Share Our Love of Paper

Do you look after your mental health? Making time to look after yourself, both mentally and physically, is more important than ever at the moment. Having lived through a pandemic and the aftermath of several lockdowns, it is important that there are coping mechanisms or outlets available for when things get a bit tricky or when we just need to wind down after a stressful day.

In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year, and 1 in 6 report experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression every given week. As the number of people struggling with mental health rises, it’s more important than ever to check in with friends, family, and co-workers. But how can you help yourself and others?

There are many ways in which someone can begin to deal with their mental health and start to make things feel more manageable. You can talk about what’s bothering you to a person you trust, get in touch with some leading charities such as nightline, mind, and the Samaritans. Depending on your local area, the doctor will be able to advise contacts for various therapies and coping support groups. But there are a few simple ways that you can give yourself and your friends a pick-me-up on those days where life can just get a little overwhelming.

How Can You Help Yourself And Others?

According to Mental Health UK, art and creativity can be a great way to get engaged in an activity and allows for people to express how they are feeling without the need to use words. It also works as a mindful activity and promotes thinking about the current moment as opposed to ongoing worries. The physical act of completing a project is rewarding and can boost self-esteem and general morale.

Paper-Based Crafts

The art of paper crafting is a great way to be creative and engaged. Here are 6 activities that can help boost mood and decrease stress levels.

Drawing and Colouring

Putting pen to paper can be daunting, especially if you aren’t used to drawing. Starting off with simple sketches and doodles is a great way to get going. If you are having a creative blank, there are countless idea generators out there that can get your creative juices flowing. However, if you would prefer to not worry about your drawing skills, picking up a colouring book can be another great way of being mindful. Colouring has other health benefits too, besides reducing stress, such as: improving motor skills, vision, focus, and improving sleep.

Origami

The ancient art of paper folding has been around for many years. It enhances the ability to become mindful, aware of your surroundings, and bring your focus back into the present. It has also been proven to improve mathematic skills in middle school children and may also be useful for teaching children with special needs. It has been likened to the meditation of papercraft as it teaches a skill of mindfulness throughout each simple fold and allows the maker to let go of judgment, perfectionism, and be accepting of what is in front of them. If you fancy trying this out for yourself then head over to Love Paper Creations where you’ll find lots of ready-made resources for you to use.

Collaging

If paper folding piqued your interest, then you might also like collaging. Collaging is where a selection of, typically paper-based, items are arranged according to colour or personal preference onto a surface and stuck in place. These can be anything from photographs, newspaper cuttings, magazine sections, and patterned papers (and you can be as messy as you want!). You can even cut or tear the paper to suit your style. So, if you have any old newspapers or magazines lying around, why not upcycle them into a work of art?

Scrapbooking and Journaling

A bit like collaging, scrapbooking and journaling can be another great way to get creative. You can look back through your old photos that have been hidden away in a drawer for a while and create something that makes for a nicer viewing experience. Journaling has been reported to have some great positive impacts on mental wellbeing as it is an outlet for emotions and processing how you’re feeling.

Card Making and Letter Writing

Sending a handwritten note to someone has always been proven to make both people involved feel good. Haven’t heard from your friend in a while? Send them a letter. From increasing wellbeing to decreasing stress, a written letter is one of the best ways to stay in contact with family and friends.

Group Activities

Another great way of boosting mental health is just from spending time with people. All the activities mentioned above can be done in the company of others, be it friends or family. By creating an environment that gives you the time to talk to one another, makes for a fun activity for any age group.

These paper-based crafts and activities are just a handful of ways that you can help yourself and others to boost mood and improve mental health and wellbeing. So, the next time you find yourself feeling a bit out of sorts, why not try putting pen to paper? Or try ripping it up and folding it instead!

The Paper Fact File

Paper is one of the most sustainable and recycled materials in the world!

Visit the Paper Fact File to discover the facts about paper’s sustainable attributes. Some might surprise you!