The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (11th-17th May 2026) is ‘take action’ – encouraging you to take back control of your mental health in whatever way suits you. And Gemporia Craft are here to help you Craft Your Own Happy Place, every step of the way.
Here are our 5 tips to get you started this week, and continue all year round – because your mental health is something that should be looked after continuously.
1. Curate your own ‘Sensory Sanctuary’
This could be a calming space with little stimulation to sit down and concentrate on your crafts, giving you some much needed quiet time. It could also be where you can decorate your space in your favourite colours or prints. The ‘dopamine decorating’ trend is where you curate your space with what brings you joy – this doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing either, there’s no pressure.
Elle Décor explains the science behind this as:
2. Meditate through Making
If meditation isn’t your thing, why not try a meditative craft like crochet, knitting, watercolour painting or beading. The repetitive motion has been known to create a ‘flow state’ much like meditation.
3. Start a Journal
This could be a simple diary to process the jumble of thoughts in your head. Or you could venture into art journalling or junk journalling. Pinterest have loads of inspiration and we love the Art by Marlene embellishments by Studio Light.
We love the idea of starting a ‘victory page’ to celebrate your wins. This is a wonderful reminder of positivity in your life and a useful thing to look back on.
4. Build a Crafting Community
With our lives migrating online, loneliness has increased and become a major pillar of mental health discussions. Crafting is a fantastic activity to bond with strangers over, reducing the effects of awkward first encounters and joining like-minded people together.
Search for in-person events like a local craft group or even set up your own. You could even come along to one of the Gemporia Craft Retreats.
Or, for some online connection, join a crafting Facebook group like Sewing Street Fans, JewelleryMaker Share Your Makes and The Official HobbyMaker Fans.
5. Establish a ‘Creative Circuit Breaker’
In an ‘always-on’ digital world, crafting is the ultimate boundary.
Setting aside 10-20 minutes of ‘me time’ to immerse yourself in crafting can help reset the brain from screen fatigue and log off from work burnout.
Sticking to this time instructs the brain that this ‘me time’ is important and avoids over extending yourself.
How are you going to craft your Happy Place? The dedicated Gemporia Craft brands have tons of tips and inspiration to get you started.