How Embroidery and Other Slow Living Hobbies Can Help to Ease Stress
In a world of constant notifications, fast-paced schedules, and endless screen time, many of us feel a growing sense of overwhelm.
Our grandmothers, who lived without the incessant buzz of smartphones, seemed more content and connected with the world around them.
Their secret? Making the most of downtime by engaging in mindful, hands-on hobbies like embroidery, knitting, baking, and scrapbooking.
These traditional pastimes not only gave them a sense of accomplishment but also helped them manage stress, build resilience, and create memories.
By embracing timeless activities like embroidery and other slow-living hobbies, we can rediscover simple joys, reduce anxiety, and reconnect with ourselves. Here’s how these peaceful pursuits can enhance mental well-being and invite calm into our busy lives.
Rediscovering Embroidery: A Meditation in Motion
Embroidery is more than a craft; it’s a soothing, meditative practice. Each stitch demands focus and intention, helping you enter a state of calm presence.
With embroidery, the tactile nature of working with fabric, needle, and thread grounds you in the moment, offering a welcome break from digital distractions. Plus, the finished piece is a tangible reminder of your creativity and patience.
Benefits of Embroidery for Mental Health:
- Promotes mindfulness with each careful stitch.
- Reduces stress by focusing on a tactile, creative activity.
- Provides a sense of accomplishment as your design comes to life.
What you’ll need:
- Beginner Embroidery Kit – A perfect starting kit with everything you need for a peaceful stitching session.
- Embroidery Hoops Set – Essential for steadying fabric and creating beautiful pieces.
- A Guide to Embroidery Stitches – Learn and practice stitches with easy-to-follow instructions.
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Knitting and Crochet: Crafting Calm with Every Loop
Knitting and crochet are rhythmic, repetitive crafts that slow the mind and calm the spirit.
The soothing motion of yarn between fingers and needles naturally brings about relaxation. Creating scarves, blankets, or even small ornaments fills you with purpose, knowing each item is crafted with care.
As a portable activity, knitting is perfect for unwinding on the go!
Mental Health Benefits of Knitting and Crochet:
- Eases anxiety by focusing on repetitive movements.
- Cultivates patience as you see your piece gradually take shape.
- Provides a cozy, tactile escape from daily stressors.
What you’ll need:
- Soft Yarn in Various Colors – Choose calming, soft yarn to create beautiful, touchable projects.
- Beginner’s Knitting Needles Set – A versatile set for both knitting and crochet projects.
- Pattern Book for Knitters and Crocheters – Start with easy-to-follow patterns for peaceful creations.
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Baking for Comfort and Creativity
There’s something deeply therapeutic about baking. The process of measuring, mixing, and kneading dough invites you to slow down and savor each step.
For many, baking evokes fond memories, often connected to family and love. Baking fills your home with comforting scents, and at the end, there’s a delicious reward to share and enjoy.
How Baking Supports Mental Well-being:
- Promotes mindfulness by focusing on the step-by-step process.
- Encourages creativity with flavor combinations and presentation.
- Fills the home with cozy, familiar scents that calm and uplift.
What you’ll need:
- Classic Baking Set – Essential baking tools to create everything from cookies to cakes.
- Baking Recipe Book – Find new recipes to try, from simple muffins to intricate pastries.
- Baking Pans Set – A range of pans for all your baking needs, from cakes to loaves.
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Reading for Pleasure: Escape Digital Distractions
Reading a book is a perfect antidote to digital burnout. The immersive experience of a well-told story or fascinating topic lets your mind wander, far from notifications and screens.
When you turn pages and visualize stories, you’re not only relaxing but enhancing focus and imagination. Reading becomes a peaceful ritual, a way to escape and rejuvenate.
Benefits of Reading on Mental Health:
- Reduces stress by focusing on a single, engaging story.
- Boosts cognitive function by exercising focus and comprehension.
- Fosters imagination and empathy through varied perspectives.
What you’ll need:
- Classic Novels Collection – Rediscover timeless stories to expand your library.
- Soft Throw Blanket – Wrap up and get cozy for a comforting reading session.
- Book Light for Nighttime Reading – A gentle light perfect for evening reads.
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Canning and Preserving: Embrace a Simple, Self-Sufficient Tradition
Canning and preserving seasonal produce not only stocks your pantry but brings a sense of achievement.
From peeling and chopping to sterilizing jars, this slow process keeps you grounded and engaged.
Seeing rows of beautifully preserved jars brings satisfaction and reinforces self-reliance, helping you feel connected to the simpler aspects of life.
Mental Health Benefits of Canning:
- Encourages patience as you work through each careful step.
- Provides a sense of accomplishment with each finished jar.
- Brings comfort with a pantry filled with homemade treats.
What you’ll need:
- Canning Starter Kit – Everything needed to can fruits, jams, and more.
- Recipe Book for Preserving Foods – Learn to preserve seasonal produce with easy recipes.
- Glass Mason Jars Set – Store preserves in these classic, reusable jars.
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Scrapbooking and Journaling: Capturing Memories with Gratitude
Scrapbooking or journaling creates a physical record of life’s moments, filling you with gratitude as you reflect.
Designing each page and arranging memories lets you slow down, savoring the details of past experiences.
These creative practices foster mindfulness and are deeply rewarding, giving you a tangible keepsake to revisit again and again.
Benefits of Scrapbooking and Journaling:
- Enhances gratitude and positivity by focusing on cherished memories.
- Provides a creative outlet for personal expression.
- Offers a peaceful pause for reflection and introspection.
What you’ll need:
- Scrapbook Album with Supplies – A beautiful album to hold memories, notes, and photos.
- Journaling Pens Set – Add color and creativity to your pages with these high-quality pens.
- Memory Stickers and Embellishments – Personalize each page with meaningful accents.
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Gardening: Connecting with Nature’s Pace
Gardening slows the mind and reconnects you with nature’s gentle rhythm.
From planting seeds to nurturing growth, gardening builds patience and appreciation for life’s cycles.
Digging in the soil, watering plants, and watching them thrive reminds us of life’s simplicity and resilience, grounding us in the beauty of each season.
Mental Health Benefits of Gardening:
- Reduces stress by connecting with the earth and nature.
- Teaches patience and resilience through nurturing growth.
- Provides satisfaction as plants flourish, flowers bloom, or vegetables grow.
What you’ll need:
- Beginner’s Gardening Set – Perfect for small garden projects, complete with tools and seeds.
- Indoor Herb Garden Kit – Grow fresh herbs for cooking or tea, even in small spaces.
- Plant Guidebook – Learn how to care for your plants and how they can care for you!
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Needlework Crafts: Cross-Stitch, Quilting, and Sewing for Calm Creativity
Cross-stitch, quilting, and sewing connect us to tradition while providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
These crafts require focus and care, making them a meditative way to unwind.
Each stitch or quilt square is a reminder of patience, creating cherished items that can be shared or kept as a legacy of time and skill.
Benefits of Needlework for Mental Health:
- Reduces stress through calm, repetitive actions.
- Builds a connection to tradition and heritage.
- Provides lasting, meaningful keepsakes that bring pride and joy.
What you’ll need:
- Quilting Kit – A starter kit for sewing beautiful, practical quilts.
- Cross-Stitch Pattern Book – Discover various patterns to keep you inspired.
- Portable Sewing Machine – Perfect for small projects like pillowcases, blankets, and repairs.
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Homemade Gifts: Crafting with Love and Intention
Creating homemade gifts, whether it’s candles, soaps, or handcrafted cards, allows you to show care and thoughtfulness.
Making something by hand is a beautiful way to focus on each step, pouring love into each gift.
It’s a slow, mindful process, rewarding in its simplicity and in the joy it brings to others.
Mental Health Benefits of Homemade Gifts:
- Reduces stress by focusing on creative, tangible projects.
- Enhances mindfulness through hands-on crafting.
- Brings satisfaction from giving something handmade and meaningful.
What you’ll need:
- DIY Soap-Making Kit – A beginner’s kit for creating scented, homemade soaps.
- Candle-Making Kit with Essential Oils – Perfect for making natural, fragrant candles.
- Card-Making Supplies – Design beautiful, heartfelt cards for any occasion.
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Painting and Drawing: Unleash Your Inner Artist
Painting and drawing allow your thoughts and emotions to flow freely, creating a calming, creative outlet.
Whether it’s capturing a beautiful landscape or simply doodling, the act of moving a brush or pencil across the page brings a sense of peace and personal connection.
Art has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, making it a wonderful way to express yourself in a safe, creative environment.
Embracing painting and drawing lets you step away from screens and find a calming hobby that’s truly yours.
Mental Health Benefits of Painting and Drawing:
- Encourages self-expression, helping to process thoughts and feelings.
- Reduces stress by focusing on gentle, repetitive brush strokes or linework.
- Boosts self-confidence through creative exploration and personal growth.
What you’ll need:
- Beginner’s Watercolor Set – Enjoy the gentle fluidity of watercolor painting with this high-quality kit.
- Drawing Supplies Set – A collection of pencils, erasers, and paper for sketching or intricate drawing.
- How to Draw and Paint Book – A guidebook to help you develop your artistic skills and spark inspiration.
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Learning an Instrument: Making Music for the Soul
Learning an instrument like the piano, guitar, or ukulele provides a joyful challenge.
As you progress, each chord or melody creates a sense of achievement and beauty. Music-making offers both mental and emotional benefits, as it demands focus, timing, and repetition—qualities that naturally soothe the mind.
If you’re looking for structured guidance, online resources like the Voetberg Academy provide fantastic tutorials, perfect for beginners or those refreshing old skills.
Mental Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument:
- Reduces stress and anxiety through rhythmic repetition and harmony.
- Enhances cognitive function, including memory and concentration.
- Boosts mood and self-confidence with each new song learned.
What you’ll need:
- Ukulele Beginner Kit – A fun, portable instrument that’s easy for beginners to learn.
- Electric Keyboard with Weighted Keys – Emulate the feel of a real piano with this portable option.
- Online Music Lesson Subscription – Access online classes for a variety of instruments and skill levels.
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Writing: Creating a Community with Words!
Writing is a time-honored pastime, but how about bringing it into the 21st century a little and creating your own blog!
Starting a blog is an excellent way to document your journey, express your thoughts, and connect with a like-minded community.
Blogging offers the perfect blend of creativity and reflection.
My favorite part of being a blogger is finding those quiet moments to sketch out post ideas, research topics, and bring everything together.
Over time, blogging can help you build a small community, giving you a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Writing about topics that matter to you not only fosters creativity but encourages self-expression and personal growth!
Mental Health Benefits of Blogging:
- Provides an outlet for creativity, self-reflection, and storytelling.
- Builds a sense of accomplishment as your writing develops over time.
- Creates a community of readers, providing connection and support.
What you’ll need:
- Journal and Planner – Outline and brainstorm your blog ideas with a dedicated journal and planner.
- WordPress Hosting Package – Start a blog with reliable hosting, perfect for building your online space. I personally use the lower shared tier offered by BigScoots and that has been more than enough at a bargain price and if you end up growing a hugely successful blog with a lot of traffic then you can always upgrade later! [ad]
- Blogging for Beginners Book – A step-by-step guide for those new to the blogging world.
Available on Amazon.com [ad]
The Takeaway
Incorporating slow-living hobbies like embroidery, baking, and gardening doesn’t just help you unwind; it provides lasting mental health benefits.
Each of these traditional pastimes invites you to slow down, savor the process, and focus on the joy of creating something with your own hands.
Our grandmothers knew the value of these quiet, mindful activities, and by embracing them, we can reduce stress, boost mental well-being, and find peace in today’s busy world.
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Together, we can rediscover the joy of these timeless pastimes and find comfort in the simple moments!
Last update on 2025-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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