New research to mark the launch of Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, the new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Carole Matthews reveals that as many as 18% of women over 24 years old would choose to undertake a craft activity to de-stress, versus less than one in ten (8%) choosing sex to relax.
The results revealed that not only do three quarters (77%) of women feel stressed, but more than a third (36%) feel more strained than ever before due to the events of 2016, such as Brexit, Trump and financial uncertainty. So much so that nearly half of women (45%) are seeking new ways to relax in 2017.
These wider issues join ongoing factors like personal finances (49%), not having enough time to do everything (33%) and work pressures (25%); with the result that four out of five women (81%) are in search of an activity that will allow them to unwind for more than three hours a week.
One in six of us (17%) are turning to crafts, with activities such as sewing (12%), knitting (12%), painting (9%) and card making (6%) becoming popular. Only 16% of women have never actually tried their hand at crafting.
And completing crafting projects has many psychological benefits for these hobbyists. Nearly half (45%) of women feel a sense of achievement when completing a craft activity, 42% do them for their stress relieving properties and a further 42% enjoy feeling focused. A further one in ten (11%) gain a sense of pride from their creations.
Activities such as reading a book (37%) and taking a bath (26%) are also still cited as common ways to unwind.
Behavourial psychologist Jo Hemmings explains, “In these stressful times, it’s natural that we turn to activities that not only give us a sense of purpose and achievement but also allow our minds to switch off from anxiety and relax. With information and news bombarding us at every level, and not all of it being what we might want to hear, the brain needs to ‘de-strain’ and replenish its energy reserves with more rewarding and pleasurable activities. The focus and enjoyment from pursuing a craft activity of our choice is the perfect solution to calm and de-stress us.”
This week London welcomed the first ever ‘CraftSpa’ pop-up, a one-day experience celebrating the calming and stress-relieving properties of creative crafting. The CraftSpa celebrated the launch of Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, the new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Carole Matthews.
