The reality of our modern life means that we’re constantly being put under pressure to uphold our social, personal, and professional responsibilities. Although we can’t always control our work problems or magically make those overdue bills disappear, we can take charge of our mental health by taking up a calming hobby that can provide an outlet to help us de-stress and enable us to manage our daily obligations with more ease.
Below, are some of the most calming activities that have been scientifically proven to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
Diamond painting
Diamond painting requires a minimal learning curve, which means that anyone can use the colorful rhinestones to create dazzling works of art, regardless of their artistic abilities and skills. Besides getting your creative juices flowing, the crafting enthusiasts at https://www.prettyneatcreative.com/collections/diamond-painting explain that diamond painting can also train you to be present in the moment which, in turn, can help you take your mind off unpleasant and distressing thoughts. As a result, this activity can provide calming and meditative effects that can significantly reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Meditation and yoga
Whether it’s traditional meditation, breathing exercises, guided meditation, or religious practices, setting aside some time to reflect on the day, practice gratitude, and just be mindful and grounded in the present moment is a positive habit to get into with numerous invaluable benefits to offer.
Yoga, on the other hand, combines breathing exercises with physical exercise in a series of movements that aim to increase your flexibility and build your strength. By focusing on deepening the mind-body connection, studies show that both yoga and meditation can help reduce the body’s psychological stress response and can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Reading
When it comes to reducing stress and promoting relaxation, reading for leisure has been proven to offer numerous benefits both on psychological and physical levels. Besides offering you a much-needed escape from reality, studies show that just as little as 6 minutes of reading a day can help reduce stress by approximately 67%. Scientists also observed that reading can work physiologically to reduce muscle tension and slow down your heart rate, all of which can collectively result in a calmer mind and body.
Dancing
Whether you prefer to crank up your favorite music and break into a freestyle dance in the privacy of your room or you prefer to grab a partner and head to a dance class, dancing is a great way to relieve tension and reduce stress. Like many other cardiovascular activities, dancing can also boost your body’s natural production of endorphins, allowing you to enjoy the calming effects long after you exit the dance floor.
Studies show that dancing can provide various benefits that go beyond stress relief. For instance, research suggests that dancing gives you a healthy outlet to express your emotions and can even help you feel more in control.
If you’re feeling self-conscious about your skills, you can always put in some effort and learn how to do it properly. People living around the City of Saints love to get private dance lessons in Montreal where dedicated instructors teach them the graceful moves needed to impress anyone. You can also gather a group and join classes together to have fun while learning something new.
Gardening
You don’t necessarily have to have a green thumb to reap the relaxing benefits of gardening. Instead, you can find some low-maintenance plants that you can easily nurture. As you watch your plants grow, you’ll feel a sense of purpose and pride knowing that your effort and care paid off. Aside from the sense of gratification, psychologists found that gardening can also boost your mood and reduce your cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
Exercise
All types of physical exercise are essentially therapeutic. Walking, running, and hiking are all great ways to take in some fresh air, get your required dose of vitamin D, and unplug from your daily pressures as you feel your stress fade away one step at a time.
As little as a 15-minute mindless walk can drastically improve your mood and reduce your anxiety. Doing any of these cardiovascular activities on a regular basis can offer calming and stress relieving effects on your body and mind alike and can also help you control how you react to negative emotions both in the long and short terms.
Most of us are all too familiar with stress, which is why it’s imperative that we find healthy methods of coping with our anxieties; otherwise, our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing will suffer and, as a result, we won’t be able to keep up with our daily routines and responsibilities. Pick up at least one of the aforementioned hobbies in your downtime and see for yourself how much of an impact they’ll have on your stress levels. We guarantee that you’ll feel more relaxed and less bothered by the external life stressors that may come your way.
