Crocheting has been a popular craft for years, but it is only recently that experts have realised that it can benefit your health too. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider picking up a crochet hook and yarn.
Boost your mental health
Crocheting is a meditative activity which helps move your thoughts away from everyday worries. Due to the repetitive motion, it can calm your nerves and clear your mind, which can help to reduce anxiety and stress. It can lower the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol, in your brain.
Like similar crafts such as knitting, it has been shown to improve mood and even combat depression.
Keep young and active
According to the Daily Mail those who regularly engage in arts and crafts are 75% less likely to suffer from memory loss. If you engage your brain in hobbies like crocheting, you can protect yourself from developing memory problems and even dementia.
As well as boosting your cognitive function, you can improve your self-esteem by producing something beautiful with your own hands.
If you’ve never crocheted before, it’s not difficult to pick up. You could start by buying one of the hundreds of crochet kits available from a specialist kit supplier such as https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/crochet-kits.
You can get tips from others, and the social aspect that crafts can provide is also beneficial, whether in-person or online. Loneliness is known to be as bad for our health as obesity and smoking, so having a sense of connection with others is vital.
Benefits to your physical health
Crocheting requires concentration and can help improve your hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. It also provides low-impact exercise for your hand, wrist and arm muscles, as well as being time away from scrolling on a mobile phone. This could mean that your sleep is improved, as you have been using your brain and arm muscles and are feeling more relaxed.
Whether you’re a novice crafter or have some experience, crocheting is worth a go, as there are health benefits for all.
