3. Your confidence will boost
The same increase in dopamine, which is also known as the "feel-good" hormone, will boost the increase of your self-esteem.
When seeing the finished work by your own hands, you will fell a sense of achievement, caused by your brain's rewarding system through dopamine, which naturally will make you happier and good about yourself.
4. Connection to tradition
Many thinkers about the future believe that coding is the new literacy. What is then the impact for old traditions and ways of being, of this new society we are living in? The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts, has identified more than 20 craft skills that are either extinct or critically endangered.
Fortunately though, there are many projects like ours that try to preserve and promote old artisan techniques, giving them a modern and contemporary twist; or projects like Craft Connected, that are implementing innovative ways of harnessing new tech for tradition-based creative activities.
When doing a craft, you are also helping preserving important heritages from the past, preserving yesterday's skills for tomorrow.
5. Sense of community
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing an increase in online communities through Instagram and Facebook, gathering people together doing crafts via Zoom meetings. It's very positive seeing how people are using modern technology to continue to stay together and feel included and supported.
Crafting together is a way to feel connected, and as mentioned above, reducing loneliness and isolation.
6. You can do this!
Don't feel discouraged by trying new things outside your comfort zone. Creativity is something that is inherent to all of us, and we just need to keep developing it, step by step, at our own rhythm.
You will be amazed by how much you can achieve, once you decide to give the first step.
Also, trying new creative activities is particularly good for our emotions and wellbeing. This research has found that "getting hands-on with something new and creative is important regardless of skill level - it is the taking part that counts."
Finally, in our opinion, there's the good news that manual crafts are very addicting, in a positive way! Once you start, it will be "easy" not to stop. Or so we hope so!
Happy crafting!
xo,
Cristina
