When it comes to good self-care, managing a  tolerable level of stress is paramount. And prioritizing your peace above all else is one of the most important steps you can take to increase your well-being and wholeness. So how can you incorporate hobbies into your life that reduce your stress?  Well, stress relieving hobbies can look different for everyone, and certain activities that reduces stress for some people, may not work for others.  But either way, studies have shown that setting aside time to relax and decompress is a great way to relieve depression, anxiety, chronic pain and Chronic Stress.

So ask yourself, what do you gravitate towards when you have free time? What makes you feel more calm and collected after a hard, long day? Think about how this activity affects you emotionally, do you still feel anxious or tense afterwards?  Or perhaps you feel more at ease and quiet inside?

Also consider what you might be thinking about when you do these hobbies. Because how your thoughts change or are soothed during these activities are important and part of what helps you decompress.

So, without further ado, here are 20 things you can do, that have been proven to reduce stress. Try one, try all, try as many as you need to, until you find something that helps you feel more at ease and relaxed.

1. Breathing exercises. Instead of the shallow breaths most of us take normally, focus on taking deep, even breaths through your diaphragm/abs without lifting your shoulders.
2. Taking a nap. Believe it or not, studies have shown that regular naps can reduce stress.
3. Meditating. You can do this either by clearing your mind or just by focusing on positive thoughts and practicing thinking about all the things you have to be grateful for.
4. Try Yoga or Pilates. A lot of people find it helps them release pent-up stress and helps calms them down so they feel more centered in their body.
5. Get a massage. Many people tend to hold stress in their physical body, and massages can be an excellent way to release the built-up tension in your muscles and limbs.
6. Play your favorite music and dance or if you don’t know how to dance, look into taking a dance class. Sometimes just moving to music is a great outlet not only to express yourself but to get yourself out of your head and into the present. Also, it can help you get more in tune with your body and reduce tension.
7. If you are crafty and sentimental, try creating a photo album or scrapbook. It’s a fun way to decompress while you’re using your creative side.
8. Get in the Kitchen and start baking or cooking for fun, you can even take a course if you don’t have much experience.
9. Paint! Or if you’re feeling less than confident, then see if there is a Paint and Sip class in your area and learn to paint for fun.
10. Start a small flower or vegetable garden. As long as it’s relaxing for you, and doesn’t just turn into endless yard work projects, gardening has been proven to reduce stress.
11. Art. Sculpting, drawing, or coloring adult coloring books are all great ways to relieve stress. There is a reason art therapy is becoming more popular because it allows you to tap into your deeper feelings and thoughts that you may not have known were even there. Also color does have deeper meanings behind it, which can be a window into how you’re really feeling. This means that using color can be a great way to bring subconscious emotions to the surface so you can let any pent-up emotions be released.
12. Photography can also be considered art therapy and is just as useful because it gives you an outlet to express yourself through visual art media.
13. Alternatively, you can try journaling or creative writing, to help get your thoughts and feelings out and relieve anxiety. Plus, there have been plenty of studies that show positive physical health benefits for those who express themselves through writing.
14. Sewing and knitting are two great ways that allow you to shut your mind off and work with your hands. Also it can help take your mind away from your worries and help you reach a more meditative state of mind.
15. Relaxing sports: Golfing, swimming, Horseback riding, Tai Chi and water sports have all been proven to have relaxing effects that reduce stress.
16. Hiking in nature: This doesn’t have to be an aerobic exercise or an uphill climb, it can simply be walking through nature and appreciating the sights around you, while letting the soothing sounds of nature melt your stress. It can also help quiet your mind, allowing you the freedom to think without any distractions.
17. You can also try learning an instrument, or just listen to music. While music is a known stress reliever, it can also evoke emotion and can help determine your internal feelings. Music also can help reveal things about who you are and it can help you express your emotions. So pay attention to how the music you listen to makes you feel emotional. Does it help calm you down and ease the tension? Or does it help you let out your pent-up feelings? Music that can do either of these things is an excellent way to feel less stressed.
18. Reading is a great way to reduce stress because it allows you to shift your focus from daily stressors. And it can even lower your heart rate and ease tension in your muscles.
19. Crafting: This can mean a lot of things, you can build something, decorate something, or just be creative upcycling random thrift stores find. Crafting can allow you to be creative while also feeling like you have something you can control. Which can help ease the stress from things in our life that we can’t control. And the bonus is that you’ll have something cool to show for it once you’re finished!
20. For some people, organizing can be a great way to calm the mind, and feel accomplished while allowing you the stillness to decompress from a long day.