

Origami also forces one to slow down, because the act of folding the paper into predetermined shapes has to be done with patience and thoughtfulness there is no hurrying origami.Īlong with activities like journaling and adult colouring books, origami is increasingly being used as a mindfulness tool. “Its simplicity, the humble act of engaging with paper, the feeling of textures and creases and the visual result that emerges, all offer excellent ways to practice mindfulness,” writes Dr Richard Chambers, the author of The Art of Mindful Origami, and a clinical psychologist and mindfulness expert. So how can we fold our way to a calmer mind? Firstly, origami requires us to be fully present in the moment-one of the central tenets of mindfulness. It could also help improve outcomes in the treatment of attention-deficit disorder. Origami has been shown to improve spatial visualization and mathematics skills in middle school students,” writes Dr Marlynn Wei in Psychology Today. Origami has been studied as a tool for children to develop spatial and perception skills, learn mathematics, refine dexterity and hand-eye coordination, as well as improve concentration.

“Origami enhances the ability to be aware of what is happening in the moment and focus.

It does not require complicated tools or materials to perform, and as Tsang says, all you need is a piece of paper and some focused thought, and the results can be enjoyed almost immediately. Origami, the Japanese art of folding paper to create three-dimensional objects, from the simple boat-shape we all learn to make as children to highly intricate figures inspired by comic-book characters, has been shown to aid relaxation, concentration, hand-eye coordination and memory. Worries and troubles float away as we start to fold and follow the instructions, fully focused on the task at hand, able to mindfully contemplate our intentions, hopes and dreams.”
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As we fold the paper, the focus required and the tactile connection help free our minds to roam, creating the opportunity for a moment of self-reflection, for true presence of mind. (Be sure to not unlock Step 9.In his book The Magic of Mindful Origami: De-Clutter Your Mind and Fold Your Way to Happiness, author Samuel Tsang writes: “An origami project is a chance to be creative and make something tangible in fact, turning a piece of paper into a three-dimensional sculpture is a meditative journey that instills in us a sense of pride, competence, and accomplishment. Step 11 Adjust the body by carefully fanning the accordion creases. (This is an outside reverse fold.) Step 10 completed. Step 10 Form the head by folding the top point down. Step 9 Lock the accordion creases made in Step 7 by overlapping one crease over the other. Step 8 Fold the model in half so that the accordion creases touch. Step 7 Using the creases made in Steps 5 and 6, collapse the bottom half of the chopstick wrapper so that it looks like an accordion (or a paper fan). Step 6 Fold four more creases to divide each of the four sections created in Step 5 in half.

Step 5 Using the crease from Step 4 as a reference, fold three creases in the bottom half to create four equally divided sections. Step 4 Fold down the top point using the triangle on the backside as a reference. The creases made in Step 2 should meet in the center. Step 3 Fold the left and right sides in toward the center from the top point. Step 2 Using the crease from Step 1 as a reference, fold both sides down so that the top edge of the chopstick wrapper meets in the center. Step 1 Fold the chopstick wrapper in half lengthwise.
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How to Make an Origami Chopstick Wrapper Swan Note: If the chopstick wrapper has color printed only on one side, begin folding with the white side facing you.
