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| workshop |
What a challenging time for us all. I am attempting to follow the guidelines to avoid exposure to the Covid-19 virus, while doing other things to stay healthy and boost my immune system as well: home-cooked meals, extra vitamin C, enough rest.
Stress, research has shown, impacts the immune system and makes your body more prone to illness. While the social distancing, hand washing and staying home are to limit our exposure to the virus – and rightly so - the whole situation is fraught with extra stress, from financial concerns to worries over the safety of loves ones to the anxiety caused by social isolation. Just going to the grocery store has become a challenge with the long lines, the tape on the floor to enforce social distancing, the need to wipe down carts, and the empty shelves.
While making the effort to avoid the virus, we also need to counter the detrimental mental and physical effects of the stress caused by those efforts.
How do we do that?
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| crochet |
There are a lot of stress-busting tips, but here we are going to focus on one: crafts.
There have been studies done showing the mental and physical health benefits of arts and crafts. Working with your hands is not only fun and relaxing, it releases endorphins in your brain and boosts your immune system. Arts and crafts can lift you out of depression, has shown to improve memory for those with dementia and enhance treatment for those fighting cancer.
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| adult coloring book |
It really does not seem to matter what type of craft. I dealt with my own cancer treatment by turning to crochet. Knitting, painting, woodcarving and woodworking, ceramics, coloring books…anything. All of it is beneficial, including the sense of accomplishment when a project is finished.
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| wood art |
Start with something simple like an adult coloring book - or just commandeer a child’s. Get some play dough. Start a sewing project. Dig out the knitting needles or the crochet hook and that old stash of yarn.
Protect your immune system and do your part to fight the virus by painting a picture. Build something.
As for me, macramé looks interesting….
Margaret
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