When was the last time you used your hands to make something? Like a cake, a picture, or a pair of socks? Do you remember how good it made you feel when you were done, even if it wasn’t “perfect”?

Crafts can be a great way to get into the flow, relieve stress, and calm down. But when you’re a little lost in your search for a balanced life, for whatever reason, it can be hard to choose a project that fits you.

Let’s look at the subreddit “Something I Made” for this. As the name suggests, this online community is for people who are proud of the results of their hard work and want to show them off to others. People can congratulate each other on a job well done and encourage each other to keep going.

So keep scrolling to see their most recent top posts,

#1 Pencil Portrait I Drew Few Weeks Ago. (Pencils On Paper)

Pencil Portrait I Drew Few Weeks Ago. (Pencils On Paper)
fojteflon

#2 I Designed A 3D Printed Mirror Array To Propose! The Mirrors Are Angled So That Just Before Sunset, They Reflect The Sunlight To Spell “Marry Me?”

I Designed A 3D Printed Mirror Array To Propose! The Mirrors Are Angled So That Just Before Sunset, They Reflect The Sunlight To Spell “Marry Me?”
bencbartlett

#3  I Made Some Cloud Pendants!

I Made Some Cloud Pendants!
wintersky

Natascha Chtena, a postdoctoral researcher, editor, and former journalist, wrote in Inside Higher Ed that people who spend a lot of time making things with their hands – whether it’s cooking, growing vegetables, building, knitting, or really any kind of work with raw materials – call it “therapy” and say it’s important for their health.

Also, research shows that making things with your hands is a big part of finding your flow, and flow is a big part of being happy. Unfortunately, our modern world makes it hard to find a rhythm where we can just focus on the task at hand without being distracted, where we can just turn off our minds (and phones) and be in the moment.

#4 I Made My Daughter This Armor From Leather, Wood, Plastic, And Brass And Foam Sheet

I Made My Daughter This Armor From Leather, Wood, Plastic, And Brass And Foam Sheet
UptonDide

#5 I Made A Portrait By Smashing Glass!

I Made A Portrait By Smashing Glass!
NiallShukla

#6 I Handcut Playing Cards Into 3D Art Using An Xacto Knife

I Handcut Playing Cards Into 3D Art Using An Xacto Knife
DoctorPaulGregory

But don’t mix up handicrafts and chores. “Making, in as broad a sense as it can be, isn’t about doing chores or tasks over and over again. It’s about the love of the craft, the pure joy of making something from scratch “Chtena said.

“There’s a difference between rushing home from the lab after a long day to make a quick dinner before you pass out and taking your time to make the best banana pie you can. The same is true if you do your own home repairs to save money or if you make your own crafts to decorate your home and make it more personal.”

#7 Latest Finish, Wild Thing Denim Vest! About 6 Months Of Work

Latest Finish, Wild Thing Denim Vest! About 6 Months Of Work
FaerieBomb

#8 One Of My Works About Humpback Whales

One Of My Works About Humpback Whales
AmoyCK

#9 2.5 Years Sober Tomorrow; I Painted This For An Art Auction Benefiting A Local Sober Living Facility

2.5 Years Sober Tomorrow; I Painted This For An Art Auction Benefiting A Local Sober Living Facility
jasmin_cage_art

If all of this sounds fun but you don’t know where to start, you might want to start with something that interests you. “If you pick an activity just because it sounds cool in theory, you probably won’t be able to do it for very long,” Chtena said.

“Instead, look at your life and figure out what you’d like to change. Do you like things that you can’t buy already made? Do you use any products that don’t quite meet your needs? Things you want to get better at? I recently met someone at a party who started making their own beer because they wanted a flavor they couldn’t find in stores.

In a similar way, I have a friend who sells the jewelry she makes herself to make some extra money. Another friend, who cares a lot about living in a way that is good for the environment, makes her own natural cleaning products.”

You might also want to make it easy to understand. At least at the start. “Making your own furniture sounds fun and all, but it takes a lot of time and is hard to try out without spending a lot of money on tools,” Chtena said. “Unless you’re lucky enough to live near a maker space with woodworking tools, of course.”

#10 “Holding Hands” Silver Ring Made By Me

“Holding Hands” Silver Ring Made By Me
Hendrix0

#11 I Made These Huge Paintings For My First Solo Exhibition

I Made These Huge Paintings For My First Solo Exhibition
KingSteven11

#12 A Leather Bag I Made

A Leather Bag I Made
LW_leatherwork

In the same way, you probably won’t be able to make wine if you live in the city. However, alternative wines like elderflower or walnut are easy to make and add a nice touch to parties.

In general, baking, brewing, gardening, do-it-yourself, body care, home crafts, and accessories are all good places for most of us to start.

Remember that if you start small, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to make bigger and more complicated things later on.
Chtena said, “I started by making plain kombucha. Then I added a second fermentation and started adding herbs and fruits to the brew. Slowly, I moved on to other fermented drinks and vegetables.”
As is often the case, the most important thing is to just start. Try whatever interests you once, but do it slowly and don’t be afraid if it doesn’t work out right away. You’ll make it!

#13 Finally Completed The Mosaic In My Mom’s Shower! 5000 Individually Cut Tiles And A Year Of Work

Finally Completed The Mosaic In My Mom’s Shower! 5000 Individually Cut Tiles And A Year Of Work
artguydeluxe

#14 One Of My Favorite Rings I’ve Made

One Of My Favorite Rings I’ve Made
magick_alchemy

#15 My Mother Crocheted This Blanket From Over 800 Small Flowers. She Doesn’t Even Has Facebook So I Thought I Would Post It For Her Because It’s Such An Awesome Piece

My Mother Crocheted This Blanket From Over 800 Small Flowers. She Doesn’t Even Has Facebook So I Thought I Would Post It For Her Because It’s Such An Awesome Piece
Nicop0l

#16 I Made Some Shroomy Ceramic Planters

I Made Some Shroomy Ceramic Planters
WoodlandMystic

#17  Beaded Pin Inspired By Vermeer’s Girl With The Pearl Earring

chaevskaya

#18  Incense Burner I Made For My Girlfriend

Incense Burner I Made For My Girlfriend
naaiiillll

#19 My Daughter Wearing The Coat That I Made For Her

My Daughter Wearing The Coat That I Made For Her
Archivarianne

#20 My Playful Red Brooch. Made Entirely Of Polymer Clay

My Playful Red Brooch. Made Entirely Of Polymer Clay
TristaniaHand

#21 I Preserve And Frame Spiderwebs!

I Preserve And Frame Spiderwebs!
wickednympetReport

#22 Almost Finished Making This Chefs Knife. Just Need To Sand The Handle A Bit More. Love To Hear What You Think Of It

Almost Finished Making This Chefs Knife. Just Need To Sand The Handle A Bit More. Love To Hear What You Think Of It
Studio_OOOMS

#23 S’more Making Dinosaur! What Should We Name It?

S’more Making Dinosaur! What Should We Name It?
Ashley_b_makingReport

#24 An 8×8 Witch Cottage I Designed/Built For My Backyard! First Major Construction Project

An 8x8 Witch Cottage I Designed/Built For My Backyard! First Major Construction Project
tunabuttons

#25 I Made This Lingerie Set For A Friend’s Birthday!

I Made This Lingerie Set For A Friend’s Birthday!
reddit.com

#26 Incense Burner I Made For My Girlfriend

Incense Burner I Made For My Girlfriend
naaiiilllll

#27 I Painted This Portrait

I Painted This Pourtrait
KingSteven11

#28  I Made These Ceramic Ghost Buddies With Tea Lights!

I Made These Ceramic Ghost Buddies With Tea Lights!
happyclaypot

#29 I Won First Place At The Fair This Weekend For My Cross Stitch!

I Won First Place At The Fair This Weekend For My Cross Stitch!
Andromeda321

#30 Just Finished My Biggest And Most Difficult Backgammon Board So Far, Made With Real Fern Leaves And Flowers

Just Finished My Biggest And Most Difficult Backgammon Board So Far, Made With Real Fern Leaves And Flowers
nukulele145