The importance of taking breaks

I don’t know about you, but I might have a slight tendency to get into the zone (or some might call it a hyperfocus?) when I’m crafting, especially as gift giving season approaches and my project list is even longer than usual. I get into a flow and time seems to lose all meaning, I fall into the meditative and rhythmic pattern of whatever I’m working on, hours slipping by as slow but steady process is made and my mind relaxes. It is my happy place, quietly working away. But is there a downside?

I think anyone who has fallen into this hypnotic state will tell you that when you come out of it, there are some consequences. Maybe you had other things you meant to work on that day. Maybe you’ve got a headache because you’ve forgotten to eat or drink all day. Or maybe your muscles, joints, and tendons are revolting against the prolonged misuse (we all know that there is ideal and good posture and technique, and then there’s the floor goblin posture and white-knuckle grip many of us revert to when not paying attention). 

Some of those consequences are smaller or shorter lived - a headache can go away after a while, your to-do list will still be there tomorrow - but some of them can have longer-lasting effects, and it’s those that we really need to look out for. Carpal tunnel syndrome and swollen joints are fairly common issues that come with the repetitive stress that crafting can cause (bet you didn’t think crafting was such a dangerous sport!). So what can we do?

Well there’s the obvious: improve our posture and techniques. Do I need a death grip on my knitting? Absolutely not. I have to actively remind myself that my yarn and needles aren’t going to grow legs and do a jig right out of my hands, that I can in fact relax my grip and be able to knit more comfortably. This requires conscious thought and practice, in the hopes  that one day muscle memory takes over and I stop finding myself hunched and clenched like the goblin I am.

There are also things like proper equipment: having a table at the right height keeps me from having to constantly bend over, things like stands for my embroidery hoop and rigid heddle loom mean that I can sit in a comfortable position and not have to clamp down on a hoop with one hand while trying to wrangle thread with the other. Lighting is also a big help. A very cool looking neck lamp will help save your eyes in the long run, and my personal favourite (as someone with terrible eyesight who loves doing detail work) an LED magnifying glass on a goose neck lets me see the details without having to keep the piece awkwardly 3 inches from my face. 

But the simplest thing of all: taking breaks. Set a timer, and when it goes off actually take that break. It can be as quick as a 1 minute break to have a sip of water and shake out your hands, or longer breaks where you maybe go for a quick walk (I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve forgotten that movement or being outside exists) to help keep your hips from being mad you stayed in one position for too long. 

Some projects are more accommodating to these options, and some less so, but it’s always worth trying to implement at least one or two ways of saving yourself from yourself. Trust me on this, you won’t always be perfect. Even though I try to keep these things in mind and implement as many as possible, I still find myself on the floor in goblin mode after so many hours I’ve forgotten what time means. But that’s ok, we’re here for progress, not perfection, and if you sometimes remember to take a break, you’re already doing amazing! You’ve got a long journey full of all sorts of crafty projects and experiments ahead of you, so start taking care of yourself today, and your future self will thank you.  

Sometimes I need a reminder from my furry friend to take those much needed breaks!