It sounds like the dream prescription for avid crafters but, happily, this is a genuine recommendation from leading craft psychologist Dr Anne Kirketerp. She recommends having lots of projects in progress at any one time because mental capacity fluctuates. We all need different levels of challenge to become engrossed in craft depending on the time of the day and day of the week.
Not Too Easy, Not Too Hard
Ideal craft projects for promoting health are ones that help you achieve a beneficial mental state known as flow. Flow was popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 80s and 90s. It describes a feeling where you are fully immersed in what you are doing. Being in flow has lots of physical and mental benefits. It’s why crafting feels good and does good for our bodies and minds. The best craft project to achieve flow will be something you feel intrinsically motivated to do. Something that is easy enough that you don’t feel stressed by it but difficult enough that you don’t get bored. What you choose will be completely personal to you and will change depending on how you are feeling at any given moment.
You Don’t Have To Finish Every Project
Most of us were raised with the idea that you must finish one thing before you start the next, but this is counterproductive if you are using craft as self-care. In terms of well-being the crafting process is as important, if not more important than the finished item.
You're not going to get into flow by doing something you find boring, ugly, or otherwise unattractive. It is not relaxing, and you don't experience positive emotions. All in all, a really bad idea.
Having a range of projects to choose from gives you freedom to select something that matches your energy level and what you feel drawn to. It’s okay to set projects aside for a few weeks (or even years) and come back to it when it feels appealing to you again.
Give Up Duty Projects
Craft is meant to be fun and relaxing. If you are using craft to boost your wellbeing avoid projects that create unnecessary pressure - like knitting a sweater for a colleague who needs it by a certain date. Or those you aren’t going to enjoy - like completing an embroidery in colors you no longer like.
Need To Destress? Maybe You Need Something More Challenging
Thinking about flow is a helpful perspective for choosing projects. It’s tempting to assume you should stick to very simple projects if you are feeling stressed, but actually a more complicated project could be more beneficial to your mental state if it helps you achieve flow. Having multiple projects to choose from will allow you to experiment. If you find something absorbing, go with it. If you feel bored, try something more challenging, if you are getting frustrated set it aside and try something easier. So, if you do decide to set aside what you are working on in favor of something that will help you achieve flow, let go of the guilt. There is good evidence to suggest you are making the best choice for your wellbeing.
