By Inanna Darwich | Staff Writer
Rumor has it- because saying I saw a reel isn’t as cool- that 2024 is the year of arts and crafts. We’re apparently doing away with countless hours of scrolling on Instagram and resorting to cutting heart shapes out of hot pink crepe paper. There’s not much to explain here, is there? Wasting half a day away watching hundreds of fifteen-second videos that you probably would not even remember in a few hours leaves you feeling, for lack of better wording, awful. Any alternative would sound better, but consider investing in some lilac ribbons and a blank yellow-paged book because there’s a bit of science behind why arts and crafts make you feel better.
Many are familiar with the idea of art therapy, and probably even the fact that art can reduce stress. Cortisol, commonly known as the ‘stress hormone’, protects us from harmful situations by keeping us alert. Naturally, the level of cortisol released in our blood increases under stress. A study performed by Drexel University where 39 adults aged from 18 to 59 were supplied with crafts and then instructed to create anything with them within a 45-minute time frame revealed that the cortisol levels in the subjects appeared to be lower after the activity in comparison to the levels prior to the activity. Various other studies have shown different ways in which making art can impact our brain, whether it’s raising serotonin and dopamine levels, or improving your focus, which activates the relaxed reflective state of your mind.
Stepping away from biology for a second, I wanted to highlight the importance of arts and crafts in giving us purpose. Aside from being a great outlet for creativity and self-expression, engaging in art-related activities can be the start of something new. In the same way musicians find their sound by experimenting with different instruments and styles, art can be a source of inspiration rather than needing inspiration to create. I remember during the first week of the spring semester when we were bombarded with introductions and ‘fun facts about yourself’ on a daily basis, an occurrence in one of my courses made me reconsider the role of arts and crafts (and hobbies in general) in giving us a lead in life. Some students would pause and think too long about the things they loved and spent their time doing, while others would try to fit in as many as 5 activities they include in their routines. While there are no assumptions to be made about the correlation between the number of hobbies these people have to the level of contentment they have in their lives, there is no doubt that prioritizing some time for engaging in the arts is a certain benefit.
Making these hands-on hobbies part of one’s day can accumulate positive emotions in the short term, decreasing one’s vulnerability in stressful situations should they occur. Participating in such activities prompts instantaneous feelings of enjoyment; this build up of positive emotions on the daily can alleviate the possibility of reacting ineffectively towards a future crisis.
Hobbies and crafts can also be used as a distraction during times of distress by taking your mind off things until you calm down enough to make a decision. To add on to that; scientifically, your brain cannot focus on two tasks at once (meaning it alternates between the two performed tasks),so being immersed in activities that require both mental and physical effort can automatically send signals to the brain to focus on the task at hand and give you time to step away from the crisis you’re facing for the time being.
In my previous article, I went over examples of self-care one could practice to cope with the ongoing (and escalating) situation in Gaza and South Lebanon. Now more than ever, the need for outlets and forms of creative expression has risen. I would suggest taking up scrapbooking, as it requires little to no commitment or consistency whatsoever. All you’re doing is keeping track of the things you experienced, or the things you like. For instance, I keep receipts, makeup packaging, and tea bag labels to later stick on my scrap journal. You can also write down prompts and get to know yourself better, by dedicating some pages to your favorite songs or movies. I stressed on the inconsistency because there is no need for a specific theme or style. You can just about do whatever you want with the shapes, colors, and textures you include. Another easy, and even more rewarding craft to do is crocheting. It’s quick to learn and the results are very satisfying once you get the hang of it. It really is the year of arts and crafts, learn something new!