Creative Winter Hobbies at The Village Shops in Gatlinburg
The fundamental need for self-expression has given birth to a dearth of hobby options. It’s widely understood to be the cheapest way to get the therapeutic benefits of, well, therapy, without the appointments and high hourly rates. What could better? In the cold winter months, when we are stuck inside for hours on end, enduring days that seem terrifically short and nights that stretch on, we all need some way to feel better.
Cozy Journaling, Tea & Comfort Finds at The Village Shops
If you’re not artistic (and only a sliver of us are) you can still employ pen and paper. Journaling is a cheap and effective way to both get your thoughts organized and hold onto good memories. There is really no downside! God’s Corner, Life is Good and The Honey Pot all offer many book or spiral-bound journal options. You want a book that is beautiful and inviting, begging you to open it and write. It is also essential that you set the stage for a journaling session. Pull on some soft cotton pajamas from The Lazy One (they get softer with each wash) from The Village Shops, and curl up in your favorite chair. Studies have shown that certain scents are mood lifters. This is important because journaling positive experiences and impressions will help you to remain grateful and happy. Light a candle! Since scent evokes memory, it’s hard to say which one will set the right mood for you. However, certain scents like lavender and sage are widely known to promote happy and calm feelings. Lastly, make sure to tuck into your journaling session with a nice cup of tea from The Spice and Tea Exchange of Gatlinburg, located right here in The Village. If it’s evening, try some chamomile for relaxation.
Trending Crafts & Relaxing Activities to Brighten Winter Days
If writing is more stressful than therapeutic for you, there are many other options for self-expression. “Grandma hobbies” have re-emerged in recent years, with a whole new generation of knitters and stitchers rising through the hobby ranks on social media, offering tips and tricks on everything from yarn selection to the latest pattern software! You can start with something as simple as a plain cross stitch pattern pre-printed on a tea towel. Though the artwork is not your original creation, the feeling of being a part of the making of something artistic that you can display or give as a gift is tremendously gratifying! Prefer puzzles? Those are making a come back too!
In our harried and fast-paced world of jam-packed schedules, time for turning on quiet music and recharging is limited. A need for such unplugged time has given rise to a unique passion known as “diamond painting.” This craft involves the placing of small and sparkly pieces of plastic (“diamonds”) onto a sticky canvas covered in coded squares. Kits feature every scene, animal or object imaginable. The choosing of the subject canvas according to one’s interests or sentimental reasons makes the craft a legitimate form of personal expression achieved without the need for artistic talent. Diamond painters are very passionate about their outlet and flood the many websites devoted to the craft. A colorful scene of an Hawaiian coastline is the perfect antidote for a dull winter night.
No matter your hobby choice, self-expression has its rock-solid therapeutic benefits. It allows us to fully depart from the cares of the day as we become absorbed in the creative task at hand, which is itself very fulfilling. The fact that arts and crafts are wildly popular is evident in the fact that even dollar stores carry art canvases and, in some cases, acrylic paints! The entry point for crafts is very low; a few dollars can get you off and running!
Whether you choose to engage in the rewarding outlet of journaling (either art journaling, scrapbooking or writing) or pursue a more skilled hobby like embroidery, consider this: there is no price tag to be placed on your mental health. Tuck into something creative and absorbing from The Village Shops and, before you know it, you will look up and it will be spring!