Life is stressful, it seems like that’s true more now than ever. It’s up to every individual to take care of their health, both physically and mentally.
There are so many ways a person can make sure they maintain good overall health like a sensible diet and enough daily exercise.
But did you know that there are certain hobbies that are good for your health too. Here they are.
Yoga
This one is a given but it is worth mentioning that yoga is a wonderful way to destress and build up your strength. On a physical level yoga has been known to lower a person’s blood pressure and help them sleep better.
It also increases flexibility. Plus the practice requires a person to clear their mind with breathing, which will reduce stress.
Reading
If you once loved to read and haven’t done it in a while I implore you to go find a book and read again.
If you don’t like to read I implore you to give it another try. The Harvard Business Review says that when you read fiction you will “develop empathy, theory of mind, and critical thinking”, which are all imperative for a healthy mind.
Sewing
Sewing is something that has always been considered solely a woman’s hobby but all genders can reap the health benefits.
With one of these good clothing sewing machines the user can expect relief of stress, a helpful way to battle dementia, growth in brain cell production via creativity, and an improvement in your hand-eye coordination.
Playing Music
Not everyone can be Jimi Hendrix but the health benefits of playing an instrument are worth giving it a try.
It’ll make you happy even if you’re bad, you’ll boost your creativity which can help reduce depression and anxiety.
Writing
One of the best things about writing is you can create anything with words and then get rid of it forever if you don’t want anyone to see it.
This might sound silly but I’ve written angry letters to people who have hurt me and shredded them as soon as they were written and it made a world of difference.
Also, keeping you thoughts and fears in a journal is like having a private therapist. This will help with depression, anxiety, reducing stress, and even help you sleep better.
Take a Daily Walk
Walking is good for us and taking one every day forces us to get out into the world and observe what’s going on around us.
I’m not talking about walking to the store or walking to work. Just taking a walk around your neighborhood will make you happier and, if you do it fast, you can burn calories too.
Get a Pet
Walking with a dog is healthy for all the reasons we’ve stated above, but owning a pet is a great way to manage stress, ease depression, and curb those anxious feelings. Especially if you live alone.
Pets give us love and we return it and that cycle comes with healing powers that can’t be found in a bottled remedy.
Cooking
There are few things as satisfying as creating a delicious meal and enjoying it with the people you love. It boosts the creative juices, forces you to take a good look at what you are putting into your body, and forces you to eat healthier.
Plus over meals we create long lasting bonds with our families and the money you save will help reduce any stresses you had about finances.
Help Someone
Being a volunteer, particularly one that gives a hand to those in need is a wonderful way to maintain great mental health. It’s hard to feel sorry for yourself when you see someone that has it worse.
You can volunteer to build houses and take advantage of the hard work for physical health.
Plant a Garden
Having a garden to tend is like owning the mother load of all healthy hobbies. It’s physically challenging, it connects you with the Earth and our life source, and it provides food for your cooking.
There are no downsides to gardening and I recommend it to anyone who has the means. You can even start a garden from kitchen scraps.
Take a Dance Class
Moving to wonderful music is a fun way to maintain your overall good health. It’s a perfect cardiovascular workout so your heart will benefit and the rhythm will put a smile on your face. If you are thinking, “I can’t dance.” That’s what classes are for.
And there are tons of people who don’t dance well but do it anyway, because fun is more important to them than their ego.
Conclusion
This is a small list of hobbies that are good for your health. The fact is, there are so many hobbies in our society that benefit our health. We would be here forever discussing them. The most important thing is find something you love to do.
That’s why they call it a hobby. It’s not meant to add stress to your life. They are designed to make you happy.
