I had a long bout of knitting burnout, too, recently. Now I have so many ideas and projects I want to make right now and my finger joints are swollen (arthritis) and I can only knit ve-ry slow-ly. Still helps keeps my hands from being too stiff, though, so I do a little when I can. You're right; it's very calming. That's why I keep knitting, even if I can only do a round or two before I have to rest.
I don't know which style of knitting you usually do (English, Continental, combination ...) but if you haven't tried purling like this, or similar, you might like it, or find it more comfortable. When I first started knitting, I learned from a book, and threw the yarn with my right hand. But my arthritis is more severe in my right hand. So about a year later, I switched to holding the yarn in my left hand. It seems like I have less movement of my thumb and wrist, so it's less painful for me. My actual method is self-taught, from experimentation, but this looks pretty close to what I do. Now, I don't find purling any harder than knitting, unless I have to do something weird, like purl through the back loop (ugh! have you tried that? so awkward!)
no subject
I don't know which style of knitting you usually do (English, Continental, combination ...) but if you haven't tried purling like this, or similar, you might like it, or find it more comfortable. When I first started knitting, I learned from a book, and threw the yarn with my right hand. But my arthritis is more severe in my right hand. So about a year later, I switched to holding the yarn in my left hand. It seems like I have less movement of my thumb and wrist, so it's less painful for me. My actual method is self-taught, from experimentation, but this looks pretty close to what I do. Now, I don't find purling any harder than knitting, unless I have to do something weird, like purl through the back loop (ugh! have you tried that? so awkward!)