Photo by Yannis Papanastasopoulous on Unsplash
In May, we acknowledge the importance of being aware of our mental health. One of the most important ways of taking care of our minds is by engaging in productive activities or hobbies. During last year’s quarantine, many people either started new hobbies or restarted old hobbies that they once had. Whether it’s sewing a new dress, learning how to create art with acrylic paint, or anything else, hobbies are great for our mind and well-being. Here are five of the most important ones that are beneficial for our mental health.
Creating Art
Whether it’s sculpting, acrylic painting, or just simple sketching, creating different works of art is both soothing and calming to the mind. It is enjoyable and mentally stimulating. Creating any form of art keeps the mind sharp and focused. You will feel like you’ve accomplished something when you create something artistic and creative. It builds up your self-esteem and keeps your mind working like a muscle.
Reading and Writing
If you’re not much of an artist and you prefer the written word, reading and writing are also good hobbies to explore. A 2010 study examined the strong association between reading and other hobbies and the risk of dementia later in life. After examining 942 members for this study, researchers concluded that engaging in a hobby like reading for at least an hour each day could stave off dementia later in life.
However, reading and writing are both great hobbies in keeping the mind working. These two hobbies typically go hand in hand in that you have to be a voracious reader to be a good writer. Reading and writing are both not only educational but these hobbies are also good for people going through emotional issues such as depression. Diving into a good book is also beneficial for decreasing blood pressure and slowing the heart rate.
Gardening
Some people who have a green thumb may be interested in gardening. That’s a good thing because planting flowers, plants, or even food is another calming hobby. One hospital study shows that 79 percent of patients expressed feeling more relaxed after doing some gardening. You are also exposed to Vitamin D and some light aerobic movement, which are both impactful to the brain’s health.
Another interesting benefit about gardening is that it is good for your attention span. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health revealed that growing a garden outdoors could significantly reduce your ADHD symptoms. So if you have any problems with staying focused on completing simple tasks, consider taking up some gardening as a hobby in improving in this area.
Learning a New Instrument
There is a lot of evidence pointing to the fact that learning a new instrument is beneficial for the mind. Research shows that nearly every area of the brain is engaged when learning to play the piano or guitar. A study last July that had over 4,000 volunteers take an IQ test showed that learning any instrument topped the list of hobbies as being the one to effectively boost your brainpower.
The study showed that practicing an instrument uses both of your brain’s hemispheres while increasing activity within the corpus callosum, or the bridge. It could also improve your memory. Many have found playing an instrument to be a calming hobby to their minds as well.
Aerobic Exercise
We all know exercise is healthy for the heart and body, but it’s also another hobby that is effective in keeping the mind sharp. Aerobic activities such as jogging and cycling are great in reducing depression and anxiety. You will also start to develop enhanced mental alertness when exercising. If you want to be more alert and less stressed, put on those workout shoes and start getting in shape.
Many people have found themselves engaging in one or more of these hobbies during the lockdown. Let’s hope that they continue these fun hobbies to improve their mental health.
