This post is dedicated to Julie, a close friend. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
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We all have things to do. Deadlines to meet. Projects, assignments, chores to finish. Classes and meetings to attend. Family and household to manage. With these obligations come stress. With stress comes the need to “set aside” work done by the brain’s right hemisphere, and focus more on the analytical and practical. However, if you’re feeling stressed, now is the time to think about what you want to do, not what you are obligated to finish every day.
Why am I writing this? To show you, Dear Reader, that there’s more to creativity than having “too much free time”; and that, amid a busy schedule, staying creative is crucial. Right now, every day, every hour, I am confronted with the amount of Law material that needs to be revised before Finals; emails that need to be sent; places to go, people to meet, and an irritating dry cough. Yet here I am, sitting in front of the computer, with a half-finished cardigan for Ruby nearby… writing a post about how not to be stressed. Because it’s something that hinders a large amount of creativity, and shouldn’t.
Why is this so important, for the crocheter as well as the academic? There are those who excel under pressure, and those who don’t — and those who don’t know whether they do or don’t. Part of the reason many people panic is because of the unfamiliarity and unpreparedness when a variable shows up — something that has to be done or the subsequent work will pile up.
As a crocheter, you have the tool and the skill that enables you not to be stressed. (“It’s called the brain and two hands.” – My Dad.) Provided the process of working on a project does not add to the pressure of everyday life, I want you to do one thing, today, tomorrow, or whenever you have a free moment: Find a ball of yarn and a crochet hook, sit down, and make something. It can be any color, any size, simple or complex.
Why?
Crochet is something you know how to do. It’s not a variable; it’s a skill. Whether you’re in a work environment, at home, studying, or preparing for a major craft event, doing something you can do with certainty — and finish with certainty — boosts confidence. You’ve acquired the motor skill and muscle memory; now put it to work, and let the stress dissolve.
This applies to any kind of stress. Thinking back, one of the most stressful times of my crochet and craft adventures was preparing for the Arts Festival. The first year, it was harder to “invent” new ideas. The outcome was that I didn’t have many finished products to showcase at the event. The year after that was stressful in a different way. There was an abundance of finished crochet products… but people didn’t see the practical value. Mom’s insight for those two experiences are: “The more stressed you were, the harder it was to create.” That’s why I’ve taken a lengthy break from all such events — the stress replaced the fun.
What do you do if the stress doesn’t go off?
If you’re in a restaurant or a crowded place indoors, step outside for a minute. Look at the sights, sounds, smells, the overall atmosphere of the new environment… and question the concreteness of it. Put how you feel into your work. The result will be magnificent. I won’t elaborate further — now it’s up to you. Go, be creative!
As a Crafter, how do you manage stress?
