Adding a new healthy hobby into your daily routine can help you feel better in your mind and body. Becoming more healthy does not have to involve spending hours at the gym doing exercises you don’t enjoy. Finding a hobby that you love that promotes physical and mental wellbeing can continue to be a hugely rewarding practice that will continue for years to come.
1. Gardening
Gardening offers a number of different and often unexpected health benefits. Firstly, gardening encourages you to move your body, stay active, and burn calories. As Halls greenhouses explain, gardening and growing your own fruit and vegetables can also encourage you to eat a more nutritious and balanced diet. Gardening has also been found to improve one’s mental wellbeing and reduce stress.
2. Dancing
Dancing can help to improve heart health, balance, strengthen bones and manage weight gain. Not only does dancing help you stay active and avoid weight gain, but it also makes you feel good. This is because both exercising and listening to music promotes the production of hormones in the brain, like serotonin, and make people feel happy.
3. Reading
People who read regularly have been found to have increased mental stimulation, reduced stress levels, improved concentration, and memory. Reading can also help people deal with stress and anxiety as it is a calming and peaceful activity.
4. Playing a Musical Instrument
Studies have found that playing a musical instrument is good for health, having been found to reduce blood pressure and stress levels. Playing a musical instrument is also beneficial for brain health, as it helps to stimulate connection within the brain. Research has also found that playing a musical instrument helps to increase concentration and memory. Playing a musical instrument can also help to reduce symptoms of mental health problems and reduce social isolation. In fact, playing a musical instrument is so good for your mental and physical wellbeing that it is being used in the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
5. Yoga
Yoga is a great physical hobby that can be enjoyed by individuals of any age. Yoga helps to increase physical strength, promote cardiovascular health, increase balance and flexibility. Since yoga is not only a physical practice but is also based on mindfulness principles, it can help people to feel calmer, less stressed, and less anxious.
6. Volunteering
Volunteering is another great activity that can benefit both your health and the wellbeing of others too. Since volunteering encourages people to get out of the house and into the local community, it can help people to feel more socially connected and less lonely or isolated. Knowing that you have worked for a good cause will also help you to feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
7. Walking
Studies have found that taking regular walks can boost energy, promote cardiovascular health, and stimulate weight loss without causing stress to your bones or joints. Walks are also a great chance to explore nature or catch up with friends.
8. Cooking
Cooking is another healthy hobby, as cooking your own food, rather than eating processed, pre-made meals, increases the amount of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. Cooking also encourages light physical activity as you are on your feet moving around the kitchen.