16 Best Hobbies for Anxiety and Depression

Have you found yourself asking what hobbies help with anxiety, or what activities are good for anxiety and depression? Then this post is for you! In this post, I list the 16 best hobbies for anxiety and depression known to improve mental health.

Anxiety and depression commonly occur together casting a shadow on the lives of millions.

But while the journey towards healing is a complicated one, including hobbies as part of a healthy lifestyle can help you find peace and joy even when dealing with life stressors.

A holistic approach to treating anxiety and depression including therapy, medications, and healthy lifestyle habits is usually recommended to manage anxiety and depression.

And relaxing activities such as the best hobbies for anxiety and depression are a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

So in this post, we will examine how engaging in the right activities such as hobbies not only provides us with a reprieve from the relentless grasp of anxiety and depression but also serves as a powerful tool for self-discovery, personal growth, and emotional healing.

One of the things I appreciate about hobbies is their ability to engage the mind and promote a sense of serenity, allowing me to escape from worries anxious thoughts, and a depressive mood.

So if you are looking for a new hobby to lift your mood or calm your mind, these 16 hobbies for anxiety and depression can be a balm for your mind, offering a sense of purpose, joy, and a much-needed respite from the daily mental health struggles.

WHY ARE GOOD Hobbies FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION?

Easy hobbies for depression and anxiety such as reading,journaling, and coloring, not only boost your mood but are soothing and calming as well. This post explores even more hobbies to help with depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately in our crazy fast-paced world, mental health struggles like anxiety and depression are becoming more and more common.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental illnesses affecting 40 million adults in the US.

And there are millions more anxiety sufferers worldwide. According to the World Population Review, the Global Data Health Exchange estimates that 251-310 million people worldwide suffer from depression.

But while practicing hobbies is not an automatic cure for anxiety or depression, hobbies are a great way to relax and reduce stress which often calms the mind and improves your mood.

Whether it’s playing a musical instrument, gardening, or physical activities like dancing, hiking, or meditative activities like yoga, and knitting, hobbies reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve overall health and wellness.

Hobbies are mindful and meditative leisure activities and therefore a great way to ease anxiety and depression.

In fact, studies show that hobbies improve mental health because they engage your mind so you are no longer focusing on anxious or depressive thoughts.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that engaging in creative activities helps one to cultivate positive psychological functioning.

Engaging in a hobby you love helps to fight and purge negative emotions and is also great at boosting self-confidence, and quieting repetitive negative thoughts that usually accompany anxiety and depression.

When you engage in healthy hobbies you also develop a variety of skills thus enriching your life, which further improves your mental health.

Hobbies can also help you overcome feelings of social anxiety as you gain more confidence as well as help to overcome loneliness and improve your overall sense of self. And you know one benefit of high self-esteem? It can help you beat anxiety and depression as well.

And if you are an introvert, there are many hobbies in this list perfect for introverts with anxiety and depression as well.

I believe there is a hobby for everyone, you just have to figure out what you enjoy and what boosts your mental health.

Also, hobbies such as dancing, hiking, or yoga improve your physical fitness and your self-confidence which also improves your mental healing.

So that said, let’s dive into this list of the best hobbies for anxiety and depression.

But before we get started on this list, please note that the advice given here is not meant to replace recommendations from your health care professional or your mental health provider. Please also note I am not a certified therapist. This information is gathered from research and my own point of view.

If you are experiencing debilitating anxiety and depression please seek professional help. 

This post contains affiliate links. See the disclosure here. 

BEST HOBBIES FOR PEOPLE WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Journaling

Journaling is one of the best hobbies for anxiety and depression because journaling offers so many benefits for anxiety and depression including the following:

• Journaling offers a creative and emotional outlet and a means of expressing yourself, both of which can boost your mood.

• Journaling helps you cope when you are going through a difficult time that may make you feel anxious or depressed.
• Writing things down somehow eases the burden of bottled-up emotions. Journaling also offers a great space for the private release of pent-up emotions and thoughts.

• Journaling allows one to release negative thoughts, anxiety, and sadness.

• Journaling offers a space for self-reflection and insight. Journaling encourages introspection and self-reflection. When you put your thoughts and experiences into words, it enables you to gain a better understanding of your emotions, triggers, and patterns.

• It can provide insights into the underlying causes of anxiety and depression, helping you identify areas for personal growth.

• Journaling offers a sense of control. Anxiety and depression can often make you feel powerless and overwhelmed. Journaling gives you a sense of control over your own narrative. You have the power to shape your thoughts and experiences on the page, which can instill a feeling of empowerment and boost self-confidence.
• Another reason why journaling is a great hobby for depression and anxiety is it helps you to problem solve. Journaling allows you to examine your challenges and worries more objectively. It can help you break down complex issues, analyze them from different angles, and think of potential solutions. By engaging with your thoughts through writing, you may discover new perspectives and alternative ways of thinking about your problems.

• Journaling is mindful. The act of writing can be meditative and calming. Focusing your attention on the present moment and the flow of words can provide a break from ruminating thoughts or anxious feelings and helps you shift your focus away from distressing thoughts and toward the present activity.

Luckily, adopting journaling is easy. You can journal in a notebook and just do a brain dump and let all your thoughts out on paper.

This offers great mental relief. It’s like taking the trash out of your mind. Or like talking to someone which makes the load feel much lighter. This is a great way to improve your mental health.

Some people swear by bullet journaling. Bullet journaling is awesome because it involves creativity and is such a mindful and meditative process, that is therefore quite calming.

Another way to focus your writing is to use journal prompts. Guided journal prompts help so you don’t stare at a blank page wondering what to write about or how to get started.

And when you are depressed journal prompts are great help. If you need mental health-guided journal prompts, these journal prompts can help you get started. 

When you use guided prompts you can journal specifically to hit those anxious thoughts head-on so as to reign in your irrational mind.

Try journal prompts for anxiety as well to calm your mind and reduce runaway anxious thoughts.

It’s a good idea to have a notebook and a pen handy most of the time so you can quickly journal when you need to. Also include journaling as part of the morning and night routine and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your mental health.

Creative writing

Creative writing is another fun outlet for anyone with anxiety and depression.

As a creative writer, you can write short stories, novels, or even poetry and songs. These are also forms of expressive artistic pursuits that offer an outlet to pent-up emotions, and anxious thoughts.

And when you’re in a creative mindset and fully immersed in the process, you’ll feel energized and focused, with no room for feelings of anxiety.

Plus the final creation may be a masterpiece that uplifts you and others.

Yoga

Yoga is one of the best hobbies for anxiety and depression offering both physical and mental health benefits.

The best part is yoga is easily accessible and can be done right in the comfort of your home.  According to NIH stress and depression are linked and stress may cause or increase symptoms of depression.

Therefore, calming hobbies like yoga can help reduce stress and in effect depression and anxiety. Through gentle poses and mindful breaths, the meditative relaxation practices of yoga induce a sense of calm, and reduce anxiety, rumination, stress, and depression, helping you cultivate resilience and a brighter outlook on life.

Also, gentle physical movements in yoga may have both anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects according to research.

 So go ahead, unroll that yoga mat, give yoga a try, and vastly improve your well-being.

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Gardening

If you are looking for a new hobby to improve your mental well-being you should try your hand at gardening.  

Gardening offers many health benefits for the mind as well as physical health.

There is just something so calming when you commune with nature, and when you actually plant something, nurture it and see it grow. 

The great thing about gardening is even if you don’t have a garden you can do container gardening and still enjoy the gardening experience.

You can also do aerial gardening or lend a hand at a community garden.

It is so very satisfying to see a garden you have worked on providing food for you and others.

Gardening also improves anxiety, stress, and depression in the following ways:

Bacteria in the soil may actually activate brain cells to produce serotonin when you have your hands in the dirt- the bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae can trigger the brain to produce serotonin, scientists have said.

• Gardening offers physical activity helping your body produce endorphins, your happiness chemicals.  This physical exercise helps more blood reach all your cells including brain cells delivering more oxygen to neural transmitters.
•  Research has shown that gardening decreases the level of stress hormones, especially cortisol, decreasing stress and improving mood.
• Spending time in your garden is a great way to get vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins ( in fact is it not really a vitamin but a prohormone). Vitamin D is essential in mental health, and a deficiency has been associated with mental illnesses like anxiety depression, and others. Being outdoors and getting vitamin D directly from the sun improves mood.
• Besides it is now well documented by research that many people especially in temperate climates don’t get enough vitamin D.  Gardening is a simple way to improve your Vitamin D status and mood.
• Gardening occupies the mind as you pull the weeds,  prune branches, plant, and admire the beauty around you your mind is engrossed and occupied so you have no space for intrusive and random thoughts.
• The bounty from your very own vegetable garden is also a great way to nourish your brain and body with healthy food.  
• Gardening also relieves stress and anxiety because it feeds your senses as you are surrounded by wonderful scents of plants and flowers. 

Sculpting

Are you the kind of person who enjoys sculpting and working with wood? Sculpting is such a relaxing hobby and a creative art form that can easily help you forget your worries and boost your mood.

As a sculptor, you can create so many fun and useful things that will bring you joy. From furniture to one-of-a-kind decorative items, let your imagination go.

Sculpting is meditative and so it quiets the mind as you concentrate on creating that masterpiece.

The creative process of sculpting like so many creative hobbies is therapeutic and that’s why sculpting is one of the best hobbies for anxiety and depression.

Sculpting is a great hobby to help one fight worrisome thoughts that can lead to anxiety and depression.

Creating something new from scratch is also very satisfying and rewarding.

With this creative hobby you can let your imagination go and create many new things for your own use or to gift to others.

Plus as a sculptor, your creativity may lead to a lucrative business opportunity that will not only provide you with money but will boost your self-esteem and confidence.

Painting And Drawing 

All artistic pursuits including painting and drawing are very therapeutic. In fact, being immersed in an art project is as good as talk therapy, and maybe even better research finds.

As you draw and paint, you can process thoughts and emotions and express them. And that is the cathartic healing power of art such as painting or drawing.

Many artistic forms including drawing and painting require total focus and really being in the moment, harnessing the power of imagination.

Painting and drawing are relaxing and enjoyable hobbies you can do during your leisure time and are perfect ways to improve your mood.

The very activity of painting or drawing gets your mind in a singular focus and leaves no space for anxious thoughts.

And seeing your masterpiece is bound to bring you joy, boost your mood, and improve your self-confidence.

Research shows that engaging in art lowers the stress hormone cortisol. That means drawing and painting can help lower stress levels which is great because stress is commonly associated with anxiety and depression.

Drawing and painting as a form of art can help you process traumatic events that often lead to depression, and that is why art therapy is so useful in healing anxiety and depression.

So drawing or painting are two creative art forms that provide not only escape from troublesome thoughts but since the completed work can bring so much joy, these creative hobbies are great for anxiety and depression.

Adult Coloring

Adult coloring is a fun and relaxing hobby for anxiety and stress relief. If you are like me and can’t draw anything except a stick figure, well how about just coloring?

And to make it even more fun, and mood-boosting, choose adult coloring books with affirmations or good quotes so you feel even more encouraged and brighten your mood as well.

Coloring is a great activity for anyone who suffers from anxiety and or depression.

The process of coloring removes the focus on worry thus boosting your mood. You get to play with colors and enjoy creating something even if you didn’t draw from scratch, you are still creative.

Coloring like many artistic activities is an effective way to calm the mind because it has a meditative quality that helps reduce stress and anxiety and reduce depression.

Try adult coloring and enjoy this easy form of meditation. 

Get started with this 100 Amazing Patterns adult coloring book. Calm your mind and feel zen by creating some gorgeous patterns.

Pottery

Image by marcelkessler from Pixabay

Pottery is one of the best hobbies for people with anxiety and or depression.

Pottery making is fun creative and  meditative and therefore a great way to fight anxiety or depression

Can you just see yourself fashioning that clay, smoothing it into just the shape you want?

The movements are so soothing and calming.

And oh, the things you can create if you are into this creative and fun hobby!

From vases to plates, bowls, mug platters, and more, just let your imagination take off.

Pottery is another very zenlike activity.

Besides feeling the clay in your fingers, smoothing it out and shaping your creation is so satisfying. I think pottery making is by far the best hobby for anxiety.

Can you visualize how relaxing it is as you smooth your hands over your creation, as it gently spins, and as you shape the pottery?

As you matter of fact when you are shaping and smoothing your hands over the clay you are meditating.

Can you feel how calming that would be?

Then when you are all done you have a beautiful vase, pot, plate, cup, or really anything you want to create.

You also get to decorate your creation with beautiful colors and make a wonderful masterpiece.

The whole process is soothing and calming and healing.

Try pottery as a new hobby you can engage in to boost your mental health and ease anxiety, and stress, and help lift depression.

If you would love to learn any of these artistic skills, just enroll in a class.

Now it is even easier as you can take all sorts of classes online.

The learning can be so much fun and what a confidence boost!

When your self-esteem is high due to feeling accomplished your mental health improves too.

Knitting

I love knitting and I find it so relaxing.  This is my go-to hobby whenever I need a mental health day. I do enjoy crocheting as well.

Knitting and crocheting are so calming and relaxing.

I think knitting and crocheting are among the best hobbies for anxiety and depression because they take your mind off of worries while your mind is engrossed in the movement of the needles and the project.

Knitting has this mindful quality to it and therefore I find it so calming.

Knitting calms my mind because as long as my hands are moving to the rhythm of the needles, I am in zen and my spirit is calm.

You can take it further and spin the yarn to boost your mood even more if you are feeling inspired.

Spinning the wool is so meditative and will transport you into a zen meditative state that will leave you feeling calm and happier.

Also joining a knitting club can further benefit your mental health. Being part of a group provides a social connection that is very important for mental health making this one of the best hobbies for depression and stress relief.

Want to learn how to knit and enjoy this hobby’s fantastic benefits? Here is a beginner-friendly video to help you.

Quilting

Quilt making is so creative and fascinating.  When you quilt you have to plan the patterns and measure and cut various shapes just right.

So your mind is occupied leaving no room for intrusive anxious thoughts. When you quilt you make beautiful quilt designs many of which are fantastic to look at.

Such an achievement brings joy and fulfillment. When you have something fulfilling to do, it is hard to feel depressed or anxious. 

Photography

The best thing about photography is that the subject matter is endless. 

Photography allows you to capture the beauty of any moment and is a great way to explore your world.

Going outdoors and exploring nature through the lens of a camera allows you to get out of your head and concentrate on the natural scenery around you.

Even just taking pictures of other people allows you to capture their happy emotions and that can help you feel better too.

You can combine photography with other mindful activities like hiking and reap the benefits of exercise, enjoying nature, and capturing it on film to enjoy later.

Photography is a great hobby to relieve stress.

 Whatever the subject matter you choose being in the moment will keep those intrusive thoughts away and also boost your happiness. 

Do you like to read for fun? Reading is another fun hobby that is great for stress relief. 

First of all reading books such as novels can be so entertaining and so much fun. 

A 2009 study found that reading was as effective as yoga or humor in relieving stress making it a great hobby for mental health.

Reading takes you to other places and times and you meet people and different problems that take your mind off your own issues.

While you are reading your heart rate and blood pressure drop meaning you feel calm and relaxed. 

Some books are so funny that they make you laugh out loud, and what better way to lift your mood?

Reading informs, educates, entertains, and can even help us see a different perspective. Reading can help you change your mindset.

Sometimes you may encounter characters or real people in books who have dealt with the same problems as you or even worse. This helps you feel encouraged. 

Reading can also challenge our way of thinking, and this helps us grow. 

When you are engrossed in a storyline, your mind has no space left to be anxious worrisome, or even moody, or even bored.

Reading books for self-improvement is especially good for personal growth and mental health. 

See this list of books to read that will improve your life.

And to benefit even more from your love of reading, you can join a book club.

A book club offers you a new way of connecting with like-minded people. Having other people who you share your love of books with is uplifting and great for your mental health.

It is true that sharing our interests with others offers a more rich experience. Plus you make new friends making your world much richer and happier.  

There are so many genres to choose from but for a happier mood and to beat stress and anxiety I like light fun reading. Humor is good for mental health.

Here are a few of my top recommendations. Yes, humor is still the best medicine, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression.

I love Helen Finding’s The Diary of Bridget Jones. 

If you want a good laugh The Diary of Bridget Jones will get a good old belly laugh, the kind that leaves of feeling happy and relaxed.

And if you find you love that book, then you will want the sequel, Bridget Jones the Edge of Reason. Both are quite hilarious light readings that will take your mind off things.

And here is one more light reading recommendation to boost your mood.

Angela Terry’s Charming Falls Apart is a well-crafted coming-of-age story that is wise yet fun to read.

I am sure you can find a few more books that will lift your mood and improve your mental health. A trip to the library or the bookstore will provide several books to engage your fancy.

Reading brings me so much joy, is so enriching and so it is definitely among the best hobbies for anxiety and depression.

A good story can transport you, can change the way you think, and change your perspective which is bound to improve your mental health.

Swimming

Swimming is another great hobby for anxiety and depression because it offers many mental health benefits. First, swimming is a form of exercise, and as such physical exertion helps others release endorphins thus lifting your mood.

Naturally, when you swim, you have to focus on your breathing pattern, and you also breathe deeper. which helps to keep your mind calm. 

And when swimming, you have to focus not only on your breathing pattern, on counting your strokes, and how many laps you have swum, therefore silencing your overactive mind.

 Also, the repetitive nature of your strokes, as you swim, is very calming and a fun way to relieve stress. Swimming leaves you feeling so relaxed and happy.

According to Psychology Today, swimming as a form of exercise improves blood flow to the brain providing the brain with more oxygen.

And increased oxygen to the brain helps with neurogenesis in the brain especially the hippocampus the memory and emotions regulation center.

And according to the article in Psychology Today, these new neurons are particularly important in depression because they enable cognitive flexibility, and the ability to process new information and to change. 

The best part about swimming as a hobby for mental health is that all you need is 30 minutes. According to Swimming.org, swimming for just 30 minutes three days a week lowers stress levels, improves sleep, and lowers anxiety and depression. 

Cooking

Cooking is a creative hobby and a great skill to learn. Cooking has many mental health benefits.

When you are engaged in chopping, mincing, and stirring you are your mind will focus on the cooking process keeping anxious thoughts away. 

Creating a meal you enjoy or sharing a meal you have prepared with other people is a joyful thing as well. The best part is that creating great tasty meals is a great confidence booster too. 

A 2018 study found that cooking offered psychosocial benefits. Everyone enjoys good foods and learning to cook for others is just as fun. 

And making and eating healthy meals ensures you are feeding your brain the nutrients necessary for brain health.

Not a good cook? No worries! These days you can easily follow an online master cook, or a recipe from Pinterest, YouTube, or TikTok. 

Or you can have more fun cooking with others by enrolling in a cooking class.

That way you also have a chance to meet new people and make new friends.  Sometimes, loneliness can contribute to depression. And engaging with others in the creative process is a fantastic way to meet new people and enrich your world.

Cooking will benefit your mood and mental health both in good nutrition and as a form of meditative therapy making cooking a great hobby for anxiety and to improve depression.

Research shows that some nutrients can cause mental health problems when deficient, and cooking and eating healthy meals will prevent deficiency.

Read these related posts on mental health and nutrition:

10 Common Nutrient Deficiencies That Cause Fatigue

The Best Soothing Teas That Calm Anxiety and Reduce Stress Naturally

20 Powerful Superfoods for BrainHealth

Depression Nutrition: Food that Improves Mood and Mental Health

So get that inner chef out and harness the powers of cooking as a creative hobby that is good for your mood and total health.

Overall cooking is a great hobby for anxiety and depression and an amazingly useful skill to have.

Cooking is a skill that will boost your confidence, and even save you money because you can eat at home more. And you know what is in your food and you can create meals that are rich in nutrients to benefit your overall health.

Creating And Playing Music

Playing a musical instrument is so much fun. You can spend hours of your free time lost in music. We all know music is good for the soul, mood, and mental health.

Music can be calming or uplifting and like art therapy, music is also a great way to express your feelings, you can let go.

Music is healing, and being able to play for yourself and others is a fantastic way to spread joy. This in turn boosts your mental health.

Plus music is also a form of art therapy because it eases and calms the mind, reduces anxiety, and improves a low mood.

Furthermore, music also improves cognitive function, research finds.

Music stimulates the mind and can actually improve the way the brain functions.

You can be lost for hours in a blissful cloud of creativity when you are creating or playing music.

And that is why playing a musical instrument is one of the best hobbies for anxiety and depression.

The Outdoors

Being an outdoorsman or woman is exhilarating and is an excellent way to spend your free time. There are so many fun activities to choose from in the great outdoors.

You can go on hikes, camping, fishing, picnicking, and just explore the outdoor places close or far.

Hiking is a great form of exercise, providing obvious benefits for physical health as well as mental health.

There is no way you can have a low mood when you are busy exploring the trails because being in nature has such a positive effect on mental health.

Plus the exercise helps to release endorphins, your happy hormones so you feel relaxed and happy.

However, the very act of walking, as in hiking, or just taking a brisk walk provides great exercise, and fresh air, relieves muscle tension, and is exhilarating.

Picture yourself standing at the top of the mountain looking at the wonder all around, or walking by a brook somewhere.

And maybe enjoying a picnic under a gorgeous tree.

Try going outdoors more and you will find that this will bring more peace to your mind. It will soothe the nerves and lift your mood. 

Blogging

I love blogging. First of all, blogging can be such a rewarding creative pursuit.

There is so much involved in blogging and while you are engrossed in the writing process your mind has no time for intrusive thoughts.

When you blog you can help others by sharing what you know which boosts your confidence.

Blogging has a lot of elements that require a certain amount of focus and discipline but is so fulfilling.

When you succeed as a blogger the reward is immense- both monetary and the sense of accomplishment that is bound to make you feel proud of yourself.

Now blogging is hard and one has to be careful to find balance. Without that balance, it can be frustrating. So go into it with an open mind and be sure to take breaks.

I do enjoy the creative process involved in writing a post, creating graphics, engaging with other bloggers online, and so many other elements of blogging.

These creative pursuits so fully occupy the mind so that I have a singular focus and it takes my mind off other thoughts that would otherwise have my mind racing.

Try blogging as a creative pursuit and see if it is a good fit for you.

You might actually be able to quit that anxiety-invoking job or that job that sinks your mood every single day.

Dancing

Dancing is not only good exercise but is also good for emotional health. And the good thing is you can just dance in your own living room. And you can also learn a new skill such as ballroom dancing and take dancing to the next level.

If you want to take on dancing as a hobby, take some dance classes and try different dances.

This is a great way to learn a new skill and get out of your comfort zone.

Plus taking a dance class is a fun way to meet new people and expand your social connections as well.

And of course, becoming an accomplished dancer is bound to boost your self-confidence and this can ease anxiety and feelings of depression.  

It is true, that confident people feel better about themselves and struggle less with mental health issues.

Since dancing is a form of exercise, it helps you release endorphins the happiness hormones which boost your mood. And that makes dancing one of the hobbies to help depression and reduce stress and anxiety.

More Relaxing Hobbies For Better Mental Health

If you still need to see more hobbies for anxiety and depression, here are a few more hobbies to choose from.

• Working on puzzles such as sudoku, jiggle puzzles, and crossword puzzles
• Singing
• playing team sports
• Volunteering in the community
• Scrapbooking

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BEST HOBBIES FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Do Hobbies Help With Anxiety?

The answer is yes. As discussed above, many creative hobbies are very engrossing and mentally captivating.

This leaves your mind occupied so you are not focused on anxious thoughts or thoughts that would make you anxious.

Many hobbies also provide a form of soothing and calming meditative process that quiets your mind.

What Are Good Hobbies For Depressed People?

There are many hobbies that can help ease depression. These can be quiet restful hobbies like reading, writing, and crafting or solving crossword or jigsaw puzzles to group sports when you have the energy to participate.

But the more active you are the more likely you are to feel more energized and happy.

It is important to keep in mind that hobbies are not a cure and your involvement depends on the degree of depression. Clinical depression requires clinical and therapy but hobbies can help.

What Hobbies Can Help With Mental Health?

Any healthy hobby that makes you happy is great for your mental health. Such hobbies are so many from creative hobbies like knotting, crocheting, adult coloring, running, exercising, and yoga, are all great hobbies for mental health.

What Are Some Hobbies For Anxiety?

The best hobbies for anxiety are those meditative quiet and creative hobbies such as pottery making, coloring, knitting, crafting, and writing.

Exerting hobbies like gardening, fitness, and hiking are also good for anxiety because they all involve and engage the mind leaving no space for anxious thoughts.

Final Words

Anxiety and depression affect many people and can be very debilitating. Having a relaxing hobby can help improve your mental health. 

Hobbies can also help you develop new skills which boost your self-esteem which also improves feelings of anxiety and depression. 

So, if you are looking for a new hobby, I hope this list of hobbies for anxiety and depression provides you with a few new hobbies you can try and improve your mental health.

Having a hobby is the perfect way to spend your spare time in a fun relaxing activity to relieve stress and anxiety, and improve depression and total mental wellbeing.

Read next

The best hobbies for introverts

How to cope with anxiety naturally

14 Best mood-boosting supplements 

Hobbies For Anxiety And Depression

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