12 Hobbies That Double as Stress Relievers After a Long Day

Work is as exhausting as it gets; only a few can afford to take a couple of weeks off to unwind in this economy. In such circumstances, our best option is to take a breather when we get home, but finding a hobby that doubles as a stress relief is pretty challenging, especially when you work long hours and have little time left. Well, worry no more because here are some of the perfect stress-relieving hobbies you can try starting today.

Meditative Drawing

Don’t worry; drawing doesn’t mean sketching perfect caricatures; that’s just stressful and demands hard work. We’ve all done meditative drawing back in school, doodling idly until we’ve cleared our minds and found the right energy. Just grab a couple of papers and draw hurricanes, eyes, and even random squiggly lines. The repetitive pattern will redirect your focus and help you relax.

Knitting Or Crocheting

While knitting and crocheting is a hobby you’d usually expect grandmas to pick up, it’s perfect for anyone who’s looking for a little solace. The repetitive motions needed for both hobbies put your mind at ease; if you think about it, you’re just stabbing a needle back and forth, so it should help clear lingering frustration and anger, too. You can vent your frustration and get a sweater on the side.

Gardening

Yet another hobby that most people think is just for older folks is gardening. You might think gardening isn’t much, but that’s because you haven’t started it. Once you get a couple of planters and set them up in your house, you’ll realize you’ll look forward to watering and pruning them. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can expand your indoor garden and take it to the backyard.

Yoga

If there’s one hobby that has stood the test of time as a stress reliever, it’s yoga. Perhaps it’s stretching your body after an exhausting day, or maybe it’s the silence that usually follows yoga; whatever it is, there’s something about this hobby that gets you in a relaxed mood almost instantly. Yoga won’t just help you destress but also keep you active and fit.

DIY Projects

Not all of us want a hobby that’s all about relaxing; sometimes, you’ve just got a little too much energy that you wouldn’t mind giving away. If you’re looking for something to help you destress and use pent-up energy, we recommend DIY projects. You don’t have to do anything elaborate; pick a project that’ll have you working an hour or even a couple of hours, just enough to keep you occupied.

Coloring Books

We can tell you’re laughing at this one, but hear us out. Coloring books aren’t only for children; they’re a great way to distract your mind from things and redirect any anger and frustration. There’s something calming about filling in shapes with vibrant colors, and luckily, you’ll find plenty of adult-friendly coloring books eager to help you out.

Origami

The Japanese art of intricately folding paper into different figurines and shapes isn’t only fun, it’s therapeutic, too. Origami might not sound like much, but don’t underestimate it as a child’s play; start this hobby, and you’ll realize several hours in that you can’t stop. It helps you redirect your energy and focus into folding paper, so you also become more dexterous and gain control of your hand movements.

Rage Rooms

If you deal with a lot of annoying coworkers and clients, you’ll need a hobby that’s more than just drawing or sitting idly. Rage rooms are a great way to vent your pent-up energy and anger; you’ll get to smash things and break a lot of stuff, and in doing so, you’ll cleanse your body of any negative energy. You’ll be calm as zen before you know it.

Swimming

Not many consider swimming a stress-relieving hobby because you have to put in a lot of effort to be a great swimmer. But that’s not what we’re aiming for here; all you need is to soak in a pool, swim at your desired pace, and just tough it out in the water until you feel like your body has relaxed. Once that’s done, you’ll feel refreshed and happy.

Dancing

If you’re on the search for a hobby that’s exciting, fun, and helps you stay fit, go dancing. Dancing is the best stress-relieving hobby because it has excellent opportunities and diversity. You could tango, ballet, break dance, or go with the flow. In the end, you’ll have your emotions intact, an active body, and a mind that’s at peace.

Journaling

There’s a reason therapists recommend journaling: it’s healing. Since most of us can’t express our emotions and frustrations at work or even in the house, we all need an outlet to vent any negative energy. Journaling is a great way to align your emotions and understand how you feel in the heat of the moment. It’s also therapeutic because you can read those notes and realize why you feel like you do.

Skincare

Lastly, if you want to relax in bed after a long day, try picking a hobby that’s as relaxing as skincare. You don’t even need all those fancy skincare routines; just a good face wash and moisturizer will do. Wash your face and massage your skin with lotion in calm, repetitive motions. It’ll relax, rejuvenate your skin, and make your bed as happy as a clam.

More For You

Speaking of stress relievers, there is no better way to relax yourself than to travel somewhere. If you wish to spend some time somewhere peaceful and quiet, why not book an all-adult cruise? It will allow you to unwind and enjoy new experiences at the same time.

This article was first published on RB ITALIA Blog.