Easy hobbies to try that could help make you feel less anxious, from yoga to gardening

Easy hobbies to try that could help make you feel less anxious, from yoga to gardening

via Business Insider by Darcy Schild

  • Occasional stress or anxiety, especially as a result of a challenging life event, is something that many people experience.
  • Some activities like yoga, or creative outlets like crafting and baking, can be positive ways to relieve feelings of anxiety caused by a stressful life situation.
  • 2016 study from the Journal of Positive Psychology found that spending time on a creative activity every day can lead to improved psychological well-being.
  • Insider gathered activity ideas that could be relaxing for people looking to de-stress.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Baking bread from scratch or learning calligraphy may sound like simply fun pastimes – but they could also be relaxing and helpful, especially for people looking to relieve stress or feelings of occasional anxiety.

According to a 2016 study from the Journal of Positive Psychology, people who spent time on a creative activity every day had overall increased feelings of positive psychological well-being, compared with those who didn’t partake in daily creative rituals.

Whether it’s devoting time to practice yoga or picking up a new art skill, there are plenty of positive ways to take a break, de-stress, and potentially relieve feelings of anxiousness.

It’s important to note that occasional feelings of anxiety are not necessarily correlated with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders recognised by the National Institute of Mental Health. As such, hobbies that may help manage occasional feelings of stress or anxiousness are not necessarily medical recommendations for coping with anxiety disorders.


Consider incorporating yoga into your routine.

Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesYoga can easily be practiced indoors when outside exercise isn’t an option.

Practicing yoga can yield physical results like improved posture and toned muscles, but the ancient mind-body exercise can also have a plethora of potential mental and emotional benefits – such as reduced stress and the ability to manage feelings of anxiety, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Yoga can also help people sleep better and cope with symptoms of anxiety caused by difficult life situations, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Beginners can experiment with different styles of yoga – such as Vinyasa yoga, which is focused on coordinating movements with breath work and is tailored for people of all levels; and power yoga, which typically involves more challenging poses.

Plus, there are several ways to practice yoga for free at home and with minimal equipment. YouTube channels like Yoga With Adrienne and POPSUGAR Fitness have plenty of free, guided videos with routines that last 15 minutes and longer practices that span more than an hour…

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