Crafting and Hobby Prescription: Self-Care for Healing and Relaxation

The Crafting and Hobby Prescription: What Every Nurse Should Add to Their Self-Care Plan

You’ve administered meds, written a thousand care notes, and worked miracles with caffeine and compassion. But have you written yourself a prescription lately? It’s time to add one more order to the chart—one for joy, rest, and creativity. Yes, we’re talking about hobbies, stat!

Why Crafting & Hobbies Belong in Your Self-Care Plan

Arts and crafts offer more than just a time filler for your day. Many studies have cited the benefits of these activities. Remember, most rehabilitation centers and nursing homes hire recreational and occupational therapists to assist patients in recovering from injury, illness, and to relieve symptoms from depression and anxiety.  

Crafting and hobbies are more than just “free time fillers”; they can be essential for:

• Emotional Balance and Mental Health Maintenance: 

  • One systematic review of arts and crafts stated that mental well-being was improved for the short term after participating in a craft project. Participants reported improvements in anxiety, mood, and depression (Bukhave et al., 2025).  

• Avoiding Burnout: 

  • Nurses often discuss burnout and compassion fatigue when discussing how they feel. Engaging in creative activities such as arts and crafts has been shown to produce a positive change in the individual by providing a distraction from stress, worry, and negative thinking (Tymoszuk et al., 2021; Caddy et al., 2012). 

• Reigniting Your Spirit and Joy: 

  • Let’s face it, some days at the hospital are not good days. After a tough day, a way to release tension and stress is needed to regroup and refresh for another day. According to Bukhave et al. (2025), studies have shown that even 10 minutes in a craft can improve mood. Even though the benefit may be short-term, it will help shake off the day's dust and allow you to begin again, renewed.

Sample Crafting and Hobby Prescriptions for Self-Care

Rx: Watercolor painting, 30 min/day, PRN

Indication: Improves mood, calms the nervous system 

Side Effects: Unexpected joy, a need for new art supplies

Rx: Nature walks, 3x/week 

Indication: Mental clarity, fresh air therapy 

Side Effects: Renewed energy and vitality

Rx: Knitting, PRN

Indication: Quieting the mind 

Side Effects: May lead to living in the moment

Rx: Journaling before bed

Indication: Emotional processing, improved sleep 

Side Effects: May cause spiritual and personal growth

Writing Your Crafting and Hobby Self-Care Prescription

Consider what brings you fulfillment or something new you have wanted to try but have not taken the time. As you do this, here are some suggestions to pinpoint what will be your best prescription for your specific art, craft, or hobby:

• Assess your situation: 

  • What time of day is best for you when planning your hobby? Are you more energized in the morning or evening? Depending on you, if walking is your plan of care, then schedule it when you feel the most vibrant. If you want something low-key, to help you relax before bed, knitting as you watch your favorite TV show will help you unwind before hitting the sheets. 

• Choose something you enjoy: 

  • Brainstorm some ideas! Grab a pen and paper and jot down what comes to mind as to what hobby or craft you would like to explore. Don’t overthink it, write it as soon as you think it!  Here are a few ideas to get you started: puzzles, windowsill herb garden, coloring, knitting…

• Schedule it like a patient appointment:  

  • The final step is planning your art/craft/hobby time. Remember, what gets scheduled gets done.  So, mark the time on your calendar and get prepared to have fun.  Even think of inviting a friend to join you; that way, you are sure to do it, as you can hold each other accountable for this much-needed prescription!

So, take some time and create your prescription for your favorite craft or hobby. Remember to keep it fun and straightforward. Do not pressure yourself into thinking it has to be perfect. The goal is to bring you joy and peace.

Nurse Voices—Favorite Crafting and Hobby Prescriptions

Growing Gracefully’s mini testimonial: 

“Knitting is my go-to therapy. It is meditative and one of the best ways to quiet the mind. The knit, purl, or whatever stitch you are doing almost naturally plays in your mind like a mantra. Ultimately, I feel a sense of peace, and I have a beautiful project I can use or share with someone else to bring the receiver a little happiness.” ~ Laura

A Few Quotes about Arts, Crafts, and Hobbies to Inspire Your Self-Care

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” Albert Einstein

“Crafting is not a hobby, it’s a way of life.” Unknown

“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” Edwin Land

Reclaiming You with Crafts and Hobbies

You pour so much into others every day. A craft or hobby is one way to pour back into yourself. Write that prescription. Fill it often. And remember, you’re worth the joy. Please share your new prescription for self-care with us. We would love to hear from you!

References

Bukhave, E. B., Creek, J., Linstad, A. K., & Frandsen, T. F. (2025). The effects of crafts-based interventions on mental health and well-being: A systematic review. Australian occupational therapy journal, 72(1), e70001. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.70001

Caddy, L., Crawford, F., & Page, A. C. (2012). “Painting a path to wellness”: correlations between participating in a creative activity group and improved measured mental health outcome. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), 19(4), 327–333. https://doi-org.ezproxy.utica.edu/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01785.x

Tymoszuk, U., Spiro, N., Perkins, R., Mason-Bertrand, A., Gee, K., & Williamon, A. (2021). Arts engagement trends in the United Kingdom and their mental and social wellbeing implications: HEartS Survey. PloS One, 16(3), e0246078. https://doi-org.ezproxy.utica.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0246078