Knitting Has Been Helping Me Survive The Winter. I Asked A Psychologist Why
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https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","mediaId":"3d7f33ce-11d3-448e-9be3-813e90d14595"}).render("6925c60fe4b05f521ddab19b");});As colder, darker nights roll in, I, for one, have been feeling a little lost; with my usual routine gone, and my summertime sports on the shelf for now (oops), the winter blues have been knocking at my door. Thankfully, though, it’s also the season for immense cosiness. I’ve begun crafting to my heart’s content – just in time to knock together some Christmas gifts while blasting Game Of Wool in the background. For some reason, I’ve always found knitting and crochet really meditative and relaxing, even during the dreariest of weather. In fact, I think it’s been a big part of keeping my mental health in check. Is that just me? I asked Dr Ritz Birah, Consultant Counselling Psychologist and Sleep Expert for Panda London, and BACP-certified therapist Jen Mak, about whether knitting and other crafts have benefits beyond beautiful scarves and a sense of satisfaction.Recent crochet projectsKnitting and crocheting have been linked to multiple brain benefits A 2020 study based on an online survey found that crochet appeared to be associated with “positive benefits for personal wellbeing with many respondents actively using crochet to manage mental health conditions and life events such as grief, chronic illness and pain”. A 2011 study found that those who engage in activities like knitting and crochet may face a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, too. Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Birah said: “One really helpful indoor hobby for mental health and sleep during the winter months is mindful crafting, like knitting or crochet.“The repetitive, steady movements give your brain something simple and soothing to focus on, almost like a meditation you can hold in your hands.“This gentle, focused activity can calm the nervous system, ease anxious thoughts, and create a feeling of emotional steadiness, something especially valuable during the darker, quieter months when mood can naturally dip.” Mak added that crafting can be a great way to stay “active” in a small way while stuck indoors. “Those micro movements can help us mend bit by bit and we may find a little bit of joy as we do it,” she wrote. “Focusing on one thing at a time can also be restful for those who struggle to sit with their own thoughts,” the therapist continued, stating that it can be a great way to prevent us from mindlessly picking up our phones, too.Even the both-hands-active element of knitting and crochet can help to weave our thoughts together without us even realising, Mak continued. “When utilising both sides of our body, we’re encouraging the integration of different feelings and thoughts in our brain.“It doesn’t have to be an active thought either, as our brain works in the background to knit together a different patchwork of ideas and memories.” Knitting and crocheting can be great for your self-esteem The New York Times wrote that though knitting and crochet can have the calming benefits of meditation, they offer another benefit too: “unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem”. Personally, I’ve found that to be true. And Dr Birah and Mak both think that makes sense. “Working on a small project in the evening can lower stress, quiet a busy mind, and reduce the kind of mental overload that often keeps people awake,” Dr Birah told us. “Beyond sleep, there’s a quiet sense of accomplishment in watching a project grow stitch by stitch, which can boost self-esteem, foster a sense of purpose, and lift overall mood.”“Whether it turned out the way you wanted or not, you can’t deny that you made something,” Mak agreed.“Enjoying the process of making for the sake of making can be particularly beneficial for anyone handling perfectionism or the need to be productive.” Then, there’s the winding-down element of it all; crucial during a period often linked to poor sleep.“Spending this time away from screens in the couple of hours before bed also sends a clear signal to the body that the day is winding down, helping both mind and body relax,” Dr Birah ended.“Mindful crafting can become a small, restorative ritual that supports emotional well-being, resilience, and calm throughout the long winter months.” Related...I Ditched My Phone And Got Hooked On The Calming Power Of Crochet5 DIY Christmas Decorations That Cost Under £5 And Take Less Than 1 Hour5 People Share When They Put Their Christmas Decorations Up
Knitting Has Been Helping Me Survive The Winter. I Asked A Psychologist Why
!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","mediaId":"3d7f33ce-11d3-448e-9be3-813e90d14595"}).render("6925c60fe4b05f521ddab19b");});As colder, darker nights roll in, I, for one, have been feeling a little lost; with my usual routine gone, and my summertime sports on the shelf for now (oops), the winter blues have been knocking at my door. Thankfully, though, it’s also the season for immense cosiness. I’ve begun crafting to my heart’s content – just in time to knock together some Christmas gifts while blasting Game Of Wool in the background. For some reason, I’ve always found knitting and crochet really meditative and relaxing, even during the dreariest of weather. In fact, I think it’s been a big part of keeping my mental health in check. Is that just me? I asked Dr Ritz Birah, Consultant Counselling Psychologist and Sleep Expert for Panda London, and BACP-certified therapist Jen Mak, about whether knitting and other crafts have benefits beyond beautiful scarves and a sense of satisfaction.Recent crochet projectsKnitting and crocheting have been linked to multiple brain benefits A 2020 study based on an online survey found that crochet appeared to be associated with “positive benefits for personal wellbeing with many respondents actively using crochet to manage mental health conditions and life events such as grief, chronic illness and pain”. A 2011 study found that those who engage in activities like knitting and crochet may face a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, too. Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Birah said: “One really helpful indoor hobby for mental health and sleep during the winter months is mindful crafting, like knitting or crochet.“The repetitive, steady movements give your brain something simple and soothing to focus on, almost like a meditation you can hold in your hands.“This gentle, focused activity can calm the nervous system, ease anxious thoughts, and create a feeling of emotional steadiness, something especially valuable during the darker, quieter months when mood can naturally dip.” Mak added that crafting can be a great way to stay “active” in a small way while stuck indoors. “Those micro movements can help us mend bit by bit and we may find a little bit of joy as we do it,” she wrote. “Focusing on one thing at a time can also be restful for those who struggle to sit with their own thoughts,” the therapist continued, stating that it can be a great way to prevent us from mindlessly picking up our phones, too.Even the both-hands-active element of knitting and crochet can help to weave our thoughts together without us even realising, Mak continued. “When utilising both sides of our body, we’re encouraging the integration of different feelings and thoughts in our brain.“It doesn’t have to be an active thought either, as our brain works in the background to knit together a different patchwork of ideas and memories.” Knitting and crocheting can be great for your self-esteem The New York Times wrote that though knitting and crochet can have the calming benefits of meditation, they offer another benefit too: “unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem”. Personally, I’ve found that to be true. And Dr Birah and Mak both think that makes sense. “Working on a small project in the evening can lower stress, quiet a busy mind, and reduce the kind of mental overload that often keeps people awake,” Dr Birah told us. “Beyond sleep, there’s a quiet sense of accomplishment in watching a project grow stitch by stitch, which can boost self-esteem, foster a sense of purpose, and lift overall mood.”“Whether it turned out the way you wanted or not, you can’t deny that you made something,” Mak agreed.“Enjoying the process of making for the sake of making can be particularly beneficial for anyone handling perfectionism or the need to be productive.” Then, there’s the winding-down element of it all; crucial during a period often linked to poor sleep.“Spending this time away from screens in the couple of hours before bed also sends a clear signal to the body that the day is winding down, helping both mind and body relax,” Dr Birah ended.“Mindful crafting can become a small, restorative ritual that supports emotional well-being, resilience, and calm throughout the long winter months.” Related...I Ditched My Phone And Got Hooked On The Calming Power Of Crochet5 DIY Christmas Decorations That Cost Under £5 And Take Less Than 1 Hour5 People Share When They Put Their Christmas Decorations Up
