Slow your social media and start crafting this Spring

Spring isn’t time just for cleaning out your closets. It’s time for cleaning up some bad habits, too.

When was the last time you sat through a movie without checking your phone, or took a picture without posting it to social media? How much time did you spend doom scrolling last year? That time used to be yours to think, to read, to create—and you slowly gave it up, but at what cost? What else could you be doing if you reclaimed even some of your social media time?

According to one study, the average person spends 145 minutes on social media every day. While some of that time might have moments of positivity, is it really worth almost 17 hours a week? That’s 884 hours every year. If we each spent half of our social media time on crafting or creating, I believe the world would be a better place and you’d have some cute finished projects by now you could be proud of.

Here are 5 reasons you should consider crafting and creating over social media.

1. Crafting Gives You Instant Gratification and Visual Progress

People often turn to social media when they’re feeling alone, anxious, or bored because it gives them a sense of instant gratification. Guess what? Crafting also gives you instant gratification. Pick up a pair of knitting needles and some yarn and boom; you’ve got something to do with your hands while you listen to a true crimes podcast. Start designing a quilt top for your friend’s new baby. Get out the paints and paint while listening to music. I’m currently loving projects like my newest fabric weaving project. The possibilities are endless, and once you’ve made a habit of crafting before social, you’ll have visual progress of your project and something tangible to show for your time.

2. Crafting Gives You Quality Time With Yourself

If you find yourself looking at how many likes your last post got, or didn’t get, it may be a sign that it’s time to spend more time with yourself. Some of the best validation comes from within. Crafting is a great way to unwind and “play” like you used to when you were a kid. Spend time with your own mind. Do the things you want to do. Make the world your own, even if just for a few minutes a day.

3. Crafting Guilds and Groups Help Develop Your Social Connections

Joining a craft guild or group can help you connect with like-minded individuals and have real-life connections. Making crafting friends in your area can help you connect more with your community and even find meaningful ways to make a difference with social support projects and community aid.

4. Crafting Gives You Something To Be Proud Of

Crafting projects can be anything, and anything you make, you can be proud of. Crafting isn’t about creating perfection; it’s about having fun and expressing yourself. Don’t believe me? Go to an art gallery. Google image search modern art. Look at some of the things people have made. These things aren’t always perfect, or even well-thought-out. Some projects are created in minutes, others take months, or years. Your projects are just that; yours. The point is that you have fun and express your feelings. If you only do these two things, you’ve succeeded in my book.

5. Crafting Challenges You In Ways You Can Control

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. Social media can be challenging, and endless, and to make it worse, the more you do, the more you can feel like you’re missing out. Developing a habit of crafting can help you set goals and timelines that you control. Your personal crafting world is one that you can develop, regulate, and feel safe in. Carving out that kind of space for the self can play a major role in self-care and your mental health.

However you do it, I encourage you to get into crafting, any crafting, all the crafting. Find something and try it, and keep trying it until you find projects you like working on. I promise you it’s worth it. Your brain and your spirit will thank you.