#6 Sewing
Sewing, Knitting, Crochet, and Needlepoint for Stress Relief
Sewing, knitting, crochet, and needlepoint are timeless crafts that are excellent activities and hobbies to get into for stress relief. These crafts are very relaxing and they aren’t super high-energy, so they’re perfect for any time of the day.
When doing sewing, knitting, crochet, or needlepoint, your body does a repetitive movement. Repetitive movements made by the body releases serotonin. Serotonin promotes calmness.
These activities also boost your mood. The combination of your calmness being increased and your mood being improved is a perfect environment to cause stress to lower.
If you are a beginner, start with some simple and easier forms of sewing, knitting, crochet, or needlepoint. You don’t need to be an expert or be an amazing crafter right off the bat. Practice makes perfect.
#7 Aquatic Projects
Starting and Focusing on Maintaining an Aquarium
Aquatic life is something many people admire. The vibrant colors of all of the different fish and aquatic plants are pleasing to the eye and can be relaxing to see. With an aquarium, you can see the beauty of aquatic life within your own home. Taking care of a fish in an aquarium is a great activity to focus on that will relieve stress.
However, you will also need to learn and practice how to maintain an aquarium so that you can keep the life of your fish safe. Many people tend to make mistakes when getting their first aquarium that tend to be harmful to the life of the fish.
When starting an aquarium, you need to do your research based on what kind of fish you have. You need to learn what kind of food your fish needs, and what quality of water they need.
Some fish may need to be in freshwater, while some may need to be in saltwater. Some fish may need to be in cooler water, while some may need to be in warmer water. Make sure you know what conditions your fish will need so that you can do your best to keep it safe.
You will also need to make sure you clean your tank around once every two weeks. When cleaning your tank, make sure you refrain from using any soap. Soaps and detergents can be deadly to your fish because of all the chemicals.
#8 Journaling
How You Can Use Journaling to Decompress
Journaling is a very beneficial way to relieve stress. One great thing about journaling is that there is no right or wrong way to write in your journal. This activity is a freeing way to express your thoughts and feelings onto paper.
To start your journal, make sure you buy one that suits your needs. There are different types of journals – some have blank pages, lined pages, and bulletpoints. Some also have prompts for things to write about. Buy your journal according to what you want to write about.
When you start writing, try writing about things that make you happy. Doing this can make you focus more on things that lift you up rather than letting your mind focus on the things that are bringing you down.
However, you may feel like you’d rather get your emotions out instead of changing your focus onto something better. In this case, you can write about all of your stressors and things going on in your life.
When stress occurs, the negative emotions and thoughts tend to build up over time, which can only make things worse. Writing out everything you’re feeling can be a great way to release that buildup of all the stress in your mind.
#9 Baking
Achieving Relaxation with Baking
Baking is an amazing activity to do for stress relief, and it’s not a difficult hobby to partake in. Many people love baking, but push it aside if they don’t have time for it, not knowing that it could actually help them relieve stress.
When you are baking something, you are focusing on the little things that you have to do. Your mind is focused on the ingredients, the mixing, the aroma, and the tastes instead of the bigger stressors in your life.
Another way baking can relieve stress is by giving the baker a sense of accomplishment. Even if it doesn’t seem like something big, completing a nice warm batch of fresh cookies can feel like a big achievement during highly stressful times.
Try looking for some recipes online that seem like they would be fun or relaxing to make. If you’re not a highly experienced baker, try avoiding extremely complicated recipes as this may cause more stress.
Maybe you have family recipes that have been passed down over the years. Making something that reminds you of your family or of past times can bring a sense of comfort and peace.
#10 Puzzles
Using Puzzles to Unwind
If you are looking for a fun but relaxing stress relieving activity, try doing a puzzle. Puzzles are great for stress relief because it helps take your mind off of the stress going on in your life.
Puzzles also come in a wide variety of options. You can choose from different sizes, images to go on the puzzle, different amounts of pieces. Choose a puzzle that suits your needs.
You might need a smaller puzzle for a smaller space, or a puzzle that has only fifty pieces instead of hundreds. Make sure you don’t get a puzzle that is too large and overwhelming, as this might be stressful.
As for the image on the puzzle, choose something that makes you happy. You may choose a picture of a country you would love to visit, or a picture of an animal you love. You can also get a custom made puzzle with an image of your family or anything else you’d like.
Daily life can be very fast-paced and stressful for everyone. From news, to work, to social media, it seems like there is always so much going on. Doing something simple that can let you slow down will be very beneficial for stress relief.
Puzzles allow you to take that break from the constant bustle that life throws your way, since it makes you focus on the simpler thing in front of you instead of all the stressful activities and thoughts.