Knit for the health of others... and even knit for your own...

There are many physical and mental health benefits of knitting: "lowered blood pressure, reduced depression and anxiety, slowed onset of dementia, distraction from chronic pain, increased sense of wellbeing, reduced loneliness" (Mental Health America). 

Mental Health America continued, emphasizing that "knitting has a measurable effect on calming anxiety and relieving stress. In one international survey, a strong connection was revealed between knitting and feelings of calm and happiness....In a clinical setting, one study of a group of individuals who have eating disorders showed that knitting had a significant effect on reducing anxiety and calming obsessive thoughts or preoccupations."

While meditation, yoga, and exercise help some to relieve stress or relax, I, personally, have always benefited from something that also allows me to feel creative and productive. For example, as a musician, I have found that playing the piano is a great source of stress relief for me: moving my hands helps to ease stress and using my creativity relaxes my mind, all the while I am using the time to practice or make music. 

Knitting is similar; I'm able to relieve stress while lying in bed, and even while watching TV (now that I'm skilled enough at knitting for it to not require as much focus). It has become a calming activity, but like with making music, there is an end result: knitters create a hat. 

You can improve your mental health while making a source of warmth for someone in need! Next time you want to relieve stress without putting on your running shoes or tuning your instrument, try picking up a ball of yarn.