If you struggle with anxious thoughts and anxiety in general, you are not alone, especially nowadays. One of the worst parts about anxiety is the intrusive thoughts that can find you when you aren’t being stimulated. Having an outlet for your anxiety is crucial to lessening its impact on your daily life. While staring at the TV for long hours may fill up time, it doesn’t exactly keep your mind busy. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best hobbies for reducing anxiety so you can enjoy a little bit more relaxation.
Artistic Expression
Artistic expression refers to anything artistic that you do as a hobby—whether it’s drawing, painting, scrapbooking, woodwork, or any other hobby that lets you create something. Anxiety often comes upon when we feel like there is nothing we can do about a situation that is happening. By using art as an outlet, you can regain control of a small part of your day as you make something physical that wouldn’t have existed without you.
Writing
You don’t have to be a great writer for writing to help with your anxiety. You also don’t need to write a whole story to enjoy the hobby. Even something as simple as writing down your daily routine or how you felt during the day can have a profound impact. Writing allows you to open up about what you’re feeling so you don’t have to hold onto it for so long. Once it’s on paper, the problems will seem more manageable and you’ll be able to tackle them directly.
Media
While a broad subject, there is a lot of use for different types of media when it comes to helping with anxiety. Getting deep into the music that you like is one experience that you can enjoy wholeheartedly without any real effort on your part. Movies can be a great way to get away from your stress for a while. Even video games have their place as great distractions and a way to stay connected to others.
Exercise
You may not want to hear it, but yes—exercise is a hobby that has tons of benefits, both physical and mental. Exercise allows you to channel your anxiety and frustrations into something different and more productive. It’s been proven time and time again that regular exercise is important to good mental health, and that means less anxiety. If you’re not used to exercising, you don’t have to go all-in at once. Start slow and work your way up as you get in better shape and more used to the idea of exercise.
Some of the best hobbies for reducing anxiety are ways to channel all that nervous energy, while others simply give your brain something else to think about. Both have their uses, and you can try both to see what works best for your situation.
