Calm and Crafty

I’ve always struggled with the idea of rest. My overachieving, eldest-daughter mindset is intrinsically centered around productivity. I think many others feel this way, if not because of their personality, then because of our world’s culture.

In college, it’s hard to sit still– truly still– when you are constantly seeing other people in action. LinkedIn, Instagram stories, and general social norms push us to always be doing. The concept of doing isn’t inherently bad, but what you are doing matters. I’ve had to teach myself that not everything you do has to go towards your resume. Sometimes (and oftentimes), it goes towards yourself in a way no one else sees. 

This may be second-nature for some, but I know there are others who also feel that their necessary lapse in productivity feels wasteful of their time. While learning to be truly still is still in the works for me, I have had great success (and joy) in finding things to be doing that trick my brain into feeling productive and active despite their low stimulation.

There are endless ways to trick your brain into this mindset: journaling, cooking, gardening, etc. Anything that ends with some sort of result or product, no matter how insignificant, makes my mind believe it is being productive, even if it is actually slowing down. For now, I’m going to focus on my one-true-love relative to slow, unstimulating productivity: crafting. 

Crafting is both fulfilling and calming. Whether for yourself or a loved one, taking the time to make something distinctively of its own allows you to rest and feel that your time was well spent. A major cheat code for anyone who is struggling with rest.

Here are some recommendations for things to create, loosely in order of necessary engagement/skill, that I find particularly restful:

• Zentangles–In short, they are repetitive, structured patterns with no real meaning. Meditative in nature, zentangles are a very relaxing, accessible “doodle.” I grew up doing zentangles, and they were quite successful in taming young Makena’s adrenaline. 
• Collage or junk journaling– The intention that comes with collecting bits and pieces to add to a collage (or junk journal) is incredibly calming. Whether representing a day, a trip, or nothing in particular, taking the time to choose things that go together to create meaning is satisfying and mindful.
• Watercolor– Painting in general is beneficial to focus and emotional expression, but watercolor specifically is incredible at making you slow down. It’s a constant balancing act of control between you and the water. It’s as much of a challenge as it is a delight to experiment with.
• Weaving– Like with zentangles, weaving is a rhythmic process that allows your mind to quiet down and become engrossed in the act. The options of what a weaving can become are nearly endless, which I find quite inviting.
• Embroidery, Needlepoint, and Cross Stitch– These are my most recent fixations relative to crafting. There is something so delicate about these activities, both in the tools and in the result, which I find contentment in doing so mindlessly.
• Printmaking– There is something to be learned from a reproducible art that never produces exact, identical pieces: we aren’t perfect, and that isn’t the purpose! There are multiple types of printmaking, my favorite being linocut.
• Knitting or crocheting– These skills are the pinnacle of creating for creating’s sake. The focus and understanding necessary for these are often overwhelming, but are extremely possible and worthwhile. I’ve found that starting at a lower level, like finger crochet, for example, is incredibly accessible for beginners.

• calm
• crafts
• mental health
• relaxation