How can fixing things help you become more mindful?

A busy Christmas season takes its toll on house, garden and everything within; socks snag on splintered floorboards, buttons pop atop expanding bellies, doorknobs come loose and the shed hinges snap.

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A new year signals a time to refresh; a time to mend. One winter’s morning, make a hot coffee, grab a needle and thread and find the sunniest spot in your house.

M is for Mending: mindfulness in nature ©Lynn Hatzius
M is for Mending: mindfulness in nature ©Lynn Hatzius

Start with a simple fix: that missing button. Thread the needle, tie a knot in the line, then fasten the button. Focus on the back-and-forth motion of the needle, acknowledging the cold of the metal on your fingertips and the sound of the drawing thread.

Knitting outdoors and mindfulness

By the time you’ve finished your repair, you’ll feel a blissful sense of achievement and calm – along with a warmer midriff for the cold months to come.

Sewing on the sofa – mindfulness in nature ©Getty
Sewing on the sofa with the sun shining through the window ©Getty
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Words: Daniel Graham

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