By Rita Latour
an you sometimes “talk yourself out” of spending time in your sewing room or feel like you cannot justify the time and money that quilting requires? Quilting can provide significant wellness benefits and for those of us that do spend a lot of time with our quilting, it is validation of concepts that we know but maybe did not put into words.
Here are some of the mental and wellness benefits of quilting. You may already know these, but it is always good to have positive reinforcement.
- Stress Relief – Quilting provides a creative outlet and can relieve the stress and allow us to unwind after a long day. The repetitive and soothing motions can aid in calming the mind and reducing anxiety.
- Improved Mental Health – Creative activities can improve cognitive function and memory. A sense of accomplishment and pride in a project can boost self-esteem and confidence.
- Increase Hand-Eye Coordination – The precise hand movements and coordination used in quilting improve fine motor skills. This is particularly beneficial for older adults and people with disabilities.
- Social Connections – While there are a multitude of online forums and workshops, connecting in person with others builds a sense of community. Joining a quilt group or attending a workshop provides opportunities to meet new people, learn a new technique, and share your love of quilting.
- Sense of Purpose – Having a tangible product that can be used or gifted offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It is also useful for those struggling with feelings of boredom or lack of purpose in their daily lives.
- Increased Mindfulness – The level of focus and attention required in quilting can help improve present time awareness. This is effective as a tool to help manage stress and anxiety.
- Improve Sleep – Engaging in a relaxing activity before bedtime helps to establish a sense of calmness and relaxation which in turns helps to “turn your brain off” and prepare for sleep.
There are several evidence based and peer reviewed articles that discuss the health benefits of quilting. The repetitive motion used in quilting activates our parasympathetic nervous system which calms our body’s instinct to “fight or flight.” The sense of accomplishment received in quilting decreases the stress and anxiety chemicals in our brain, often resulting in making people happy, contented, and the feeling of accomplishment. Doing something that results in meaningful work makes people happy and happy people have less stress. Quilting provides problem-solving challenges that utilize math and geometry which keeps our brains “thinking.” The bright colors and patterns often used tend to lift the spirit and (ready for it?) make us happy! There are even a couple of articles that say quilting is good physical exercise. Sometimes quilting is thought of as sedentary, but there is a lot of moving with cutting fabric, laying out fabric, sewing, pressing, and moving the blocks around on the design wall.
So, next time you feel you need to justify the time and expense of quilting, think of all these benefits. I think “quilting each day keeps the doctor away!”
Happy Quilting!
I’m a resident in Central Illinois and welcome your comments. Please let me know if there is a quilting topic you would like to talk about. Contact me at [email protected].
