With the world turned to PyeongChang this month, it's hard to ignore the everyday lives of the competing athletes. Chloe Kim is tweeting about how she's hangry, Mirai Nagasu went from missing out on Sochi to becoming the first American to land a triple axel in Olympic competition and Finland is...knitting?

Last week, a snowboarding coach for Finland was caught knitting a scarf on top of the mountain. Screenshots went viral, memes were created, and Team Finland posted about how they are combatting the stress of competing, through learning how to knit squares. The team announced that the squares knit up by the Olympic athletes and Team Finland staff will be pieced together to become a baby blanket for their president's newborn son.

I am all for Team Finland taking up knitting (and this massive scarf). Anyways, its a great hobby to take up. Here's a few reasons why you too should take up knitting:

1. It's a great stress reliever.

When you take the time to sit down and knit, it helps take your mind elsewhere. This "distraction" then helps your stress levels lower and can give you a calmer, more relaxed feel.

2. You'll feel productive.

Just because you might not be doing your dishes, writing a paper, or running errands doesn't mean that you won't be productive while knitting. Once you start to see the physical progress you've made, you'll feel more productive.

3. It's a life skill.

Through learning how to knit (and later how to purl, yarn over, increase and decrease), you'll pick up skills that you can keep for life. Learning to knit is just like learning how to ride a bike; if you pick it up later in life, you'll know exactly what to do.

4. It sparks creativity.

Knitting provides an outlet for creativity. Whether you're modifying a pattern, changing up some colors, or even making your own pattern, you'll definitely feel a boost in creativity.

5. The projects you knit will last a lifetime.

Handknit things simply just last longer. Maybe it's because they may be made with nicer materials than something store bought or you might take better care of them. You'll most likely end up passing down your handknit scarves, sweaters, and hats to your kids, their kids, and maybe even then your kids' kids' kids.

6. Handmade gifts are exponentially better.

Nothing says "I care" like putting in the time and effort to make a gift for someone. It shows that you found something that you feel the recipient would appreciate and then set out to make it for them.

7. It's always cool to say "I made this!"

One of my favorite parts about knitting is that when I wear my handknit stuff in public, I always get the opportunity to say that I made it myself. It always seems to surprise people when I say that I made a cotton top with ruffle sleeves, a cabled hat with a fur pom, or even my boot toppers for my Wellies.

8. Each project has its own story.

Sometimes the story might be about how you stayed up all Christmas eve so that you could give a set of Tardis mittens to your sister the next morning. Other times, your knitting might not have a wild story and it'll be along the lines of "I knit this during finals because I couldn't do anything else." Either way, it's always cool to have something that you can physically attach to a story.

In the photo below, my dog thought the blanket I was knitting was hers and kept snuggling under it.

With the Olympics coming to a close this weekend, Team Finland may be wrapping up their knitting classes, but that doesn't mean you should miss out. Catch a knitting class at your local craft store and pick up a new hobby this spring.