There are plenty of practical reasons to take up sewing as a hobby, including being able to alter clothes, sew practical household items, and make presents for friends and family members. The benefits of this time-honored practice, however, are much more far-reaching than just its useful functions and fun craft time. Sewing can improve your health, as it also possesses the power to help people maintain their well-being! When sewing, people feel happier and healthier as a result. Sound questionable? Take a closer look at the benefits of sewing and how they can improve your health:
Sewing Improves the Mind
According to experts, hobbies like crafting and sewing are similar to meditation, which makes them therapeutic for individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and other mental health issues. Additionally, when humans engage in a pleasurable activity such as sewing, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine that works as a natural anti-depressant. As an enjoyable activity, sewing can stimulate the reward center and trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, which improves your mental health and can make a person feel happier. Sewing is good for the mind and helps people feel happy.
Process Stress Through Sewing
Sewing, with its repetitive movement and rhythm, can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, which quiets the natural “fight or flight” response to stress. Concentrating on a creative project or working a sewing machine helps a person take their mind off that source of stress and physically calm down. Sewing and other artistic endeavors also provide opportunities for experimenting with and handling aesthetically pleasing colors and textures, which can be additionally calming and cathartic.
Sewing Helps Develop Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy, defined as a person’s belief in their ability to accomplish a specific task or succeed in certain situations, plays an important role in how people think, feel, and behave. With a strong self of self-efficacy, individuals are better able to overcome disappointments and approach new challenges. Engaging in creative activities such as sewing can help improve one’s self-efficacy through the process of trial and error and the sense of gratification that comes with eventual success. By persevering and finishing a large or complicated project, individuals may feel more capable of handling other difficult tasks in the future.
Sewing Keeps the Mind Sharp
Sewing is also a beneficial hobby for the brain, as it protects it from deterioration or damage brought on by aging. Having to follow a pattern or remember specific steps is a mental workout that helps the mind stay active and focused, which may mitigate the effects of dementia. Additionally, the creativity involved in sewing enhances the brain’s ability to generate new brain cells, which also counteracts mental deterioration.
Build a Social Network via Sewing
When sewing is done in a collective setting, the benefits for mood and mental health are increased. Participants can foster a strong social network and form friendships that improve their sense of connection and create relationships outside the sewing activity. Additionally, sewing groups naturally cultivate affirmation that can boost self-esteem and increase motivation.
Learn How to Sew at Cathey’s
Ready to feel happier and healthier? Sign up for one of our sewing classes or pick up a beginner sewing project to try at home. Even those folks already sewing in Tucson can learn new sewing techniques or tackle a more complex project to challenge the mind, improve a skill set, and foster a stronger sense of well-being.