Five minutes on TikTok and it’s clear that Gen-Z love a good life hack. The hashtag ‘lifehack’ has over 131.2 billion views on the app, with the tag ‘DIY’ boasting over 484.7 billion hits.
With ‘do it yourself’ requiring great amounts of crafting skills, it’s no wonder that younger generations are embracing age-old crafting techniques to recreate expensive, inaccessible goods.
According to the BBC, Gen Z is particularly concerned with the overconsumption of textiles, such as fast fashion. To combat this, we’ve seen a huge turn to thrifting and second-hand shops, which proves that Gen-Z is keen to reduce their climate impact. And the climate crisis is definitely on our minds. More than 76% of young Australians are concerned about climate change, with over 30% experiencing climate anxiety.
Upcycling and ‘lifehack’ing what you already have saves money, too. And in a cost of living crisis, this is a very relevant concern. 77% of young Australians face money trouble, with top economists claiming that Gen-Z is the demographic most likely to reduce spending through upcycling, thrifting and crafting to tackle this fiscal crisis.
One way of cutting back the costs is to use what you already have and make it even better. Gen-Z has shown their love of crafting, such as crochet, painting, pottery, embroidery and sewing clothes. But what impact does this have on our mental health?
Craft improves cognitive health and productivity, while also providing a boost of serotonin to improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. With Gen-Z being the age group most likely to experience mental illness, it’s no wonder that craft is such a huge trend for younger demographics. It makes us happier, reduces expenses and provides a great hobby that’s productive and healthy.
For those who are a little craft-hesitant, fear not as there are so many resources out there. Whether it is Youtube, TikTok or an old fashioned Google of what you would like to make (insert ‘DIY easy’ at the end), DIYing your next “must have” instead of purchasing it can save your precious pennies, boost your mental health and prevent overconsumption.
DIY Beaded Phone Charm Straps
Edited extract from MuffinChanel
You will need:
- Beads
- String
- Scissors
How to make:
- Cut your string to around 38cm and fold it in half.
- 2. Tie a knot around 2cm down from the folded end.
- 3. Add beads to each half of the charm strap.
- 4. Tie a knot to secure both ends of the beaded phone strap together and trim excess string.
- 5. Loop onto your phone case and enjoy!
DIY Incense Holders
Edited extract from almost makes perfect
You will need:
- Polymer clay
- Rolling pin
- A clay blade
- Acrylic paints
How to make:
- Soften up the clay in your hands, roll a piece into a ball and roll it out flat.
- Use your blade to cut each side to form a triangle. Using your incense stick, prick a hole in the centre and wiggle it around just a little to give enough space for your incense. Bake until hardened, and let cool.
- Paint! I watered my acrylic paint to give it a watercolour look. If you mess up, you can use nail polish remover to fix your mistakes, although I’ve read it’s bad for the clay. Also, don’t spill even a drop on your phone screen like I did. Because it IS BAD I learned the hard way.
- Let dry! Light incense! Party!
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