Your Mental Health Matters
Maintaining our mental health is vital to living a fulfilling life. Taking time to focus on self-care should be an important part of our day. However, we tend to put our own needs far down the list of life’s priorities.
Having something that gives you some space to be yourself can be empowering. It can help to build your self-esteem and give you a creative outlet for some of your more destructive behaviours.
Some of Us have problems prioritising our mental health because we think it appears selfish. But taking time for yourself is an important way of looking after your family too. Some people mistakenly equate self-care with selfishness and it couldn’t be further from the truth. I know that sounds a little backward but I’ll try to explain. Think of your best self. You are healthy, content, generally in a good place. Aren’t you nicer to be around? Sure you are. We all are. That is what self-care is all about.
Finding a hobby can be a fantastic way to take some time out for you. While crochet is my chosen way to de-stress, any hobby you choose can be equally beneficial.
My “Why”
I took up crochet because I fell ill and needed something to occupy my mind. Because of my illness I couldn’t exercise, which was a real frustration. I was falling into an anxiety/depression spiral which I couldn’t seem to pull myself out of. I’ll admit, I was in a very dark place.
I needed to find something that I could do which didn’t require me to move around a lot. It also needed to be something that didn’t involve eating (that’s a whole different problem) and didn’t require a massive financial outlay.
Hobby To Business
Fast forward 13 years (wow has it been that long??) and now there isn’t anything I wouldn’t try. I have taken what was a lifesaving hobby (no kidding) into a life-changing business. I have a whole range of hooks (choose ergonomic every time, your hands will appreciate it), more yarn than is healthy and a list of patterns that I want to try which is longer than I’ll ever live to complete! I’m even writing my own patterns which I would never have imagined possible all those years ago. I am quite honestly the happiest and most content I have ever been and I owe much of that to crocheting.
Crochet Self-Care and Mindfulness
There is also the added bonus that crochet helps me to stay calm and not bother about what is going on around me or even what might be waiting for me later. In that sense it is a perfect mindfulness practice. I know that may sound a little woo-woo for some of you but if you imagine it’s like getting hug exactly when you need it most it may be a little more acceptable to you.
There is also the added bonus that crochet helps me to stay calm and not bother about what is going on around me or even what might be waiting for me later. In that sense it is a perfect mindfulness practice. I know that may sound a little woo-woo for some of you but if you imagine it’s like getting hug exactly when you need it most it may be a little more acceptable to you.
When I crochet, no matter where I might be, I am totally in the moment. My hands, eyes and mind are fully occupied by what I am doing and not wandering to things I can’t control. I can’t over state how life changing that has been for me. As a life-long overthinker, the relief crochet offers has been immeasurable and priceless.
It’s Not A Magic Cure
Crochet hasn’t been a magic cure all. Truthfully, I still get anxious sometimes. However depression is thankfully a part of my past. I have way too many blessings to spend time focused on my regrets like I used to. I’ve also grown to love knitting as part of my learning journey but crochet is my comfort zone, my oasis of calm. It never lets me down.
If your life is in need of something new (or old?) to help you find an oasis of calm, then you could give crochet a try.
Until next time,
Be productive, be brilliant, be kind
Love,
