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Benefits

The Most Beneficial Hobbies

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Stressis something we’re all constantly being told we need to reduce. That’s because long-term stressleads to all kinds of bad life outcomes from diseases to depression.Not to mention, it generally brings us down. However, just because we know we should reduce our stress levels doesn’t mean we know how to. Some commonstress-relief tipslike going for a walk or doing deep breathing can be boring, even if they have many health benefits.

The Benefits of Hobbies for Stress Relief

She adds that hobbies give ourbrains a chance to relax, too. You’re just doing something just for fun, something that gives time off to your overworked mind. In turn, that can lower your stress levels.

Psychological and Physical Health Benefits

Additionally, Dr. Stratyner notes that “hobbies also give us something to look forward to,” which is “psychologically important because it boosts motivation,promotes goal setting, and can improve overall mood.” Through hobbies, you can turn negative, regular stress into something calledeustress, which is the beneficial form of stress that we get from excitement.

Social Benefits of Hobbies

While hobbies can be conducted alone, doing activities with others can be highly beneficial for you as well. “Lonelinessis becoming an increasing problem in our society as many people spend endless hours online instead of socializing in person,” saysDr. Sanam Hafeez, neuropsychologist and director ofComprehend the Mind.

“Hobbies offer a way to connect with like-minded people while doing something you enjoy. They offer a sense of belonging and community.”

Dr. Hafeez also says you can developlifelong friendships and connectionsfrom your hobbies.

“Whether participating in a sport, joining a cooking class, or going to a book club, these activities create an opportunity to bond with others,” she says. That’s because when you meet in a setting of shared interests, you already have an easy starting point for bonding with new people.

Hobbies Can Make Adult Friendships So Much Easier

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But What if I’m Already Busy?

Dr. Hafeez recommends starting small when it comes to time.

Tip:“You can get started on a smaller scale with the minimum amount you can commit to each week being 15-30 minutes of time,” she suggests. She also recommends you “look at your existing time usage and try to find ways to replace something unproductive, such as too much scrolling on social media, with something more fulfilling.”

If those aren’t your cup of tea, she suggests other cognitive-based activities like “playing a musical instrument, which requires memorization and the use of other sophisticated cognitive skills (e.g., reading sheet music; multitasking, etc.).”

Art Activities for Stress Relief

She says to also “consider some of the hobbies that your friends participate in and ask yourself if you think this is something you would also enjoy.” Dr. Stratyner recommends finding hobbies on websites likeMeetup, which offer different types of activities and hobbies from professional networking to performing arts and DIY arts and crafts. “You will find inspiration and ideas that might not readily come to mind, and you can see what’s available in your geographic area,” she says.

Do Some Self-Reflection

Conclusion

Top 10 Stress-Relieving Hobbies

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mariotti A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Science OA. 2015;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Pressman SD, Matthews KA, Cohen S, et al.Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being.Psychosomatic medicine. 2009;71(7):725. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978Nichol B, Wilson R, Rodrigues A, Haighton C.Exploring the effects of volunteering on the social, mental, and physical health and well-being of volunteers: an umbrella review.Voluntas. Published online May 4, 2023:1. doi:10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mariotti A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Science OA. 2015;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Pressman SD, Matthews KA, Cohen S, et al.Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being.Psychosomatic medicine. 2009;71(7):725. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978Nichol B, Wilson R, Rodrigues A, Haighton C.Exploring the effects of volunteering on the social, mental, and physical health and well-being of volunteers: an umbrella review.Voluntas. Published online May 4, 2023:1. doi:10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mariotti A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Science OA. 2015;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Pressman SD, Matthews KA, Cohen S, et al.Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being.Psychosomatic medicine. 2009;71(7):725. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978Nichol B, Wilson R, Rodrigues A, Haighton C.Exploring the effects of volunteering on the social, mental, and physical health and well-being of volunteers: an umbrella review.Voluntas. Published online May 4, 2023:1. doi:10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z

Mariotti A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Science OA. 2015;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21

Pressman SD, Matthews KA, Cohen S, et al.Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being.Psychosomatic medicine. 2009;71(7):725. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978

Nichol B, Wilson R, Rodrigues A, Haighton C.Exploring the effects of volunteering on the social, mental, and physical health and well-being of volunteers: an umbrella review.Voluntas. Published online May 4, 2023:1. doi:10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z

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