Benefits of Working with Your Hands
Working with your hands, such as knitting, gardening, or coloring, has been associated with cognitive and emotional benefits, including improvements in memory and attention, as well as reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms. Some researchers believe that engaging in hands-on tasks can stimulate the brain and provide a sense of accomplishment and control over one's world.
Key Points
- Working with your hands may be uniquely gratifying and beneficial for mental health.
- Engaging in hands-on tasks can support learning and counteract learned helplessness.
- Research suggests that handwriting and other fine motor tasks engage and exercise the brain more than typing on a keyboard.
Pros
- Engaging in hands-on tasks can lead to cognitive and emotional benefits.
- Working with your hands may provide a sense of accomplishment and control over your world.
Cons
- Some experts question whether the physical movement of the hands or other factors contribute to the benefits observed in studies.