Regular life can give us a range of stressors. And, if you aren’t paying attention to your body or mental health, then those stress levels can creep up pretty quickly. Chronic stress is directly linked to the risk of depression, memory loss, weaker immune system, and heart disease. Hobbies are linked to happiness, which means that hobbies can help tackle stress.
Here are a few options to help you hammer down the stress and turn up your happiness.
Cooking and Baking
Creating a new delicious dish for you, your friends, or family is an excellent hobby for relaxation. You don’t have to be a foodie to produce delectable dishes either. It won’t take you long to learn to create a very flavorful dish, either. When it comes to baking, the process, following instructions, and the kneading can help release a lot of tension. It is easy to get started with so many options online for learning too.
Writing
Many best selling authors have arrived there by going through something traumatic. It gives the opportunity to explore your ideas and emotions and seek solace and therapy through words. In fact, J.K Rowling has mentioned many times that she overcame life issues by creating Harry Potter.
You might not want to write a book. Instead, you might want to spend your time keeping a journal to work through your days, explore emotional issues, or just write things that are bothering you. Many people like to write at the end of the day before they go to sleep to give themselves some mental clarity and allow them to relax properly too.
Walking
Or yoga, or jogging… pretty much anything that gets you moving is ideal. A morning walk is one of the most stress-relieving hobbies, and walking in nature has been shown to reduce stress levels. When we exercise, even at a slow pace, our bodies produce endorphins that help to improve our mood. Yoga is ideal to combine working out and finding calm and balance too.
Painting
You don’t have to be ‘good at art’ to enjoy creating with paints. The colors and freedom of expression will let your mind be free, and your creativeness takes over. Mixing colors, learning new painting techniques, and working with different mediums until you find the ones that work for you.
Much like cooking and baking, one of the best things about painting is that you are producing something at the end. Your works of art can be hung around the house, and each time you look at them, they’ll bring you a sense of relaxation and calm.
Reading
When you read for as little as 6 minutes a day, your stress levels can be dramatically reduced. You don’t have to read something intense and heavy, just something you can pick up and put down when you have time is ideal.
Hobbies can make us feel productive, excited, and creative. And over time, you will notice a reduction in your stress levels too.
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