MENTAL HEALTH Five Hobbies that Promote Mindfulness and Calm

FIVE HOBBIES THAT PROMOTE

Mindfulness

Mindfulness and Calm

BY NADINE WESTWOOD

rom extremely busy schedules to pressures at work, and the stress that comes with raising a family, life can throw all manner F of things at you from different directions. It’s not unusual to at times feel mentally fogged up, anxious, stressed, or even depressed if you don’t take good care of yourself...

SCIENCE IS ANYTHING TO go by, engaging in a hobby can be an amazing way to re-energize and refresh Iffrom the inside out. And of course, a hobby can be an exciting activity, something you’re passionate about, or something you just do to pass time when you don’t have a lot going on. However, a hobby that calms your mind and brings you to a state of mindfulness can have multiple benefits to your health and well-being. Most of which may pretty much be new to you, here are five hobbies you might want to try out to promote calm and mindfulness.

MINDFUL DRIVING

Driving a car can be an incredibly stressful activity. You need to keep track of your speed, stay in your lane, and manage traffic at the same time. Add in the possibility of road rage, erratic drivers, and aggressive pedestrians, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, mindful driving or motorcycling does not have to be this way.

A full-body meditative practice during your daily drive will ease your tension, calming your mind down and making you more aware of your surroundings. Many meditation experts and doctors believe that the act of taking in your surroundings helps you maintain awareness of your thoughts and actions. You can even meditate on the road if not before you press the ignition button!

From learning a new language to walking, scrapbooking, and even cooking, there are so many other mindfulness activities you can take up as a hobby. The above are just a few ideas you can consider for inspiration.

FLOWER ARRANGING

As the name suggests, flower arranging is the art of creating beautiful displays of blooms for purposes of decoration or adornment. It’s an ancient art, which dates back centuries, but it’s only now being explored by experts in the UK and US as a way of bringing meditation to the workplace.

The best thing about arranging flowers is that it engages your creative mind. As you commit much of your concentration to turning the blooms into a beautiful work of art, it keeps your mind focused on the present moment. Also, the colorful blooms, the activity itself, and your resulting bouquet will all have a calming effect on your mind.

Simply collect some flowers from your garden or surroundings and start arranging them. Wondering how to get started? You can start by checking out your favorite tulips, roses, or peonies online from a florist or flower delivery service for inspiration. There are also lots of video tutorials on YouTube and other platforms that you can check out for a step-by-step demonstration.

YOGA, MEDITATION, AND TAI-CHI

Taking time out to practice yoga, meditation, or Tai Chi can be a great way to enhance your mental health and well-being. Not only are these soothing to the mind and body, but they can also enhance your mental clarity, your focus, and creativity.

They can even help you relax and get to sleep. A session of yoga or meditation can do wonders for your emotional and psychological well-being.

YOGA: Yoga is simply an ancient mind and body practice with Hindu origins that combines breathing techniques, yoga poses, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote overall wellness. Besides helping improve flexibility and muscle tone, practicing yoga can help bring your body and mind into balance. The ancient Indian practice is known to be effective in reducing stress and warding off anxiety. During the practice, you become more aware of your breath, body, and mind as you stay in the present moment. MEDITATION: Meditation is another calmpromoting activity that you can engage in as a mindfulness hobby. It has been used for millennia as a relaxation technique around the world. The practice simply involves clearing the mind or focusing on your inner self from a quiet and relaxed environment, perhaps surrounded by nature. While there are many different types of meditation, one of the best forms in our case is mindfulness meditation.

It entails preventing your mind from wandering about and instead concentrating on your surroundings and happenings at the moment. By focusing on your breath and body, you can become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and gain insight into yourself.

TAI CHI: Sometimes meditation is used together with slow, controlled moments in the practice of Tai Chi, a form of martial art that can be equally calming and effective in promoting mindfulness.

MINDFUL GARDENING

Gardening can be very calming and therapeutic. Working with plants can help you connect with nature, and the repetitive motions of gardening can be very soothing to the mind, body, and spirit. While at it, get lost in the moment, immersing yourself wholly into the activity.

Shut your mind for a while and feel the soil’s texture. Marvel at the colorful foliage or flowers, or close your eyes and perceive the smell of nature. Listen to the birds or crickets chirping. Think of yourself as a child enjoying some sort of play!

DRAWING OR PAINTING

The act of putting pen to paper or brush to canvas takes concentration and awareness to work effectively. The same is true with painting, as it requires controlling one’s hands to produce effective and even strokes.

It turns out that these activities can also be extra calming too. An artistic hobby such as drawing or painting can be a great way to express yourself and get lost in the moment. They can help you relax, boost mental clarity, and sharpen your focus too. ✦

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