Woodworking as a Hobby – read the Benefits. Woodworking has been around since the time of the Neanderthals and has been used to fashion a variety of things, ranging from the simplest tools to the most elaborate buildings. Although there are some very practical benefits in woodworking as a hobby, there are also advantages that go well beyond the tangible, such as improved health and lessened stress. Here are a few of these intangible benefits:
Benefits of Woodworking in Relation to Health
There are plenty of studies that support the fact that woodworking is beneficial to your health. For example, a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic lists woodworking as one of the hobbies which help preserve a person’s memory and lessen the chances of developing dementia as he gets older. Woodworking also engages both the left and right sides of the brain. This “whole brain activity” helps improve a person’s general cognitive functions.
Aside from dementia, woodworking also helps with depression. Depressed individuals often consider woodworking to be an excellent distraction from their self-destructive thoughts. Moreover, actually completing a project helps them feel accomplished, successful, and productive, all of which have been shown to help depression.
In addition to the above, some woodworking activities also involve a good deal of exercise and physical exertion. Particularly, activities relating to lifting and moving heavy objects help improve strength and endurance.
Benefits of Woodworking in Relation to Stress and Focus
Many people consider woodworking as an excellent stress-relief activity. Since it requires you to focus all your attention on the task at hand, it diverts your attention from your other concerns like an unfulfilling job or failing stock market investments. This does not only help relieve stress, it also helps train your mind to focus on the things that are truly important.
Benefits of Woodworking in Relation to Income
Since woodworking will almost always result in a physical product, it may be a profitable sideline if you’re skilled enough. You may try accepting commissioned woodworking or offering your completed projects for sale on the internet. Your woodworking as hobby can wind up making you some extra cash, and possibly turn into a career.
Moreover, it’s not an expensive hobby to take up. All you really need to get started is a piece of good wood and a set of woodworking tools. With the right material, tools, and skills, you can craft almost anything you can think of. The only real limit is your imagination.
Benefits of Woodworking in Relation to Enjoyment and Satisfaction
Last but not the least, woodworking is a very fun hobby. You are given the chance to create something beautiful out of rough piece of wood and, once you succeed, there is no greater feeling of satisfaction.
It also allows you to stretch your creative muscles. Before you can start working on a piece of wood, you need to plan each step in advance and hold a very vivid image of the end-product. The more details you can see in your mind, the better the product will probably be (of course, this is assuming that you actually have the skills to produce the thing you’re imagining).