Hobbies That Relax Can Get You Primed for Sleep

Lately I’ve figured out something pretty great about a new hobby I’ve taken up. What I’ve realized is that if I spend a little time on it in the evening before bed, I fall asleep very easily.

My new hobby is crochet. Well, I’m not exactly new to crochet. My sweet grandma taught me how when I was eight or nine years old. I’ve done a few small projects here and there over the years, but until recently I had never made anything of any real use or substance.

Over the years, I’ve dabbled in a few different handicrafts. I did the obligatory macramé and latch-hook projects in the 1970s. I’ve enjoyed doing needlepoint and counted cross stitch. I’ve attempted – not very successfully – knitting and embroidery.

I like the idea of being creative and crafty. Seeing a project take shape before my eyes, of having handmade gifts to give to people I care about – it’s satisfying and rewarding. But crochet is the one craft hobby I’ve done over the past year, and I’ve discovered that it yields more rewards than just a beautiful finished item.

There’s something about simple tasks that keep your hands or body busy that seem to free your mind. I’ve always felt that way about washing dishes, ironing, mowing the yard (yes, I have done that myself on occasion!). I don’t necessarily enjoy those tasks, but they seem to put my mind into a place where I can contemplate ideas, or make plans, or just plain daydream. Turns out, this is true for me when I crochet. It seems almost meditative. I’ve been surprised by how well it relaxes me.

Sitting quietly with only my hands moving, the soft yarn sliding through my fingers, it allows my body to slow down and keeps my attention on the crochet and off the cares of my day. It’s the perfect winding-down time in the hour or so before I go to bed, and there have even been times when I can feel my eyelids drifting closed as I sit there with my project in my lap. Time to go to bed.

Crochet just happens to be an activity that I’ve discovered to be peaceful and calming, but there are so many other things that have great potential for doing the same thing for you. If it’s something you truly enjoy, and it isn’t too stimulating physically or mentally, it may be just the thing you’ve been looking for to help prep your mind and body for a good sleep.

Lots of us already know that reading can be a great pre-bed activity, but what are some others?

How about writing? Write in a journal, or make up stories for your kids, or maybe you’ve even longed to write a short story or a novel.

Doing puzzles like crossword or Sudoku could be right up your alley. Playing Solitaire on your phone or even with a real deck of cards could do it for you.

Maybe you love to paint or draw. Could be playing a musical instrument is your thing. What about working with wood or tinkering with little mechanical things that need to be fixed or solved? All these things could be lulling to you.

Just remember, what you choose should be enjoyable to you but NOT stressful or too invigorating. Invigorating is great…just not before bed!

Bedtime is also probably not the time to try to learn something new. Even if a hobby could be extremely relaxing to someone who already has some basic skills, you likely won’t find the initial learning process very calming. Try to find something you already have some initial proficiency at if your goal is to be soothed and prepped for sleep.