Haven’t started a knitting practice yet? Read this post to understand what a knitting practice is, why you should have one, and how to actually start one.

If you’ve started a knitting practice but feel guilty about spending that time for yourself rather than doing something for someone else, I have some tips for you. But first —

How to overcome guilt for prioritizing your knitting practice

Much like knitting, letting go of the guilt that comes with putting yourself takes practice. There is no easy process, and I don’t know that it ever truly goes away; it just gets redirected. As women, we’ve become so conditioned to put the needs of everyone else over our own that it’s hard to change. And society doesn’t really help us change either. Whether it’s taking care of the kids & family, the demands of work and the pressure to succeed and “have it all”, or maintaining a home, there is a lot on your plate.

But constantly taking care of others without pausing to take care of yourself will ultimately lead to burnout and discontent. Find a way to put your needs first every day - even if it's only for five minutes at a time. Wake up a few minutes before everyone else, pour the fancy cup of coffee, drink it slowly, and enjoy a peaceful start to your day. Sit in the parking lot for an extra five minutes and listen to a favorite song with your eyes closed, slowing your breath. Enjoy a soothing glass of red wine at the end of the day and knit a few rows of your new project, or finally start that book you've always wanted to read, even if you can only get a few pages in.

Whatever you do, start to let go of that guilty feeling that gnaws at you when you put yourself first. Remind yourself that you need to nourish yourself before you can nourish others.

The source of my guilt was from feeling that I always needed to be productive. One of my first managers, way back when I was working in retail, said something that has never left me: "There is always something to do". While she meant it in the context of keeping the store floor organized, clean, and welcoming, I find that it became a productivity mantra for me. It became so hard for me to sit still because there was always something else I could be/should be doing.

But as I learned to knit, I began to feel less guilty about sitting still because, technically, I *was* being productive - I was making things with my hands. With a full-time job, this knitting business, and two kiddos, I feel the pressure to be even more productive.

6 Tips to Prioritize your knitting practice

Create a morning routine

Write down all of the tasks you need to do each morning and figure out an order that makes sense and that you can stick with (I highly recommend starting with coffee, but you do you).

Quiet time

Find 10 to 15 minutes for quiet time (with or without your knitting) to settle yourself. That way, no matter what your day has in store, you can remember that quiet time, calm your brain, and hold yourself with care.

Rinse & repeat

Practice this new morning routine every morning for at least 30 days. There are tons of studies out there about how long it takes to build a new habit, and all agree that it takes at least 30 days before something becomes second nature.

Find an accountability partner

Reach out to a bestie on social media and make a pact to check in on each other each day to ensure you’ve taken your time out for yourself.

Treat yourself

If you’ve been intentional about your knitting time consistently for a week, treat yourself. This can be a small treat like the latest coffee concoction from Starbucks or a large treat like skeins of yarn for your next cast-on. Whatever you need to help keep you motivated.

Do it anyway

Please take this advice with a grain of salt. If your mind or your body is telling you to take a break, listen. This is not a post about ignoring our base needs.

But you know your moods. If you’re just having one of those days where you don’t feel like doing anything, just try picking up the needles anyway. You should start to feel better in about 10 minutes. If you don’t and you want to stop, that’s okay too. This is for you, so always listen to what you need.

Your turn - how do you make your knitting practice a priority?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!