Fancy some number counting or how about playing in the mud? I can’t think of better ways to decrease stress than knitting and gardening. Both have been studied and the results show that there is a decrease in anxiety and an increase in wellbeing. I have participated in both activities. Both are a work in progress. My knitting has had some issues. Sometimes many rows will need to be undone. My gardening seems to have followed a similar path. However, I have not quit and I am determined to reduce my stress through these activities. Let us begin the journey of destressing by discovering the benefits of knitting.
Knitting
I have just begun my knitting journey and feel that it does seem to calm my nerves. I use a small loom. This helps me because I can’t count to save my life and everything ended up in a circle before using the loom. Research shows that knitting has a measurable effect on calming anxiety and relieving stress. In one international survey, a strong link was revealed between knitting and feelings of calm and happiness. Knitters can also find benefits in the social nature of knitting.
Dr. Herbert Benson, the author of “The Relaxation Response,” states that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga. It can also lower heart rate, blood pressure and reduce harmful blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The benefits of knitting don’t stop there either. The Knit to Heal program in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs, to help smokers give up the habit and help for people coping with health crises.
Now I am going to do some major name dropping. There are numerous celebrities who knit. Here are some of the actresses who enjoy knitting: Amanda Seyfried, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Sandra Bullock, Whoopi Goldberg, Meryl Streep and Charlize Theron. The knitting list is extensive, far more than I have written down. Onto some of the actors who enjoy knitting: Ryan Gosling, Christopher Walkin, Ewan McGregor, Paul Rudd, Stephen West, and Russell Crowe. The list of actors who knit is also an extensive list and far more then I have recorded here. Also, Director George Lucas knits and Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier who played as a Defensive tackle for the NY Giants and LA Rams.
Gardening
My gardening is a slower process. I think I may lack a “green thumb“, but once in a while I can get something to grow. Keyword something. According to the Royal College of Physicians author Richard Thompson, there is increasing evidence that exposure to plants, green space, and particularly the action of gardening, greatly benefits mental and physical health. In this article, it discussed that in a Japanese study, the mere viewing of plants altered EEG recordings and reduced stress, fear, anger and sadness, as well as reducing blood pressure, pulse rate and muscle tension. The paper goes on to discuss numerous experiments including a randomized experiment in which post-operative patients were exposed to eight different species of indoor plants, the researchers than noted that both pain and length of stay were once again reduced and patients’ satisfaction with their hospital rooms was improved.
Gardening is a great physical activity which can include social interaction. Working in the garden restores strength, and the aerobic exercise that is involved can easily use the same number of calories as might be expended in a gym. By being in the moment and focusing your attention on gardening you are practicing mindfulness—a proven way of reducing stress.
I hope you will find time to try both activities, if you have not done so already. Let me know if you find either stress reducing.
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