Stuck on a creative project?
As an academic, educator, and writer, I spend a lot of time sitting. Sitting to read, sitting to write, sitting to grade student papers, to write lesson plans, to draft reports. Even if I stand at a tall desk or table, though, I’m still being still. It can be mentally draining, and when I try to sit some more to write on various creative projects, sometimes I just…can’t.
That’s when it’s time to walk away from the laptop, the reading lamps, and the books.
Time to Get Handy
For some, knitting, crocheting, painting, origami, puzzles, or other similar activities can provide that mental break and offer a new focus. I’ve tried a few of these, and they do provide some relief for that “I’ve Been Sitting Too Damn Long” itch—but for me, it’s woodworking or larger homestead projects that does the trick.
I started with a few small things—a plate rack, helping my husband with a shed or other project. Then, I worked my way up to a farm stand, installing cabinets, and building a kitchen island. Each project presents new challenges, new skills to learn (thanks, YouTube!), and new bruises. But I’ve also noticed that my confidence in my own abilities has increased with each project, as well—and perhaps my arrogance when walking the aisles at Home Depot.
FINDING STILLNESS: There is a peace in the focus that comes from working with your hands. From seeing the progress you have made, to watching a project take shape. It helps that when doing projects like these, we focus our attention and tend to block everything else—perhaps, especially because we know this time is only temporary. The email, phone calls, and to-do lists will be there waiting when we’re ready to return to them.
These breaks from the desk have helped me to find my way through many writing challenges. I enjoy the puzzle of figuring out how we’re going to do a thing—and then doing it. Sometimes, the project fails—how many times did I try to build the perfect goat stall in our small barn, only for our littlest goat, Tiff, to parkour her way out of it and bounce through the barn door in mere seconds? (Not to worry—she returned immediately. It was dark outside, and she doesn’t like the dark.)
Working with the hands on another project enables us regain a physicality that may be lost when most of our work is digital or abstract. Having that grounding action reconnecting to the spaces around us can bring a much needed mindfulness to our tasks.
Ready to try?
Maybe woodworking isn’t your thing (or maybe it feels too daunting right now!). Sinking the hands into cool earth to encourage the growth of a plant or shaping a ball of bread dough or pasta could be just the answer for the challenges issued by a blinking cursor.
RESOURCES:
Barron, Carrie. “Creativity, Happiness, and Your Own Two Hands.” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-creativity-cure/201205/creativity-happiness-and-your-own-two-hands May 3, 2012. Accessed June 5, 2025.
Biali Haas, Susan. “Working With Your Hands Does Wonders for Your Brain.” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-for-life/201906/working-with-your-hands-does-wonders-for-your-brain June 21, 2019. Accessed June 5, 2025.
Burkeman, Oliver. “Working with You Hands: The Secret to Happiness?” The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/08/working-hands-happiness-burkeman May 7, 2010. Accessed June 6, 2025.
