Wood You Believe It? The Surprising Science Behind Why Making Things Is Good for You

   Freddie Hughes - Crafted From Embers - 9th May 2025 

Crafting, sustainability, and mental health: a wholesome (and occasionally splintery) trio.

Let’s be honest: when you think of health advice, “carve a spoon” probably isn’t high on the list.

We’re told to hydrate, stretch, maybe download a meditation app. But what if one of the best things you could do for your mind and body was… to whittle?

Yep—science (and probably your grandma) agrees: making things by hand is good for you. Especially when it’s eco-friendly, slow, and involves fewer microplastics than your average scented candle.

So grab your tools (and maybe a plaster—just in case). Let’s explore the fascinating, research-backed reasons why sustainable crafting isn’t just good for the planet—it’s great for you, too.

1. Crafting Calms the Chaos Brain

You know that brain fog you get after scrolling for 47 minutes and forgetting why you picked up your phone in the first place? Yeah, crafting is the opposite of that.

According to a growing body of research, activities like knitting, woodworking, and other hands-on hobbies stimulate the brain in calming, structured ways, promoting what psychologists call a "flow state." That’s the sweet spot where time disappears, your worries take a coffee break, and you’re fully in the moment.

Bonus? Unlike doomscrolling, this version of focus doesn’t involve existential dread.

Fact Check: A 2016 study in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who engage in creative activities regularly reported increased positive emotions and life satisfaction. That’s right—your humble carved spoon might be doing more for your wellbeing than your overpriced therapy lamp.

2. Nature-Based Making Connects You to Something Bigger

There’s something weirdly magical about sanding down a hunk of tree into a useful object. Maybe it’s because you’re literally shaping nature with your own hands—or maybe because it’s a legal way to play with knives.

Either way, working with natural, sustainable materials helps us reconnect with the rhythms and rawness of the real world. And that connection isn’t just sentimental; it’s deeply biological.

Studies show that spending time with natural textures—like wood, wool, and clay—can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even slow your heart rate. One study from the University of British Columbia found that wood interiors in homes and workplaces had a calming effect similar to time spent outdoors.

So if you can’t go forest bathing today, consider carving a butter knife instead. It’s basically the same thing, just with more splinters.

3. Making Stuff Gives You a Hit of the Good Brain Juice

Want a legal dopamine hit? Finish a project.

Even something as simple as drilling a hole in the right place (on purpose) can give you that sweet surge of satisfaction. Why? Because your brain loves completing things. Especially things you can hold, admire, and show off with a caption like “Totally handmade. Only cried twice.”

Psychologists call this “mastery.” It’s the sense of accomplishment that comes from learning a skill and seeing it through. And unlike most of your streaming queue, crafting actually lets you finish something.

Plus, if you’re doing it sustainably—with reclaimed materials or zero-waste principles—you also get to feel morally superior. And let’s be honest: that’s its own kind of high.

4. It’s Surprisingly Social (Even If You’re an Introvert Who Talks to Your Plants)

Crafting has this sneaky way of bringing people together.

Even if you're not the “join a club” type, sharing your creations (or fails) online, in workshops, or with fellow local crafters can spark real connections. And not the kind that make you regret going outside.

Whether it’s swapping tools, trading techniques, or bonding over mutual glue gun trauma, making things gives you a shared language. It's less “networking event” and more “emergency we ran out of twine again.”

Fun stat: According to the Craft Yarn Council (yes, that’s a real thing), over 70% of makers say crafting improves their social life—even if it’s just showing off their handmade coaster to a mildly interested cat.

5. The Planet Thinks You’re Pretty Great, Too

Look, we love a feel-good hobby—but we love it more when it doesn’t quietly destroy the Earth in the process.

Sustainable crafting—especially using natural, upcycled, or biodegradable materials—means your creative streak doesn’t come with a side of guilt. And you don’t have to be perfect. Every time you choose to make instead of mass-buy, repair instead of replace, or upcycle instead of toss? You’re nudging the world in a better direction.

Example: Choosing a plant-based wood finish or using reclaimed wood saves trees, reduces chemical runoff, and helps fight the kind of pollution that turns rivers into glitter slime.

So yes, even your wobbly cutting board is fighting the good fight. Wobble proudly.

Final Thoughts from Someone Covered in Wood Dust and Zero Regret

Crafting sustainably isn’t just a pastime. It’s a quiet, creative rebellion against fast living, fast fashion, and fast furniture.

It’s how we reconnect—with the Earth, with others, and with ourselves.

So next time someone raises an eyebrow at your homemade birdhouse or lovingly carved twig trivet, just smile. You’re not just making crafts.

You’re making meaning.

And that, dear reader, is truly worth sanding for.

Want More Eco-Friendly Woodworking Tips?

Explore our full collection of tutorials, materials guides, and sustainable project ideas at craftedfromembers.co.uk—because making with heart starts with making responsibly.

Author: Freddie Hughes - Founder, Craftsman and Columnist of Crafted From Embers