A
hobby, good book, or even a jigsaw can all soothe the soul when we are
searching for a little calm in the swell of our day.
Crafting
has, for a long time, been one of the go-to interests for creating the balance
we crave. Just look at the rise in popularity
of the adult colouring books on the market.
I subscribe to Art Therapy, a weekly magazine packed with images waiting
to be coloured in and displayed around the home. As an avid meditator,
this activity is perfect for me. I can
lose myself in the attention to detail and any disorder in my mind is replaced with a quietness that I can’t find
anywhere else.
It’s
not just colouring-in that can give you this release. Take a look at the Stitch Links website, the
home of therapeutic knitting since 2005.
They advocate the ‘use it or lose it’ strategy. A belief that our brain, as well as our
muscles, needs to learn something new to
stay active. When we learn a new skill
we increase connections within our brain and this in turn can help strengthen
our brain against such diseases as Alzheimer’s, depression or chronic pain.
