It’s getting closer to the holidays and you may be feeling depressed because you won’t be able to spend this holiday season with your family and friends. If you are finding yourself preoccupied by events that are out of your control, it is a good idea to keep your mind occupied in healthy ways that will help keep you on track in your recovery. The great way to do this is by participating in an activity that will stimulate your brain and occupy your hands. Arts and crafts are perfect for this because they can require a lot of focus and attention to detail. They can even bring you some Christmas joy. Crafts can be relaxing and rewarding, and when you’re done you’ll have a finished product that you can enjoy or give to others.
Types of Crafts
Although crafts can usually be calming, sometimes they can cause frustration. Certain crafts might be too tedious and time-consuming for some people, while others might not find the craft to be challenging enough. You will want to find a craft that makes you happy and gives you a productive distraction. You want to consider the type of craft you’d like to make and what materials you will use. You can craft items out of tape, yarn, paper mache, clay, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, and more. Some basic crafting staples can lend themselves to making a range of different crafts. If you are committed to improving your skills, you might want to try a more complex craft, like knitting or building models. If you are looking for a more simple craft you might consider getting an adult coloring book or having some fun with play dough.
Making Crafts That Are Useful
Crafting can just be a fun way to occupy your time or you can make crafts that can be used or gifted to others. It might feel more productive and rewarding to make crafts that are useful rather than something you can just hang up on your wall or put on a shelf. A good way to utilize a craft is by making a gift for a friend or family member. For instance, if you have a lot of pictures, you can put your creativity to use by making a scrapbook or photo collage. If you want to learn how to knit or sew you can make blankets, clothing, or scarves to give as gifts over the holidays. If you aren’t confident enough in your crafting skills to make gifts for other people, work on crafts you can use to decorate your house. You can make ornaments, bows, or cards. There are tutorials online that teach you how to make your own candles and soaps.
Crafting is one of the many ways to stimulate your mind when you find yourself overwhelmed by problems that you cannot control. Instead of dwelling on your depression or anxiety, crafts will give you something positive and creative to focus on. If crafts aren’t the right fit for you, there are many other projects that can keep your mind from obsessing over negative thoughts. Alta Loma will help you find the right tools and distractions to help you cope with your mental health while in recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, call (866) 457-3843 today.
