DIY activities are really catching on phenomenally now a days. Over a hundred billion views of the #diy hash tag at a popular video sharing platform. Given the popularity of DIY culture, would you support the view that DIY activities could promote better well-being?
While searching for the perfect answer and keeping an eye over publications in peer reviewed positive psychology research journals, I came across a study that could make you change the way you perceive about the well-being benefits of DIY activities.
Lets dive in on the research study led by Dr. Ann Futterman Collier at Department of Psychological Sciences, Northern Arizona University. Dr Collier examined how predictors of subjective well-being (SWB) were associated with DIY activities in a sample of 525 DIYers who were between 18 and 59 years of age. The study also sought to find out whether positive mood, feeling energized or aroused, and experience of flow during DIY activities, would each contribute to subjective well-being (SWB).
The figures in the square brackets below illustrates the interesting percentages of participants who had indicated that the category best described their own DIY activity. In the study, DIY activities were grouped into four categories:
(1) Aesthetics- make interior or exterior more beautiful- [30%],
(2) Repair, upkeep, or maintenance - [27%],
(3) Landscape and gardening –[22%], and
(4) Constructing something new - [21%].
If like me, you enjoy positive moods during DIY activities that involves landscaping and gardening, that’s wonderful. It's within the top 4 categories of DIY activities that participants in the study had also felt a connection with!
After the DIY activity was completed during the study, the participants then completed a survey on how they were their mood and state of well-being during the DIY activity, how challenging was the DIY activity, and to what extent did they experienced negative self-focus, in other words maintaining a repetitive focus on problems while engaged in the DIY activities.
Amongst several findings in the research study, one particular finding suggested that mood, arousal, and flow when experienced by the participants during DIY activities were significantly correlated with self-reports of well-being. Additionally, positive mood/arousal during DIY activity was the most important variable in predicting well-being for DIYers.
Based on the study, these are the four wellness tips that I had learnt as elements of a quintessential DIYer’s activity for enhanced well-being. You could explore the four tips below and I hope it would soon encourage you to embark on new DIY activity or continue growing your existing DIY activity. DIY activities are also known to captivate and can cultivate feelings of flow which can promote wellness.
Top Four Elements of the Quintessential DIYer’s Activity for Enhanced Well-being
#1 Engage in DIY activities that may evoke feelings of positive mood, arousal. Arousal in this context refers to state of excitement.
#2 Dwell in the present moment of the DIY activity that bolsters absence of negative self-focus.
#3 Be in total immersion in the present moment of the DIY activity. Experience a loss of sense of time, enjoy immense feelings of personal satisfaction – the activity is rewarding in itself.
#4 Let go of how we think any current task beyond the DIY activity should done, and embrace the DIY activity for what it gives.
Let me know how your DIY activity goes, would really appreciate if you like to scroll down to share your comments at the trailing edge of this page.
You may also like to explore the next Wellness Chums blog post on “Hidden Wellness Powers in Your Hands Right Now” and discover the nascent power of your music playlist for improving wellness at work.
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Have a gorgeous day!
Best wishes for you from our Wellness Chums team in Singapore.
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