be very soothing.

Creates An Outlet For Emotion

Psychology Today had an interesting piece about how crafting and DIY projects are used for managing emotion. For a long time, art has been used as a coping mechanism to manage difficult feelings and trauma. Art therapy is a common staple in many hospitals and outpatient programs for those grappling with mental illness. Some nursing homes integrate simple crafts for residents to deal with emotions as well as keeping their minds sharp. You can help deal with your own conflict using art of any kind, which includes crafting and do-it-yourself projects. It comes from the same idea as art therapy, and can be very effective.

Creates A Community

There is a huge Crafting, DIY projects and art community. Your crafting and DIY projects will help you to meet new people. It is easy to find like-minded individuals, whether it's at a class or through online groups with members by the tens of thousands, all sharing their projects and encouraging one another.

Personalize Your Space

Crafting, DIY projects, and art all allow you a way to make your space unique. You are creating interesting custom pieces no one else possesses. It also allows for a deeper connection to the things that keep us alive and well and to things that are important to us. In addition, the things you make reflect your personality and have a special meaning.

Saves Money

Crafting and DIY often costs less money than buying mass manufactured items. This does not only have to do with cutting labor costs, but more with understanding the intricate details of what makes a high-priced product or service expensive. Once you have this understanding, then you have the knowledge to make the decision of what is most important to you, saving money while getting something that will genuinely serve your needs.

Learning And Acquiring A New Skill Is Fun and Fulfilling

Completing a craft or DIY project is a fun way to learn something new and gives you one of the most satisfying feelings because it helps to foster a sense of accomplishment since it produces a tangible result. You also now have a new useful skill that can be for your enjoyment or turned into an additional source of income.

The benefits of creativity have been a big topic of discussion among experts. Crafting, DIY projects, and art in general can enhance your life by learning new skills that are fun and satisfying. They can help you relax, manage emotions, reduce depression and anxiety, or just feel more accomplished. So give it a try!