Life likes to do a funny thing where it stresses you out just because it can. Even doing nothing can be stressful, especially in our current environment, which is full of uncertainty. In this list are activities for when you want to distract yourself, organize your mind, or turn it off entirely, and I hope these help you release some of life’s stress.
Knitting/crochet
Don’t get deterred by the grandma stigma of knitting and crochet. Yarn craft is pretty cheap to start up and once you get into the hang of it, it’s easy and meditative. Knitting and crochet is a process of making repeated stitches, sometimes with variations to create patterns. It’s a great activity if you want something repetitive, not super brain intensive, but requires some concentration to keep count of stitches. If you don’t have much patience or if you get tired of doing the same thing over and over, this might not be for you.
Sewing/embroidery
This is another meditative, low brain intensity activity. Needlework has the added bonus of being able to stab something multiple times. With a small piece, you can see beautiful results in as little time as an hour. Sewing is something I like to do while listening to music or watching Netflix, but if you do this please be careful of your fingers!
Coloring
When people talk about relaxing activities, coloring is at the top of the list. It is truly a classic now because there are no rules besides staying in the lines. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t like the confinement of boxes and rules, then drawing would be more your speed.
Nail Art
Nail art is not an activity you can do very often, for the sake of your nails. However, it is a good excuse to not do anything else for 3 or 4 hours while the layers dry. Even better, you can turn it into a full self-care day because you deserve one!
Journaling
Personally, I have never been able to do bullet journaling, but I can definitely recommend writing out all your stresses and worries. A journal also acts as a creative outlet while at the same time being a place to organize your thoughts. If nothing else, your journal can feed your inner organization freak.
Puzzles - Jigsaw and Otherwise
Puzzles are perfect if you need something to take your mind off of everything else that’s going on. They also have seen a surge in popularity now that everyone is under lockdown. Whether it be a jigsaw puzzle or an interlocking one, the satisfaction you feel when you complete or solve it is unparalleled. (The feeling when you see others try it and struggle with it too is also nice.)
Making Bread
Two words: punching dough. Kneading bread is a great way to work out your frustrations, which is why exam season also tends to be bread season in my house. I personally think the most satisfying part is seeing the dough rise. Of course, you get a bonus snack at the end of it so it’s a winning activity for de-stressing.
Dance
Close the door, draw the blinds, blast the music and let your body do whatever it wants! There's something freeing about having to not care about anyone looking or judging or having to think about making the right moves or looking good. Just focus on having fun and enjoying your favorite music to the fullest. I can guarantee that you will feel lighter after.
In such uncertain times, I want to do my best to help you make the most of it through finding an activity that makes you happy. You can get through this!
For more crafting tips and wholesomeness, follow me on Instagram or Twitter at @thenerDIYblog. If you'd like your crafting questions answered live, catch me on stream on Twitch at twitch.tv/finding_doro.
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