Self Care is Knitting and Knitting is Self Care

The past two weeks for me have been....well...a mess. A hot mess. A hot mess express. And I am the conductor of this train.

CHOO CHOO! ALL ABOARD!

Now that we are all on the same expressway to the land of yarn and needles, I wanted to talk about how this train got started. My family and I got back from vacation to find out that the compressor in our refrigerator was not working and our 3 year old fridge was not worth fixing. Fabulous, right? Totally! This was the first stop on this Hot Mess Express and there was at least one stop a day for the whole week. By Friday, I was cooked. Put a fork in me, I was done.

Last weekend was the first time in a very long time that I did not have a single thing planned for the whole weekend. No classes, no parties, no rehearsals, no nothing. Just 2 whole days to just relax. So what did I do? I knit and it was pure bliss after the week I had. I tend to find myself knitting as much as I can for self care.

Now I know what you are thinking, "how on earth is knitting self care?" That's a Great question! Let me tell you!

According to Google , "Knitting significantly improves mental health by acting as a meditative, repetitive activity that reduces anxiety, lowers stress hormones (cortisol), and eases depression by boosting serotonin. It promotes mindfulness, provides a sense of accomplishment, and helps manage pain and cognitive decline."

In other words, Knitting makes people happy and happy people don't shoot their husbands. (ten points to anyone who gets this movie reference). Knitting releases serotonin and endorphins into your brain. These are the hormones that reduce stress and help you feel good. Therefore, anything that helps reduce the amount of stress in my body is equivalent to self care.

Don't believe me? Well you should! Here is a list of all the key mental health benefits of knitting.

• Stress Reduction & Relaxation: The rhythmic, repetitive motion of knitting acts as a form of meditation, lowering heart rates and reducing stress.

• Anxiety & Depression Management: Knitting helps focus the mind on the present, breaking cycles of negative thinking and providing a "calm" that alleviates anxiety and depression.

• Increased Self-Esteem: Completing projects provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and purpose, combating feelings of helplessness.

• "Flow" State & Mindfulness: The concentration required can induce a "flow" state, a meditative, peaceful state that relaxes the mind and improves mental health.

• Cognitive Health: Knitting strengthens the brain, improves memory, and can help slow the onset of dementia by keeping the mind active and engaged.

• Pain Management: By acting as a distraction, knitting helps reduce awareness of chronic pain.

• Social Connection: Joining knitting groups or guilds reduces feelings of isolation and fosters community, supporting mental wellness.

How it Works

• "Getting out of your head": The tactile nature of working with yarn helps individuals process negative emotions and manage painful feelings, a practice sometimes termed "therapeutic knitting".

• Serotonin Release: The calming, rhythmic, and repetitive motion can stimulate the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps improve mood.

• Creativity: Engaging in creative tasks boosts mood and provides a positive outlet for emotions

So when your boss, husband, wife, kids, or the mailman tell you to "Just Relax", pull our your needles and head to the couch.

Self care is self care.