There are a lot of things that come under the umbrella of self-care. Probably you already know that you have to drink enough water, meditate, exercise, journal, sleep eight hours every night, eat a balanced diet… Or some variation of those things. And it is all good advice, of course, but it can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you are already tired, as most of us usually are.
You can add some hobbies to your life that are not going to wear you out, but that will help you when it comes to self-care. They are the ones that give your body and brain a break, give you enjoyment, and give you something to do that’s not all about productivity. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more.
Reading For Escapism And Calm
Reading books and other readable material is a lovely, simple, and fun self-care hobby that anyone can do. The wonderful thing about reading is that it lets you step out of your own head and into another world. Not only books, but there are also so many options that you are sure to find something that works. After all, fiction can be fun and even comforting, non-fiction can teach you things and be interesting, and then there are short stories, articles, and blogs that so easily fit into a busy day.
What we are saying is that you don’t have to read for hours if you don’t have hours to read, and just a chapter before bed or a few pages during a break can help you unwind and take your focus away from stress into something better.
Gentle Creative Activities
Creative activities are great for self-care because they let you properly express yourself without needing to explain everything. You can do anything, such as painting, knitting, sketching, photography, woodwork, writing, crafting, and so on – just pick something that’s nice and relaxing and that you enjoy, and you’ve made the right choice.
The best way to enjoy these kinds of activities is to get rid of any pressure you might link to them – you don’t need to be good, you don’t need to be productive, and you don’t really even need to be consistent (although if you can be, that does help). It’s all about creativity for the sake of enjoyment and nothing else, and that’s more soothing than trying to reach for specific results.
Puzzles And Brain Games
Puzzles are another type of self-care and they work because they give your brain something to focus on that’s got a bit of structure and challenge to it, but not so much that it becomes frustrating. That’s good because when you’re focused on something, it’s going to help to quiet anxious thoughts – always a win. There are plenty of different puzzles to choose from as well, like crosswords, word games, and various number puzzles, so you should be able to find the right one for you.
Something like sudoku is really popular, and it could be a good place to start for you if you’re wondering what puzzle would be a good option. It’s flexible, challenging (just enough), and easy to pick up, and you can play it for a short time or a long one, depending on what you’ve got free to spare.
Gardening And Caring For Plants
Exercise is great for self-care, of course – physical health is always going to be important. But don’t worry if you’re not into running or intense gym workouts because a bit of gentle movement can work just as well if you do it right.
Gardening, even if it’s just picking a few weeks and mowing the lawn, for example, can be ideal. You’ll be doing things like watering plants, repotting, tending to flower beds, etc, and that’s going to give you a great sense of achievement when you see how far you’ve come and the changes you’ve made, not to mention the fact that it’s good exercise. And even a few houseplants can help if you want to start quite small.
Listening To Music And Podcasts
Listening is a bit of an underrated self-care hobby because the fact is that music can totally change your mood in an instant, so whether you want to relax, focus, or feel energised, there’s going to be music that can help you do it. And then there are podcasts and audiobooks that can help to keep your mind properly engaged without needing your full attention – a lot of people listen to them while they’re driving, doing the housework, or perhaps at work, for example.
This kind of hobby is a good choice because you can easily slot it into your day without disrupting anything or having to make any particular special plans to make it work – since you’ll be doing whatever you’re doing anyway, adding some music or a podcast just enhances it, rather than distracting from it.
Cooking And Baking For Pleasure
Cooking can actually be quite stressful when it’s rushed, but funnily enough, it can also be a brilliant form of self-care when it’s done for enjoyment. Trying a simple recipe, baking something that’s tasty and comforting, or making a favourite meal can be just what you need if you want to feel relaxed and at ease – not to mention you’ll get to eat something delicious after it’s done.
It’s the sensory aspect of cooking, like the smells, textures, and tastes, that are really important in terms of self-care because they’re the things that help you feel present and mindful. Then you can add the idea of sharing your food with others and that gives you another layer to your self-care because socialising can be a wonderful way to unwind.
Final Thoughts
In the end, you can choose whatever hobbies work for you and make you feel good, but the best ones are always going to be the simple ones, and having a few small things to help you feel good at the end of the day is a kindness you should do for yourself.
