Needlepoint as Stress Release

Updated September 6, 2023.

My life tends to get highly stressful from time to time.

Does this sound like you?

What we both need is a stress release. Something that takes us out of ourselves, let’s us go to another place in our minds, and something which puts us into a nice relaxing zone.

In other words, we need stress release. For me, and probably for you, that means needlepoint.

Doing needlepoint does relax you and any needlepoint will get you into a relaxed zone where your blood pressure goes down, your breathing becomes deeper and slower, your muscles relax and your heart rate slows down. All of these things are signs of stress and removing or lessening them is a good thing.

But what if you don’t have enough time to spend a while relaxing and doing needlepoint?

Then you need something faster. First, find some needlepoint that will not require you to think too much or to make decisions. This might be some already-started Bargello; it might be a background using your favorite stitch, or it might be an area of Basketweave on a complex canvas. For myself, the stitching would have to be with a single strand, already cut thread (I hate stopping and plying threads).

Now thread up your needle and start stitching. You can relax even more by elevating your feet. Deliberately slow down your breathing to make it in time with your stitching. Inhale deeply as you bring the needle out of the canvas. Exhale as completely as possible as you bring the needle back into the canvas.

If you breathe deeply as you stitch, you will find that even a minute is enough time to relieve some of the stress of your busy day.

I’m going to go do just that and then go back to work with, I hope, some relish for the tasks at hand.