You
know that feeling when someone is combing your hair, or tickling your back, or
the one just before you drift off to sleep… it’s a kind of floaty, contented,
semi-conscious state where you could almost feel yourself going cross-eyed. If
you were a dog you’d probably start twitching your hind leg a bit.
Last
night I realised that this is what crochet does to me. The repetitive movements
to create each stitch, the tactile squishy softness of the yarn, the gradual
changing of the colours…
My
brain is fully absorbed in the task at hand, yet strangely free to roam. Problem-solving,
imagining, planning… I am relaxed; I am zoned out, but I am busy, happy and
productive.
Is
this what we call mindfulness?
In
today’s fast pace, pressure, and the constant distraction of social media (I
must admit to having paused writing this post to scroll through Instagram at
least three times!), my crochet hobby – or obsession – grounds me. It’s so
important for my mental health, to not only take time out from all of life’s
admin, but to reach this state of semi-conscious focus in which to let my mind
wander.
I’m
not one for sitting still; nor do I watch much tv. I used to devour books like
chocolate, but I’m finding I have less patience or motivation for reading these
days. My hands need to be busy, and this need - if unmet – can often make me incredibly
anxious.
Do
you remember last years craze for colouring books? I skipped over this one, but
reckon the effect must have been much the same… I’m so glad that there’s a
growing awareness that we need to take a step back sometimes. Creativity (without
the need for perfection) is such a great outlet for the stress of living a busy
life, and it’s fantastic that this message is hitting the mainstream.
Have
you experienced this sort of trance within your hobby? If so, what is it?
End
note: The hashtag #CraftAsTherapy was launched in 2015 by Mandy of Red Agape,
and now has over 300,000 Instagram posts!
