Harness the Power of Hobbies to Boost Mental Strength

  A new year can feel like a lot of things—a breath of fresh air, a fresh blank page or stressful as you want to fill it with new opportunities and endeavors! It’s often a good time to reevaluate and add things into our lives that refresh us. As you may be looking to change up your routine, there are a variety of hobbies that can assist with reducing stress/anxiety, increasing endorphins (the “feel-good” hormone), boosting self-esteem and/or providing a feeling of accomplishment.  Creative Activities Creative activities can boost your mood, provide an emotional outlet and engage your brain in different ways to manage stress and improve mental health. They can help us express various emotions by working with our hands to create tangible, musical or lyrical art. Creative activities can include:
  • Crafting (knitting and crocheting have been noted to have anxiety-reducing properties)
  • Painting
  • Woodworking
  • Pottery
  • Creating/listening to music (playing an instrument)
    • It’s called “Music Therapy” for a reason! Interaction with music can be immensely therapeutic to us mentally, physically and emotionally. Refer to this article from the Mayo Clinic for further benefits of music therapy.
  • Poetry
  • Puzzles
  • Strategy Games
  • Cooking and Baking
  • Decorating
Even if you can’t participate in a creative activity every day, consider attending a cooking class, concert, board game night, pottery class or similar activities from time to time. It can be a fun thing to do with friends or on a date night! Nature Activities Engaging in activities that involve nature and getting outside give you a chance to connect with the world around you and even increase mental clarity. Some popular outdoor activities that can help you get some much-needed Vitamin D include: 
  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Kayaking
  • Gardening
  • Outdoor Sports like Pickleball, Tennis and Basketball
How do I get started?  Thinking back to what you enjoyed doing as a kid is a great place to start when searching for a new hobby. Was it doodling on the side of your notes during class? Going outside and playing with friends? Doing different arts and crafts? Recalling what you’ve enjoyed in the past can indicate what you may already be “hardwired” to enjoy today! Overall, remember that the goal of a hobby is to enjoy the process. You’ll never be an expert in one night—so celebrate the little things like keeping your plant alive, learning a new crocheting technique or trying a new recipe! You may be surprised about what you end up enjoying.

This Week’s Recipe from the American Heart Association

Spring Vegetable Rolls with Shrimp