Money problems occupying your thoughts? Juggling with debt? Stress levels through the roof? Sometimes a bubble bath or good film just isn’t enough to get rid of stress. Many people are constantly worrying about money and rising levels of debt can cause serious health problems. In a search for solutions to this problem, some people are turning to arts and crafts.

Stress and worrying can occupy the mind to the point of distraction, and even cause physical problems in the long run. Symptoms of stress include poor concentration, moodiness, irritation, poor memory and lack of sleep. These can eventually lead to physical problems such as stomach complaints and lowered immune system. The secret is to channel stressful thoughts into something practical, and arts and crafts can direct thinking along a positive creative flow.

Getting involved in sketching and painting can provide hours of distraction from anxiety, while making something from wood or following a knitting pattern helps forget nagging worries. By directing attention away from problems temporarily, stress can be lessened at least temporarily. The process of following a pattern or plan to make an object or a painting takes time and patience, and is a welcome relief from debilitating stress.

Painting and craftwork can also provide a long lasting hobby that can, with enough time and skill, even turn into a money making venture. Learning an extra skill is an investment in the future, and when stress levels return to normal arts and crafts are something that provide lifelong enjoyment and can be passed on to future generations.
The best part of using creativity in the short term to combat stress is that it helps to restore some of the emotional and cognitive problems caused by stress by improving concentration and focus. With classes to learn painting and making in most towns and cities, beating stress has never been more creative.