In a world where mental health concerns are escalating, especially post-COVID-19, finding accessible and effective ways to enhance wellbeing is paramount. A recent UK study looked at whether doing arts and crafts can make people happier and less lonely. The research looked at anxiety, happiness, life satisfaction, and whether life feels worthwhile, while also considering factors like age, gender, health, and job status.
Key Findings:
- Higher Life Satisfaction: People who did arts and crafts, like pottery or knitting, felt more satisfied with their lives, even after considering their age, gender, health, and job status.
- Feeling Life is Worthwhile: Those who engaged in arts and crafts felt their lives were more meaningful, sometimes even more than those who had jobs or lived in better areas.
- Increased Happiness: Arts and crafts made people happier, showing emotional benefits beyond just enjoyment.
So, what can we learn from this?
Engaging in arts and crafts can significantly enhance life satisfaction, happiness, and a sense of life’s worth. Although it doesn’t help much with anxiety or loneliness, the overall positive effects make it a valuable activity for people of all ages.
- How might you introduce more arts and crafts into your routine?
- Do you know others that you could meet up with to get creative together?
Remember you don’t have to be good at it to reap the benefits. A stimulated and challenged brain grows which is in turn great for your memory and longer-term cognitive wellbeing.
You can read more about the study here if you are interested but the message is clear: start crafting to help boost your happiness and satisfaction with life.
