With my book launch for Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery happening next month (Feb. 21st) and the PR and marketing and blogging and tweeting that I need to do daily and a re-write for book number 2 in the series looming, and well, life, I’m feeling a little stressed (good stress - I’m very grateful for all these wonderful opportunities but still…) However, I know what the answer is: slow down.
Alternative medicine provides some of the best natural remedies. Even just taking a deep breath and saying, “I am breathing in. I know that I am breathing in” and exhaling, “I am breathing out. I know that I am breathing out,” as Thich Nhat Hanh author of You Are Here, says, can improve one’s outlook by releasing stress.
But did you know that hobbies like knitting, painting, sculpting, crocheting and quilting can also help you slow down? That’s because slow hobbies help you cultivate the lost art of focus, concentration and being in the moment. “Slow hobbies have a meditative quality to them and a calming effect that goes beyond the act itself,” says Carl Honore, author of In Praise of Slowness.
In fact, according to the Craft Yarn Council of America research 64% of knitters and crocheters use these crafts to help them reduce stress and relax. Studies show that the rhythmic, repetitive dance of the needles can lower heart rate and blood pressure, lulling the knitter into a peaceful state.
I’ve noticed that just “reading” about hobbies is relaxing. For example, I feel more peaceful when I’m reading Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mysteries, Anne Canadeo’s Black Sheep Knitters series and Betty Hechtman’s crocheting mysteries. I can’t wait to dive into all the books of my fellow Killer Hobbies blogging sisters and mellow out.
You may even find your new hobby from a cozy mystery. Hobbies in cozies range from scrapbooking to quilting, from knitting and embroidery to cooking. You’ll find many of these cozies right here.
Choose a hobby that you are really interested in, that you enjoy and that you can build a relationship with over time. You’ll be less stressed and happier and you’ll also enjoy your cozy mysteries even more!
Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery (Gallery Books/S & S) will be published on Feb. 21st and is available for pre-order on www.amazon.com. I’m giving away free copies of Death Drops. Just answer this question: What is Your Favorite Hobby? to be entered in the drawing! For more information please visit www.chrystlefiedler.com!
12 comments:
My favorite hobby is quilting with knitting and reading both very close behind. And like you said, reading mysteries with knitting or quilting is a bonus. Thanks for the chance to win. COngrats on your book!
Reading is my favorite hobby.
Best wishes for success of Death Drops.
I know exactly where you're coming from! I feel the same exact way. I often sit at the computer and can feel my heart race as I consider what I should do first! If I allow myself the time away to scrapbook or quilt or run..it always does me good. Thanks for the wonderful post.
All of my favorite pastimes--reading, writing and playing with my dogs--are involved in my writing career, Chrystle, so I don't imagine they help me relax, but I enjoy them anyway. I enjoy doing crossword puzzles, and that's more of a hobby, I suppose. Looking forward to the publication of your book!
Scrapbooking is my favorite hobby. I wish I had the talent for drawing and painting, but instead I use photographs and ephemera to create art. I want to knit and crochet but am not sure what I'm doing wrong. But above all, reading is my first love, along with writing. Really looking forward to the new series!
Well, my favorite hobby is my job - knitting. I design and write patterns. So the next best ones are photography and healthy cooking and baking.
Thanks everyone - I hope it helped! I'm thinking of trying knitting. I'd like to knit dog sweaters for Holmes, Wallander and my mom's doxie Fletch!
My favorite hobby is reading but I also enjoy quilting, cross stitch, and sewing. I do the daily newspaper crossword.
Shirley
Love this! You know, I often find myself hurrying through a Zentangle design--and realize that and then...breathe...slow down...be in the moment. What a gift!
Sheila, one of my characters in the crochet mysteries uses crochet to calm her nerves. She always carries a hook and some string or yarn, and when she gets stressed, she uses them to calm down.
I crochet on planes. Not only does keep me relaxed, but I have something to show for my time by the end of the flight.
I learned to knit because I was bored at work (I work overnight and it can be "deathly" quiet sometimes. I immediately knew this is what I always want to do when I'm trying to relax. I love it, it's calming, and my hubby gets a new sweater and socks!
I love tatting because it's so small and portable! I try never to leave home without a tiny shuttle & ball of thread. :) Congratulations on the new book! It sounds wonderful!
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