Colouring
What you need:
If you remember picking up a colouring book when you were younger, you perhaps already know the calming impact they can have. In fact, many of us may take out colouring books for our own children today for that very reason.
But few of us realise that they can have a profound impact on us in adulthood too. Colouring books can promote mindfulness by focusing our attention on the intricate patterns and colours within them. It’s a simple, calming activity that ensures you concentrate on the present moment and, as a result, begin to forget your stresses and worries.
Essentially, by engaging your creativity alongside the repetitive nature of filling in the patterns, you can enter a meditative state and allow your mind to relax.
There are lots of colouring books available, perfect for a quick five minutes or hours spent getting creative, and what’s more, you don’t really need to learn a new skill to do it, just a colouring book and a set of pens or pencils.
Crocheting
What you need:
Wintertime is ideal for getting crafty with a crochet hook. There’s something comforting about sitting in the warmth at home, with the television on, hook in hand, creating something one-of-a-kind.
There are so many things you can make and create, and there are lots of guides and books available to help you master the basics of crochet. Granny squares are an ideal place to start, as they allow you to experiment with lots of different stitches, and they can be used to make all manner of items, from blankets to scarves, coasters to bags. The possibilities are endless!
The benefits of crocheting on SAD comes through the focus and repetitive motions of working with the hook and yarn, as well as that sense of achievement you get from mastering new patterns and finishing creations. This can provide a real boost for self-esteem and enable us to look after our mental health more efficiently.
Knitting
What you need:
Similar to crocheting, knitting helps promote relaxation through repetitive hand movements. It can help engage the mind and our body, alleviate anxiety, and provide us with that sense of achievement as our projects grow.
Whether you’re a regular knitter or just getting started, there are plenty of free patterns available to keep you occupied right throughout the winter and beyond!
Hats and scarves are an ideal place to start, before you know it, you’ll be making your loved one’s cardigans and sweaters, all while working to improve your mental wellbeing.
Painting
What you need:
One of the more traditional forms of creativity, and a method people have been using for generations to relax and ease both stresses and strains, as well as more serious mental health problems, is painting.
Painting really does provide you with a blank canvas to express your thoughts and feelings, allowing stress and emotion to come out. It’s used as a method of therapy in the mental health space, with it not only providing an outlet to externalise challenges you may be living with but also engaging in the act of mindfulness.
The mixing of colours and the actioning of brushstrokes can help us to refocus and shift our thoughts from negativity. There’s no set structure or pattern you need to follow, you can be as free as you like.
However, if you do need a bit of guidance on ideas for getting started, here are a few ideas that are perfect for beginners on our blog.
Ceramics
What you need:
Slightly more complex, but a crafting activity that really does engage creativity and focus is working with clay. It’s an ideal group activity but can also be enjoyed alone; the shaping of clay provides tactile stimulation that can help divert our attention.
There’s a huge pathway for progression within ceramics, starting off with hand sculpting before moving on to pottery wheels and experimenting with glazing techniques and firing your pieces. It is this progression within the craft that can help develop a real passion and a hobby that can potentially help with dealing with mental health conditions over the long term.
Beginner projects include coasters, hanging decorations and hand-sculpted ornaments.
Sketching
What you need:
Like painting, sketching is a mindful activity that can help promote self-expression.
There are many ways you can enjoy sketching as a hobby to boost your mental health, whether it be through observation or imagination. For some, getting outdoors and spending a few hours sketching a wintery setting can be the creative outlet they need to provide some relief, while for others, a blank page and letting their imagination run wild can be invaluable in reflecting difficult emotions and getting them off their chest.
Ultimately, all you need is a pencil, a sketchbook and a calming environment and you’re good to go!
Scrapbooking
What you need:
Our beginner's guide to scrapbooking tells you all you need to know about getting started on a book that can reflect on your memories and feelings. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be all about you. It can be on anything you hold a passion for.
Focusing on something you love can be a positive way to channel your energy, whether it be a sports team, a TV show, a town or city, an area of history, the options really are endless. The mindfulness element comes in when you create each of the pages, arrange, cut, and stick, all the while experimenting and building up your skill set.
Other people like to concentrate on the things they value in their own lives, using scrapbooks as a reminder of such aspects. The concentration and creativity required to lay out and order your scrapbook can ease any stress you may be under, while the beauty of the scrapbook is that it’s a continual process for you to return to whenever you need.
Journaling
What you need:
Journalling can be a great way to get your thoughts and feelings out there without having to verbalise. It’s a way to set goals and even daily habits.
During the darker months, you might be feeling overwhelmed. It might help to make a note of how you are feeling. You could also make a note of what’s going well.
You can get creative with your journaling, too. All you need is a journal and a pen. You could add colours, doodles or quotes. What’s more, it’s something you can do every day. You could add it to your routine and reflect on your thoughts, feelings and the progress you’ve made.
Cross Stitch
What you need:
Encouraging you to slow down again, cross stitch requires a more intense attention to detail that can improve both focus and mindfulness during periods where there may be challenges in your life.
The repetitive nature of the activity can have a calming effect, regardless of whether you’re creating a simple pattern or working on something more advanced.
Only a needle, embroidery thread and fabric are needed to get started, and your designs can be applied to all manner of items, from denim jackets to napkins, rucksacks to wall art. Cross stitch really can help boost your self-esteem and confidence, from admiring the end result to wearing or gifting some of your creations.
Flower pressing
What you need:
Working with flowers can be colourful and vibrant, but using dried flowers can stimulate several senses, notably sight and smell.
You can work with flowers in many ways, whether it be arranging them or pressing them to include them in artwork, soaps, and even things like decorative trays.
In the case of the latter, flower pressing can be great for creating all manner of crafts, from bookmarks to coasters and ornaments and look brilliant in frames on the wall. They can have a lasting effect well after you’ve completed the task, too, often brightening up the home and offering satisfaction every time you take a glance at your own creations.
To get started with pressing, you need to pick some flowers that are close to bloom and ensure they are completely dry. From there, you can use a book or a heavyweight and some paper to soak up the moisture, to arrange the flowers, and then squash them down and set a weight on top. It then takes around two to four weeks to dry them out and you’ll be left with some beautiful flowers to get creative with.
If you’re struggling with your mental health. Mind are here to help…
1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem each year, yet most of us don’t get the help we need. This has to change.
That’s why we’re supporting Mind. Mind is here to fight for mental health. They campaign to change minds by working hard to hold the people in power to account - pushing for better care and services.
Mind are there to offer information and support for anyone who needs it – on their website, through their online Side by Side community and through the helplines that they run. With a network of over 100 local Minds spread across both England and Wales, tailored, quality mental health services and support is available for anyone that needs it within their community.
Mind won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.
You can find out more about Mind by clicking here.
