Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. More people need to be talking about it and discussing things that help (and hurt )when it comes to anxiety, depression, and emotions in general. It has been a hard year. Everyone has suffered in one way or another, and that can make your emotions difficult to deal with at times. If you’ve had those days where you don’t feel like getting out of bed or are having a hard time being productive, trust us—you’re not alone!
School, work, and life, in general, can get you down at times. The best thing you can do is try to find ways to channel your feelings into something productive and positive (but if you need some alone time to just sit and relax, that’s fine too!).
It’s all about figuring out what works for you because, at the end of the day, no one knows what’s best for you except you. Different things work for different people, and that’s okay. Activities such as exercising, having movie nights with your besties, and going to therapy can all be really beneficial for your mental health and well-being.
Did you know one of the best ways to cope with anxiety is through art therapy? It covers a wide variety of activities and things you can do to work through tough times when you may be feeling anxious or uneasy. If you are someone who prefers company when you start to feel anxious, art therapy is a great thing you can do with friends and family!
Art therapy works by promoting calmness and peacefulness through self-expression and focusing on the task at hand. This can be great, especially if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. And, the great thing is, even if you don’t have much time to spare, art therapy can work even if you just set aside a few minutes a day! It is scientifically proven to help you process your emotions more easily.
Even if you aren’t in a state of anxiety, and you are just dealing with everyday stress, art therapy can help you as well. Try and make time each day to work on something as simple as doodling and see if you notice a change in the way you feel. Read on to learn more about the arts and crafts that can help with anxiety!
Paint a Custom Canvas
Seriously focusing on a task or project is huge for helping to relieve anxiety. When you are focusing intently on something, it will serve as a distraction. Suddenly, you are no longer concerned about the stresses of life, work, or school. Instead, you are paying attention to details and staying in the lines! Start out your art therapy by painting a custom canvas from Paint Your Numbers. One of the best parts about having a custom canvas is that you can use any image that makes you happy.
Once you decide on an image, upload it to our website. Then, we will send you your canvas with the chosen image outlined on it. You will see there are numbers on the canvas. These numbers correspond with the numbers on the paints we provide. Match the paint number to the canvas number when you are painting. The end result will be a professional-looking painting!
Play Around With Makeup
This isn’t necessarily an “arts and crafts” activity, but it is definitely an artistic thing to do. Start by either gathering all the makeup you have or go to the store and buy some cheap makeup with fun colors, sparkles, and stuff you might not normally use. Then, you can look up makeup tutorial videos that use similar makeup to what you have.
See how well you can nail the look while following along with the tutorial! If you totally mess it up, who cares! That’s all part of the fun, and you might even get a good laugh out of it. If you don’t want to watch a tutorial, you can always freestyle your makeup as well. Use a dramatic eyeshadow and play with your eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick color. Give yourself a full face of makeup so you can experiment with a different look.
Practice Your Photography Skills
Taking pictures is a really great way to express yourself. You don’t need a professional camera, lights, or tools, either. All you need is something to take the pictures—even your phone will work. Plan a photoshoot with your friends or make a list of things you want to photograph around town. Then, pretend you are working for a magazine or as an influencer! It may sound silly, but it’s a great way to not focus on being stressed or anxious.
You could also buy a disposable camera or a polaroid camera. Have your friends dress up in fancy or crazy outfits and put on a fashion show. You can be the photographer and take all the pictures! Print them out and put them all on a photo board or give them to your friends who participated in the “show.”
Start Knitting or Sewing
Knitting and sewing are two of the most relaxing arts and crafts activities you can do. Both are pretty easy to learn the basics of, which is all you really need to nail down before you start crafting. Especially in the winter months, knitting and sewing can be a really cozy activity. You can make things such as scarves, hats, mittens, and even blankets.
You do not need many tools to get working on these crafts either. You will need yarn of your choosing, knitting needles, and maybe a looping tool, depending on the design you are working on. For sewing, you will need needles, thread, scissors, and fabric. You can also buy a personal or travel-sized sewing machine and start making designs using that instead of by hand.
Make Your Own Scented Candles
This is a double-whammy anxiety-reducing craft. One aspect of this is the actual creation of the candle, which is easy and fun. You only need a few materials, which include wax, a jar, essential oils, and a wick.
You start by placing the wax into the jar (make sure it is microwave safe) and melting it until it is in a liquid form. Then, you can add in your essential oils you want to use. After this step, use a spoon or another tool to smooth everything out, especially along the edges of the candle. Make sure there are no air bubbles or lumps.
Alternatively, you can melt the wax over the stove and then pour it into the jar. Both methods work, but it’s up to you which one you prefer. Put the wick into the wax before it sets. Another reason why this craft can be anxiety-reducing is that you can use essential oils that provide stress-relief and promote being calm or happy, such as lavender, lemon, or rose. Then, you can light your homemade candle and practice some soothing breathing exercises while smelling your essential oils.
Want to make the candle cuter? Play around with adding colors to the wax, as well as mixing in crystals, glitter, or dried flowers into the wax before it sets. You can really have fun with it and personalize it!
Conclusion
There are so many creative ways to utilize art therapy in your life. Whatever you are most passionate about, work on that as a way to relieve stress and bring some focus into a chaotic world. You can also try music therapy, along with other art therapies such as drawing, coloring, sculpting, and just doing basic arts and crafts projects.
If you know your friends are feeling the same way as you, or if you just need some support, come up with a group arts and crafts project. That way, you will feel supported, and you will have a way to bond with your friends (and have fun doing it!)
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/diy-depression-therapy-how-the-arts-can-heal
https://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/making-it-through