Craft greeting card. Income from hobbies. Home based business.
In every issue of MIND BODY LIVE we talk about art as an alternate way to deal with the stress that can cause you to eat more or have unhealthy eating disorders. Since this week is International Thinking of You Week where we were challenged to send a card to a family member or friend through the mail, that’s right sending smiles through the mail, I was encouraged to talk about the benefits of card making and why. This particular form of art therapy has a two-fold benefit. In other words it is not only helpful to your personal therapy, but also to the health and well being of the recipient, and that is HUGE. Let’s proceed. In 2013 there was a study conducted were the cognitive and neurological impact of receiving a handmade card vs. an email won 3 to 1. In other words the people who received handmade cards had higher brain activity and were happier than those who received an email or text message. Then when over 2,000 mothers were surveyed they enjoyed handmade cards twice as much as social media messages and three times as much as an email greeting. In other words DO NOT SEND YOUR MOTHER AND ELECTRONIC CARD SEND HER A CARD THROUGH THE MAIL AND YOU WILL MAKE HER VERY HAPPY. Now this goes a long way with making other people feel good, it increases others self-esteem, it helps them not feel alone and can even pull them out of depression. You have given them something tangible, something to look at and smile about, and even something to hold. They want to save it. They want to put it on the refrigerator to look at or even on their desk. And all of this is happening because you sent a handmade card through the mail, and that is huge. But I did say this was two-fold so let’s look at some of the benefits to yourself.
You can’t craft when you’re angry! It helps you to calm down and unwind from stress and worry as it focuses your mind on the task you’re doing. Because it is a creative process you need to concentrate on the here and now – not like daydreaming when doing the washing up, where you are on autopilot, you need to be engaged with the card you are making.
Repetition has been shown to induce relaxation which is good for your mind, it allows it to switch off and reboot. Especially true of crafts like knitting, crochet and hand-stitching but also cutting, sticking and adding embellishments have the same calming process.
Craft can help you meet new people and join new and positive social circles on and offline. It’s a great way to get to know like-minded people you can chat to. It allows you to open up more to people when you’re chatting.
Cardmaking and craft is a form of self expression, it’s not just about the finished product it’s about choosing the craft supplies you will use, the process of designing and making and with card making there’s an extra step to the process as you can send your card to friends or family, or perhaps donate them to charity. All of this can have a great effect on your wellbeing.
Sometimes when you are really unwell or feeling tired, achieving something creative no matter how small can be what you need to stay positive.
Making a handmade card for a family member with a personal note inside will always be more meaningful than an email or text can ever be, it’s a tangible thing that they can hold and display.
Creative tasks release dopamine which is a natural anti-depressant!
So the message here is MAKE TIME FOR CRAFT – it’s good for you!
If you’re not sure how to get started on your craft journey, feel free to contact me for some ideas, or simply take a look at my catalog: www.cindysplace.CTMH.com
October 1, 2018
Healing Power of Art
Healing Power of Art
ART THERAPY – CARDMAKING
In every issue of MIND BODY LIVE we talk about art as an alternate way to deal with the stress that can cause you to eat more or have unhealthy eating disorders. Since this week is International Thinking of You Week where we were challenged to send a card to a family member or friend through the mail, that’s right sending smiles through the mail, I was encouraged to talk about the benefits of card making and why. This particular form of art therapy has a two-fold benefit. In other words it is not only helpful to your personal therapy, but also to the health and well being of the recipient, and that is HUGE. Let’s proceed. In 2013 there was a study conducted were the cognitive and neurological impact of receiving a handmade card vs. an email won 3 to 1. In other words the people who received handmade cards had higher brain activity and were happier than those who received an email or text message. Then when over 2,000 mothers were surveyed they enjoyed handmade cards twice as much as social media messages and three times as much as an email greeting. In other words DO NOT SEND YOUR MOTHER AND ELECTRONIC CARD SEND HER A CARD THROUGH THE MAIL AND YOU WILL MAKE HER VERY HAPPY. Now this goes a long way with making other people feel good, it increases others self-esteem, it helps them not feel alone and can even pull them out of depression. You have given them something tangible, something to look at and smile about, and even something to hold. They want to save it. They want to put it on the refrigerator to look at or even on their desk. And all of this is happening because you sent a handmade card through the mail, and that is huge. But I did say this was two-fold so let’s look at some of the benefits to yourself.
So the message here is MAKE TIME FOR CRAFT – it’s good for you!
If you’re not sure how to get started on your craft journey, feel free to contact me for some ideas, or simply take a look at my catalog: www.cindysplace.CTMH.com