As postdoctoral researcher, editor, and former journalist Natascha Chtena pointed out in Inside Higher Ed, people who spend a good amount of time creating with their hands – be it cooking, growing vegetables, building, knitting, or any sort of working with raw materials really – describes the process as “therapy” and as essential to their well-being.

Additionally, research actually confirms that making things with your hands is a large part of finding your flow, and flow is highly correlated with happiness. Unfortunately, our modern world often makes it very hard to find that rhythm where we can, free of distraction, just focus on the task at hand – where we can just turn off our minds (and phones) and be present in the moment.

However, don't confuse handicraft with chores. "Making, as wide a spectrum as it can encompass, isn't about routine chores or tasks. It’s about the love of the craft – the pure joy of creating something from zero," Chtena said.

"There’s a difference between rushing home after a day in the lab to throw together a quick dinner before you faint, and savoring the experience of baking the best banana pie you can possibly bring into existence. The same goes for making your own home repairs to save money versus making your own home décor crafts to add personal accents to your place."

If all of this sounds like fun but you don't know where to start, it might be a good idea to choose something relevant to you. "If you just pick an activity because it sounds cool in theory, you likely won’t be able to stick with it very long," Chtena said.

"Instead, take a look at your life and think about parts you’d like to improve. Are there things you enjoy but can’t afford readymade? Are there products you’re using that aren’t quite meeting your needs? Things you’d like to improve? For instance, I met someone at a party recently who started brewing their own beer because they were after a flavor they couldn’t find in stores. Similarly, I have a friend who uses her handmade jewelry as a personal trademark and sells them for some extra cash. Another friend, to whom living an environmentally friendly life is very important, makes her own natural cleaning products."

You might also want to keep it simple. At least in the beginning. "Making your own furniture sure sounds fulfilling and all, but it’s also massively time-consuming and difficult to try out without making a huge investment in tools (unless you’re lucky to live near a maker space with woodwork equipment, of course)," Chtena said.

Similarly, winemaking is something you probably can’t pull off if you live in the city but alternative wines, like elderflower or walnut, are easy to make without any fancy equipment and they add a nice touch to social gatherings.

Generally speaking, baking, brewing, gardening, DIY, body-care, home crafts and accessories are all good (realistic) starting points for most of us.

Remember, when you start small, you will eventually get the hang of it, and can always move on to making bigger and more elaborate things in the future.

"I got started by brewing my plain kombucha, then I added a second fermentation where I started infusing the brew with herbs and fruits, and then I slowly moved on to other fermented drinks and vegetables," Chtena described her own journey.

As it so often is, the most important thing is to simply get started. Try whatever it is that attracts you once, take it slow, and don’t be intimidated if it doesn't immediately work out. You'll get there!