Stress and anxiety have become major parts of many people’s lives. This constant stress can heavily impact a person’s happiness, which is why it’s important to figure out ways to reduce that stress. For many people, picking up a hobby is one of the key ways they control and soothe their anxiety. Hobbies allow people to maintain relaxation and lighten their mood. If that sounds like something you want, check out a few of our favorite hobbies for reducing anxiety—who knows, it could help you become more creative and open-minded!
Open Up and Write
If you’re feeling stressed, open up a journal and start writing. It doesn’t have to be about what’s stressing you, but anything in general. The more you write, the bigger the chance of you getting at the thing that is worrying you in a roundabout way that won’t add more stress. Whether you choose poetry, non-fiction, fiction, or screenplays, there’s something incredibly soothing about putting pen to paper.
Start Yoga and Meditation
One of the most popular hobbies for reducing anxiety comes from practicing yoga and meditation. Distraction is a way that a lot of people soothe their anxiety, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s also important to manage anxiety, not just push it aside. A major part of managing anxiety is learning how to conquer the chaos in your mind; yoga and meditation are key ways to do just that. If you want to learn how to manage your stress and anxiety, start practicing yoga and meditation—it truly helps.
Get Crafty
Another one of our favorite ways to reduce anxiety is by getting crafty. There are tons of different health benefits of crafting, and reducing stress and anxiety is just one of them. Crafting keeps your mind and hands focused on a task, and a lot of the time (especially with needlework) you’re able to bring it along wherever you go. We recommend knitting or embroidery to begin!
Sit Down with a Puzzle
Similar to crafting, puzzles are a way to focus on something other than your anxiety. They’re a great way to focus on a project that you can return to time and time again. If your anxiety is better soothed with others around you, puzzles are a great activity to do with friends, even if you don’t want to talk. Make sure you don’t get one that’s too hard, otherwise you’ll just add more stress to your plate.
Embrace Your Inner Artist
Whether it’s stained glass, painting, glass blowing, or jewelry-making, there’s something quite relaxing about delving into your creative juices. Painting tends to be the main thing people turn to in this realm, but there are many other ways to embrace your inner artist without whipping out the paintbrushes. Stained glass isn’t often talked about, but there are many starter kits online that bring a lot of relief to those who struggle with anxiety.
