Woodworking is a great hobby that helps people develop their creativity and a sense of artistry while learning new, valuable, practical life skills. But did you know that it can also be good for your health?
If you’re like most people, chances are you use your woodworking hobby and regular trips to a local lumber yard in Houston as a way to relax. Having these types of hobbies that will alleviate the stresses you experience in your daily life is important for both your physical and mental wellbeing.
Here are just a few reasons why woodworking is so beneficial for your health.
A “whole brain” activity
There are some types of activities that involve exercising a very specific part of the brain. The right side of the brain is generally associated with sensory data, emotions and creativity, while the left side of the brain is typically focused on logic, details and numbers.
Consider how you use your brain during woodworking jobs. You’re absolutely focused on creativity in the sense that you’re creating a design and using your own personal artistry to produce a beautiful finished product. You’ll consider the types of cuts you’ll make, the general design, the finishes or paint colors you’ll use, etc. But woodworking is also highly logical and analytical. You need to get the numbers exactly right for your measurements, and will be doing a lot of basic math to ensure everything fits together properly. You’ll regularly convert fractions to get your measurements correct, and have to add in extra allowances for saw kerf.
This is what makes woodworking a “whole brain” activity. You’re exercising a variety of different, very important brain functions while participating in one type of activity.
It helps resolve feelings of frustration
One of the primary mental health benefits associated with woodworking is that it enhances your self-esteem and makes you feel more capable and accomplished. There’s something to be said for creating something from scratch with your own hands. While you’re woodworking, you’re completely in charge of your project, and the result will be praised by other people. You get to feel satisfied with a job you completed yourself.
If you’ve been feeling frustrated or underappreciated in other areas of your life, especially your work life, having something that makes you feel accomplished and skillful is extremely important.
It alleviates symptoms of depression
Numerous studies show that creating art helps to elevate one’s mood. You’ll be amazed at how much good some time in the shop can do you. Pick up a nice piece of wood with a beautiful grain pattern, find a simple project you can complete in a few hours and get going. While you can’t necessarily cure your depression through woodworking, it’s certain to give you something else to focus your energy on and give you at least a little bit of time where you can let your cares and worries fade away.
For more information about the health benefits of woodworking, contact our lumber yard in Houston.