Somewhere along the course of history, men were assigned sports, fishing, and drinking as viable interests and stress-relievers. If you think about it, the preconceived notion that we’re only allowed particular interests is the main reason why it’s hard to consider other activities as potential hobbies, especially when it comes to activities often deemed “feminine” by society, like arts and crafts. Even though it doesn’t make sense for an activity to have a masculine or feminine nature, we’re now struggling to find reasons to let ourselves enjoy such activities.
To give you an idea of what you might be missing out on, here are six good reasons why you should pick up that glue gun and get crafting.
1. It Improves Self-Expression
Arts and crafts are more than just an activity. Through colors, leather-engraved patterns, sculptures, and wood carvings, you can express emotions, feelings, and even your likes and dislikes. Many people are told that writing is the only way to express your thoughts and emotions, but that’s far from the truth. It’s all about preferences. The beautiful thing about arts and crafts is that you don’t have to be good with words, and you don’t have to focus on expressing yourself actively. Once you start creating, you’ll find your way towards something that feels right, and in the end, you’re guaranteed to feel a calming sense of satisfaction.
2. Infinite Supply of Gifts
Being able to create something with your own hands means that you’ll never have to struggle on special occasions anymore. Whatever you want to say to your loved ones, you can express it by making them something personal, you know they’ll love. According to the reviews posted on thebestvinylcutters.com/, there are endless possibilities to what you can do with vinyl cutters and heat presses. You could create a pattern for your child to stick on their night light for a touch of fantasy or a pop-up photo box for your significant other. There’s so much room for creativity with arts and crafts.
3. Stress Relief
While some choose to take their crafting time as an opportunity to self-reflect, others decide to take it as a way to unwind completely, and they’re not wrong. Making art has been proven by scientific research to reduce stress, anxiety and promote an increase in confidence and other positive emotions. If you let yourself become fully immersed in the process of creating, when you get on with your daily routine, you’ll find your mind capable of taking on more challenges with a fresh approach. It’s the perfect way to unwind while creating beauty.
4. It’s a Chance to Reflect
As men, sometimes we just need to take a beat and get a moment of clarity, which is why crafting is perfect. Picture yourself alone in your studio, garage, or artspace. You’re working on a piece with your hands, and as you do so with your conscious mind, your subconscious mind is busy reflecting upon that thing that happened at work. You could also be thinking about ideas for your next project or a solution to a personal problem. The time spent on arts and crafts is always an excellent opportunity to slow down your pace a little and observe your life from a distance.
5. It’s a Bonding Experience
Some think that a couple making crafts together is cheesy, but there’s nothing cheesy about two people bonding over creativity. Art and other creative activities help unlock a new dimension to any relationship. Just like how traveling is guaranteed to reveal to you new things about your significant other, so is art. For one, it’s a way to forget everything and engage in a fun activity. When creating art, couples release oxytocin, a hormone associated with love, trust, empathy, and connection.
6. It Improves Health
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health has shown that art is very likely to positively impact people who suffer from mental or even physical trauma. By connecting a person to their identity, emotions, and thoughts, art helps put the trauma into perspective. Crafting also promotes a positive mental state, which has a plethora of physical benefits.
Besides its benefits, the best thing about crafting is that there are unlimited ways to do it. You don’t have to stick with woodwork or pottery. You can paint, work with glass, design vinyl posters, or make abstract sculptures. So, take advantage of this freedom and experiment with the arts until you find the activity that satisfies you the most. As you work, take your time appreciating the little things about the process. While seeing an end product is encouraging, don’t pressure yourself to produce the next masterpiece; the point is to take the pressure off.