The Psychology Of Woodworking: Why It's One Of The Best Hobbies You Can Have
What is woodworking?
Whether you yearn to make useful objects like chairs, spice racks and spoons, or you aim to craft more decorative items like clocks, mirrors, and picture frames, woodworking is a truly wonderful hobby.
Indeed, it involves many different skills such as woodturning, carving and joinery, and can be used to craft a wide range of items from musical instruments like guitars, and violins, to large dining room tables, and delicate cabinets.
The great thing is that woodworking is not only a worthwhile practical hobby, but it can be great for your mind as well. Keep reading to find out more about woodworking and how it can give you a well-being boost.
Types of woodworking
Wood Turning
Woodturning is a type of woodworking that is done on a lathe. A lathe is a special piece of equipment that holds a piece of wood horizontally and allows it to spin. The woodturner then applies various chisels and knives to carve out a pattern in the wood.
Furniture-Making
Furniture-making woodwork includes not only crafting new pieces but restoring older items as well. Indeed, there is much overlap in the skills needed for these two tasks. Woodworkers can choose to make just about any furniture items they choose including tables, chairs, cabinets, shelves, and desks. However, it is recommended that you start out small when beginning and then move on to larger pieces as you get more experienced.
Wood Carving
Last of all, another fun type of woodworking is wood carving. This is when a solid piece of wood is cut into with tools like a mallet and chisel to create a 3D form or raised relief.
What tools and equipment are needed for woodworking?
Before we get into the specific benefits that taking up woodworking can provide, it's important to note that there are some basic equipment and tools that you will need.
The most important of these are Saws, Drills and Sanders.
Saws
Saws are crucial when you want to take up woodworking as a hobby because they allow you to cut larger pieces of wood down into smaller, more easy to handle shapes. Investing in an electric saw is often a good idea for those intending to practice woodworking. The reason is that it takes all the manual labour of going back and forth with the task of sawing, leaving you with plenty of energy to devote to the more complex and fun parts of your project.
Drills
Again you can choose drills that are manual or electric. Drills are needed for woodworking products when you need to make a hole, perhaps to insert a screw or dowel?
Sanders
Last of all, if you want a smooth finish on your project you will need some kind of sander. The most basic option here is to use sandpaper wrapped around a block. However, you can also invest in a power sander which will get the job done much faster.
The psychological benefits of woodworking
Now you know more about what woodworking is, and the tools you’ll need to do it as a hobby, let's take a look at the mental health-boosting advantages it can offer.
Woodworking is good for confidence:
A skill that you build gradually over time woodworking is great for building confidence. Indeed, it's precisely because you learn mastery of the skill over a protracted period that confidence can be gained. It is about committing yourself to a project and seeing it through and then picking a slightly more challenging project and doing it over and over again.
One of the best things about this process is that you get something real that you can see and touch at the end. This is something that you can be proud of, and that can act as a physical reminder of how you can learn, and overcome challenges and do hard things, boosting.
Woodworking is creative:
Another reason that woodworking can be great for mental health is that it's a creative activity. Creativity is something that nearly all of us need in our lives, and can really enjoy. Yet, there can be too few situations to be creative in everyday life. That is why taking up an activity like woodworking where we can let our creativity flow can be so satisfying.
Woodworking can destress you
Some people say that woodworking is like a moving meditation, and so can be very good for reducing stress. It makes sense too as it's a hobby that requires both focus and physical action which can help get you out of your mind, and into your body and the present moment. This mindful state or flow state as it can also be known is said to be a peak experience that can nourish the mind as well as the body.
Woodworking is good for your brain
Due to the fact that you are dealing with items in three dimensions, woodworking can be a wonderful way to flex those cognitive muscles and get your brain in gear. Indeed, there is a great deal of problem solving that goes on in woodworking and this can help keep your cognitive abilities sharp.
Woodwork is good for the body
Unlike some creative activities which require the participant to sit still for most of the time, woodworking requires plenty of movement and engaging of the body and muscles. This means that as well as keeping our brains fit woodworking can keep our body’s fit too, and as a healthy body can help keep the mind healthy too.
Final thoughts
Woodworking is a great hobby for those looking to improve their mental health for several reasons. The first is that it can help encourage confidence, while the second is that it's a creative pursuit. The third is that it can help with relaxation, while the fourth is that it's good for cognitive function too. Last of all, woodworking is a physical as well as mental activity, proving that woodworking truly is one of the best hobbies there is.
So if you are thinking of taking up a hobby to promote mental wellbeing, be sure to consider the creative art of woodworking.
