People’s favored pastimes or ways to unwind differ from person to person. But it’s safe to assume that for at least some of them, crafting is a good way to spend time. (Whether or not the result is something to be proud of.) Experts suggest that it’s also a good way to take care of your well-being.
“Research has shown that crafting reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, increases feelings of self-worth, and even slows the onset of dementia,” the multidisciplinary artist and expert in sensory studies, Dr. Ainsley Hawthorn told Bored Panda, talking about the benefits of doing crafts and engaging in similar hands-on activities.
“The flow state we enter when we’re completely immersed in a creative activity like crafting is intrinsically pleasurable and keeps us from ruminating over negative thoughts. Craft projects are often small-scale and attainable, giving crafters a sense of achievement as they complete each one. Because crafting has tangible results, crafters can literally watch their skills improve over time and gain confidence in themselves and their capabilities.
“Crafting has such demonstrably positive impacts that the authors of a recent large-scale study on how crafting contributes to well-being suggested that health institutions might want to fund or promote crafting as a proactive way to support mental health,” she added.
According to the artist, art educator, and author of From Art to Empowerment: How Women Can Develop Artistic Voice, Annette Luycx, crafting and hands-on activities are like little escapes into a world of mindfulness and creativity that pull us out of the daily grind and into the now, calming the mind and melting away stress.
“There’s also something magical about seeing a project go from an idea to a finished piece – it’s a powerful confidence boost and a reminder of what we’re capable of,” she said, adding that creativity can be a path of self-discovery.
“On a deeper level, these activities awaken our natural human need to create – a spark that’s often dimmed in today’s tech-driven world. Beyond the personal benefits, crafts are also great for sharpening skills like problem-solving and fine motor coordination. And when done in groups, they have a beautiful way of building connections and fostering collaboration.”
Luycx continued to suggest that when it comes to arts and crafts, the magic is all in the process. “Whether it’s painting, sculpting, or crafting, the act of creating pulls us into a flow state – where hours feel like minutes and we’re completely absorbed in the moment. It’s a meditative, joyful space where we connect deeply with ourselves and even stumble upon new insights.
“The process teaches us to let go of perfection, embrace mistakes, and play with possibilities. It’s like a life lesson in disguise: the journey matters so much more than the outcome. Sure, the final piece is a nice bonus, but it’s the messy, playful middle where the real joy lives.”
Dr. Hawthorn seconded the idea that it’s more about the process than it is about the result, noting that most of the benefits of crafting are tied to the process, not the product. “It’s the act of creation that lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol, the stress hormone. It’s the experience of improvement over time that leads to feelings of competence and self-assurance. The quality of the end result is often the least important aspect of crafting as a hobby,” she said.
Talking to Bored Panda about crafts and sensory stimulation, Dr. Hawthorn pointed out that most crafts are highly tactile. “They bring us into contact with a wide variety of textures, and, more than that, they force us to focus on those sensations,” she said, adding that crafting is mandatory mindfulness.
“It takes our attention off negative thoughts and draws us into a deeper relationship with the world around us. Like listening to beautiful music or eating delicious food, touch is a type of sensory pleasure, even when it isn’t intimate. It’s enjoyable to touch smoothly turned wood, loosely twisted yarn, or softly woven fabric, and crafting gives us a reason to do it.”
“Crafting is also a form of manual thinking,” Dr. Hawthorn continued. “As we craft, we’re using our hands to problem-solve, to make decisions, and to express ourselves. In doing so, we’re able to access different sets of knowledge than when we’re simply mulling something over: kinesthetic memory and motor skills. These are important capacities for everyone to develop, and applying them can boost our confidence at times when we might be insecure about our skills in other areas.”
According to Dr. Hawthorn, most people view crafting purely as a hobby – something you do because you want to do it, not because you have to do it. And the beauty in that is when you’re doing something only for yourself, you don’t have to meet any external standards. “Your crafts don’t have to be perfect – they don’t even have to be good. All that matters is your own enjoyment,” she emphasized.
“Our daily lives are filled with activities whose outcomes are important: the work you do for a living has to be good enough for you to be paid for it; the food you cook has to be good enough for you to eat it; you have to clean your home well enough to keep from getting sick. Crafts and other hobbies are freeing precisely because nothing’s riding on the final product.”