Background information
I’ve switched to left-handed scissors – and they’re a cut above the rest
by Michael Restin
Try it out: find inner peace with origami
5-9-2025
Translation: machine translated
I spent (more than just) a week trying out whether folding cranes, boxes or hearts relaxes my body and mind. You can read about how it worked for me and why you should definitely give it a try here.
It's time for another creative experimentation week. In my search for a relaxing activity to boost my mental health, I quickly found what I was looking for: Origami!
The centuries-old Japanese art of folding is not just a delight for fans of colourful printed paper, but is actually a scientifically proven method for sustainable stress and anxiety relief. Folding paper exercises mindfulness, motivation and perseverance as well as fine motor skills, concentration and precision.
That sounds promising - and like an excellent task for this week of trying things out.spoiler: It shouldn't be just one week.
Colourful, creative and a huge selection
I quickly found the basic equipment for my meditative relaxation: an origami pad from Topp with 350 sheets of colourful patterned paper. I have 25 different motifs to fold to my heart's content. It also includes a short basic course with ten instructions - from cranes to boxes.
Beginning with obstacles
I can hardly wait and get started as soon as I hold the pad in my hands. I once learnt how to fold a simple box at school. Back then, I went into a real frenzy until I had countless boxes in every imaginable colour and size and no longer knew what to do with them. Will it be like that again once I get started?
Far from it - what awaits me at the beginning is neither relaxing nor meditative, but quite frustrating. The problem? The promised «basic course» in a folding block is, to put it kindly, very minimalist. Strictly speaking, it's a page explaining four folds and an explanation of the symbols, which will still cause me a headache.
My problem is that I don't know how to lay the paper at the beginning so that I end up with the printed side on the outside. This initially causes frustration, because of course I'm wrong every time with my «trial and error approach» and so my first results don't reveal much of the beautiful patterns. At least a sheet like this only has two sides and after a few attempts I finally know how to start.
Folding up to the flow state
Once I've started, I don't stay alone for long. My son sees the metallic paper and immediately joins in. Together, we fold our way through the various motif instructions. And I quickly realise that it really works - and not just for me. We sit quietly and absorbedly in front of our project for almost an hour and create a small mountain of paper artwork. With the nine-year-old bundle of energy next to me, it's nothing short of a miracle.
Fold, fold, fold - the variety is endless
On day three, I'm finally ready for new challenges. The ten instructions from the origami pad are no longer enough for me. Especially as I admittedly failed at one of them. But with the routine figures, any stress disappears surprisingly quickly and I feel noticeably more relaxed and calmer.
The hype continues, as does the variety of designs
Not a day without origami
Conclusion: Highly recommended!
I have already enjoyed a similar creative relaxation with «Slow Drawing», which I tested during a trial week some time ago. You can read how I fared here:
You can read about my other trial weeks here:
Header image: Anna Sandner
Anna Sandner
Senior Editor
Anna.Sandner@galaxus.deScience editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always the outdoors - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
Background information
Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.
Show all
