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Who doesn’t love a good hobby? It can offer a break from the daily grind. An opportunity to meet up with friends. Something to look forward to at the end of the work shift. But did you know hobbies also have physical and mental health benefits?
Dancing or gardening, running, or baking — it doesn’t matter whether your chosen pastime is intense or mellow. Stress-relieving hobbies can help you ease tension, lift your mood, and expand your social circle. They can also help you deal with chronic pain, support your heart health, and add quality years to your life.
Below are 4 good reasons to pursue your passions — plus a few tips on how to find the right hobby for you.
Relieve stress with the right hobby
Feeling stressed? It can wear on your sleep, mood, and energy — but making time for a hobby you enjoy can help you give your mind a break and your body a chance to relax. A long walk, a few pages of a good book, or an hour with a paintbrush can all help.
Want more ideas? Explore our stress management resources for guided exercises, relaxation tips, and ways to build healthy habits.
Get moving with healthy hobbies
If your passions include physical activity, you’re doing your body and your brain a favor. Regular physical activity can help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes. Even 20 minutes of moderate activity a day can make a difference.
Being active can also help improve how you feel day to day. And you don’t have to push yourself hard. Even a walk through a park or time spent outdoors can boost your mood and help you feel more relaxed.
Easy ways to get active
Looking to ease into a hobby that gets you moving?
- Sign up for a local sports league, like kickball or volleyball
- Strike some starter yoga poses
- Do resistance band exercises at home
- Swim some laps in your community pool
- Go for a walk around your neighborhood
- Join a walking, running, or biking club
Creative hobbies that boost mental health
Think about your biggest interests. Love visiting art museums? Try drawing, photography, or calligraphy. Enjoy the theater? Audition for or volunteer at a community play. Always listening to music? Sign up for lessons, like piano or guitar. You can also try activities that challenge your brain, like puzzles or word games.
Creative hobbies are some of the best hobbies for mental health. They can help reduce stress and boost your confidence. The satisfaction that comes with making something — whether it’s music, art, or food — can do good things for how you feel.
You don’t have to stick to traditional arts, either. Maybe quilting, woodworking, or candlemaking is more your style. Want to learn something new? Check out classes at your local community college, library, or community center. You could:
- Learn a new language
- Write a short story
- Design a website
- Cook up something new in the kitchen
- Take a ceramics class
Build connections through shared hobbies
Feeling lonely is common, but over time it can raise your risk of early dementia, heart disease, and stroke. It’s also linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.1
The good news? Strong relationships can make you happier and healthier. And your hobbies can help you find your people.
Love music?
Find others to play with. Go to an open jam session. Or start your own band.
Care about a cause?
Volunteer with a nonprofit you believe in. Help at an animal shelter, lead a workshop at a senior center, or help build homes for people in need.
Need a laugh?
Join a comedy improv group in town. You’ll build your confidence and pick up public speaking skills along the way.
More of a pet person?
That’s OK. Spending time with a pet can lift your mood and help you feel less alone. Learn about more ways pets can improve your health.
Find the right hobby for you
Not sure where to start? Keep it simple:
- Pick something you can do about twice a week
- Choose an activity that doesn’t need a lot of gear
- Start with just 15 minutes to build a habit
- Think about whether you’d rather do it alone, with others, or outside
- Pay attention to how you feel after — then adjust
Easy hobbies to try at home
Looking for healthy hobbies you can do at home? Try:
- Stretching or simple breathing exercises
- Dancing to a few favorite songs
- Cooking a simple recipe
- Starting a puzzle
- Drawing, coloring, or crafting
- Reading or listening to an audiobook
- Caring for a plant or small garden
Start enjoying the benefits
Do what you love. Find your people. (Or your pets.) The benefits will follow.
And if you want more tips on how to keep stress at bay, check out some of our favorite stress-reducing activities for more ways to unwind.