We’re told time and again how hobbies can help us live a happier, healthier life, and, honestly, it’s hard to contest that information. In a tech-heavy age, hobbies that help us to use our minds, hands, or social skills have become an especially vital way for us to switch off and reconnect. Yet, it would be false to say that taking on a new hobby is guaranteed to get you in a zen state of mind.
One person’s hobby-based kryptonite could see you more stressed than ever before. Taking your time to consider your options and find the most relaxing hobby for your personality and preferences is key to making sure that you get the most out of this pursuit.
Whether you’re a self-confessed introvert or you always feel best while socializing, you can find a hobby guaranteed to relax you on the deepest level possible by simply asking the following crucial questions.
# 1 – Do You Enjoy it?
Enjoying your hobby is undeniably the first step towards feeling refreshed and relaxed whenever you make time for it. This is also proof that just because a hobby doesn’t look ‘relaxing’ on the surface, it doesn’t mean that it won’t bring that benefit to your life. For instance, there are many thrill-seekers out there who never feel more relaxed than directly after hobbies like extreme hiking and mountain climbing. These are the things they love to do, and so they’ll have an inevitably calming effect. Equally, there are plenty of people who enjoy shutting the door and sitting down with a good book, or getting started on a new crafting project.
Conversely, a hobby that you don’t enjoy might leave you more stressed, even if it is a seemingly calming option. For example, knitting can be incredibly stressful if you’re making mistakes or just generally don’t enjoy the repetitive action it requires. So, ask yourself, do you genuinely enjoy your hobby? If yes, then it’s far more likely to relax you!
# 2 – Does it Have De-Stressing Qualities?
Hobbies with de-stressing qualities are undeniably the best when it comes to relaxation. The most obvious of these are, of course, silent, contemplative options like crafting and knitting, as mentioned. Other commonly considered stress-relieving options include puzzles and games like solitaire, gardening, and cooking.
As mentioned, there are obviously exceptions to this – even extreme options like competitive sports can help you to de-stress. As such, the main thing to look for from a truly relaxing hobby is something that helps to get you out of your everyday mindset and forget your problems. For instance, you may struggle to destress if your hobby is directly linked to your job or parenting responsibilities, while something that you don’t usually do or think about could help you to unwind far more effectively.
# 3 – Does it Enhance Your Life?
Ultimately, a relaxing hobby should serve as one of the top secrets to unlocking your best self. It should help to enhance your life in some way. Even just looking forward to getting back to your hobby at the end of the day can serve this purpose. Hobbies that enhance your life by teaching you a new skill can also help you to feel calmer. While learning new things can be initially stressful, mastering those skills with time and practice can leave you experiencing a satisfied, and surprisingly relaxed glow.
You’ll certainly want to street clear of hobbies that leave you feeling stagnant and unconnected from the world. Skills with no real opportunity for advancement are particularly bad for leaving you feeling flat and frustrated instead.
# 4 – Does it Match Your Personality?
This point sort of ties in with enjoyment, but it is worth a mention all its own. You see, different hobbies will inevitably work better for different people. This is unique from enjoyment because, while an introvert might technically enjoy joining a craft group, they won’t necessarily feel relaxed after attending.
As such, relaxing hobbies should tie in with what works for your personality. So, if you’re an introvert, solo-led activities will almost always be the best way to unwind. Alternatively, extroverts may feel uncomfortable after long periods spent reading alone and would probably be more relaxed in a social circle, like you’d get in group sports.
# 5 – Is it Kind to Your Finances?
It’s also worth noting that hobbies can have incredibly differing price points, and this can also have an impact on relaxation overall. For instance, you might really enjoy being a part of that theatre group, but this hobby could soon become a source of stress if the monthly subscription is putting a strain on your finances.
Setting aside a dedicated hobby budget is generally the best way to make decisions based on the financial side of things. If a hobby sits way outside of that budget, then it may not be the best option for relaxation, even if it seems like that on the surface. Instead, you should seek hobbies that sit well within your budget (or are free, if you don’t have much budget to play with), as you’ll then be able to enjoy them with no residual worry.
This may sound like a lot of stress to go through in the hunt for a relaxing hobby but trust us when we say that answering these questions will lead you to a calming hobby that you can love for a whole lot longer. After all, no two people find the same things relaxing. Considering everything from enjoyment to costs ensures that you find an ideal hobby for your heart and mind, without a sniff of worry in sight.
You can apply this checklist to hobbies you already do but that aren’t serving you very well, or you can ask these questions of any new hobbies you’re considering. This ensures that, if you do jump in with subscriptions, equipment, and time, you’re far more likely to reap the results by way of relaxation!
