The lead up to Christmas can be a very stressful at the best of times organising get-togethers with friends and family, buying Christmas presents and organising the food and decorations. This year, we are still very much on edge about our Christmas plans after the coronavirus left us celebrating in our small bubbles in 2020. There is stress of not knowing if all our plans are going to get cancelled again at the last minute or not.
According to a study conducted by the BBC in 2019, being creative can in fact make you happier by boosting your mood and wellbeing and reduce anxiety. Out of 50,000 people surveyed, three quarters said being creative could block out stress and anxiety with a quarter naming their favourite activity being something crafty.
A crafting activity can help you take your mind off your worries whilst giving you the opportunity to try something new and exciting. Who knows what hidden crafting skills you have hidden under your belt? What ever your skill level, it’s fun to have a go. You might surprise yourself!
Crafting activities to try at home
There are so many different crafty activities you can try, but when choosing something for the first time, choose something you are interested in that is simple to create.
Ideas of crafts to try:
- Sewing
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Quilting
- Embroidery
- Paper cutting
- Decoupage
- Scrapbooking
- Cake decorating
If you’re struggling for ideas on things to make, check websites like Pinterest for inspiration or even think back to when you were younger and what you enjoyed doing. You might find you still enjoy these activities but just ran out of time to continue doing them.
Get festive with your crafts
To keep your mind busy over as we approach Christmas and to reduce stress the festive period can bring, why not create something festive. Create your own Christmas decorations this year instead of buying new. You could crochet some Christmas tree decorations or even create a festive quilt you can get cosy with when watching your favourite movies.
Christmas is the best time for baking. Some many festive treats we always buy from the supermarket that are cheaper to make at home. All it takes is a little more effort but can be so therapeutic. Mince pies, gingerbread men, Christmas pudding, yule logs are all Christmas favourites you can make for your festivities or even as gifts.
Christmas shopping can cause a lot of stress and tension, especially the closer to Christmas we get. Too many people around, queues that are never ending and every item on your shopping list being out of stock. A win-win situation here is to actually craft homemade Christmas gifts for loved ones. Crafting a gift will not only relieve your stress levels, but also be well received.
Relive Christmas in 2022
You can keep the Christmas magic alive as we move into 2022 by creating a scrapbook to relive the memories. Scrapbooking is a great way to relax after the stressful season and can ease getting back into that daily routine.
Crafting to calmness over the festive period may surprise you and give you that encouragement to carry your newfound hobby into the new year. A new year, a new you!
