When Los Angeles-based Teri Slaven, 78, begins knitting, she instantly enters what she calls “the zone.” “I really feel busy, centered, and content material,” she tells SELF. For Carolyn Barnes, 33, from Tempe, Arizona, it’s crocheting. She began her new interest after a dying in her household and a irritating part of parenthood. (Her sons had been 1 and three on the time.) “I used to be grieving and actually drained from motherhood,” she tells SELF. “I didn’t have something left to provide. However I knew I couldn’t give what little I had left to my cellphone.”

She purchased a newbie’s crocheting package, known as Woobles, and though there was an preliminary studying curve, she acknowledged a pointy change in her mind immediately. She was alert. “I felt a way of objective,” she explains.

In the event you’re on the hunt for a interest that’ll doubtlessly relieve stress, calm you down, and provide help to really feel productive and fulfilled, knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching—any goal-directed pursuit you are able to do at house—could be price trying into. Analysis means that guide duties like these could assist enhance your attentiveness general and enhance your temper, for instance. Different research have discovered that studying new expertise that require hand-eye coordination (like quilting or digital images) appear to assist fight cognitive decline in older age.

Listed below are all of the issues you could achieve from the sort of interest (except for a very candy scarf).

1. It’ll offer you a way of management.

Ashley Matskevich, MD, a Boston-based psychiatrist, usually “prescribes” these artful varieties of actions for stressed-out purchasers. “I like to recommend everybody have a ‘third factor,’” she tells SELF. Work or household/relationships are typically the primary two ‘issues,” however they’re usually largely out of your management (therefore why they are often so freaking irritating). Having a goal-focused interest returns that ultra-important sense of management, Dr. Matskevich says.

That goal might, fairly actually, be something that piques your curiosity. However for people like Barnes, who’re restricted on time and accessibility (a.okay.a. you may’t dedicate hours to marathon coaching, not to mention depart the home), knitting and crocheting may be actually ideally suited. “These actions are helpful as a result of they’re so reliable,” Dr. Matskevich explains. “Having one thing dependable, reliable, and that you just’re in command of may be extremely empowering.”

When Cara Bellucci, 31, from Philadelphia, begins knitting a brand new scarf or sweater, she is aware of she’s about to work towards a aim that’s actually hers. “I concentrate on bettering at one thing that’s only for my very own satisfaction,” she tells SELF. “In the long run, I’ve tangible proof that making time for myself can result in one thing significant and delightful. I’m asserting that I’m definitely worth the effort and time, and generally frustration, of 100 little stitches.”

2. You may enter a extra aware, much less burdened state.

If you’re significantly tense, there’s numerous further exercise happening in your mind. In some instances, this may lead to extra power flowing (fairly actually) to your limbs, leading to repetitive motions like fidgeting or pacing (known as psychomotor agitation). It’s a vicious cycle: “Your mind says, ‘We’re pacing and fidgeting, we have to be burdened,’” Timothy Jeider, MD, a psychiatrist with Nevada Psychological Well being, tells SELF. Mainly, knitting and crocheting can take the place of these nervous, undirected actions.