Top 10 Hobbies to Reduce Stress

Stress is one of those things that affects every human being in the world. No matter what the reason may be for the stress, people need to figure out a way to get around it but that usually ends up causing more of it. Work is one of the leading factors of stress in Americans these days and that also brings about the problem of money. There just never seems to be enough of it to get what you want, need, or to go around. How else can we get by in life without money? How can we make money without a good job? How can we get a good job without experience? It's a never-ending cycle and just a few of the reasons that we are all so stressed in our daily lives.

There are answers out there though that could possibly help reduce stress and maybe make life a little it easier to take. Such answers won't necessarily take the problems of life away from you, but maybe they'll at least make them a tad more bearable. One of the easiest ways to help reduce stress and calm your nerves is to get yourself a hobby. But coming up with which hobby is best for you might actually make you pull your hair out and put you in even a worse position then you were before. That's why my job is to give you ten of the best hobbies you could pick up to help reduce your stress.

These are in no particular order:

~ Painting/Drawing - It's so easy just to pick up a pencil or paintbrush and start putting your visions down on paper. You may be saying to yourself, "But I have no artistic ability." That doesn't matter because there are plenty of places out there that will teach you how to do it and get your creativity out of you in no time at all. One of the best places that do this is making its way across the Southeast and it's called Corks N Canvas. Sign up for a class with friends, bring yourself a few bottles of wine, and get your art assignment for the evening. Before you know it, your designated driver will be taking you all home with a beautiful piece of art done by your own hand.

Corks N Canvas may only be found in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida so far but chances are you can find a similar place in your area with a little bit of research.

~ Reading - So few people understand and realize how enjoyable and stress-free it is just getting immersed in a good book. Many say that "reading is boring" or "I can never find a book I truly enjoy." Finding the right book is the hardest part but that is why bookstores with big lounge chairs and libraries were created. Head over to one and spend an hour walking up and down the aisles or flipping through the first chapter of something that catches your eye. Once you find that book, you'll get caught up in the pages and find yourself pining to have it in your hands again if even for just thirty minutes a night. Do yourself a favor...just find "the" book and then get lost in a world that isn't yours. It'll do you good.

~ Video Games - They're not just for kids or "geeks" anymore folks. Video games can honestly put your mind at ease and let your body relax. With all the different gaming systems out now; there are games for every walk of life and every age group. Whether you're into action, sports, cooking, word games, fighting games, or even just exploring the jungle or oceans...there is a game for you. Video games are honestly the way I got through college. Whenever a big test or paper would stress me out, it would be video games that came to my rescue and calmed me down. After the exam was over or the paper was handed in, I'd walk straight over to the campus Union and play arcade games for about an hour. All my cares were gone after that and the rest of the day was smooth sailing.

~ Volunteer Work - No I'm not crazy by suggesting you do even more work to help you relax and get rid of stress, but you'd be amazed just how much it can help. And by "help," I mean for you and others. Checking out what volunteer work is available in your area is a great way to give back to people that need help while also giving you something to do and letting you feel good about yourself. Check out organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Make A Wish Foundation, or local food banks to see what kind of help they need and when you can volunteer your time. Trust me everyone that you may work your butt off sometimes, but when it's all said and done, you'll feel great inside and out.

~ Photography - It could be an expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be. My father actually picked up an old 35MM on the cheap from a flea market one time and he takes some of the most beautiful pictures these eyes have ever seen. Let me also tell you that he has no professional photo experience and has never taken a class in his life. All he spends is a few bucks on film and then to have it developed which gives him a cheap and very relaxing hobby. He has always told me that there is nothing like finding the "perfect shot" even if it took two or three hours to get just one.

~ Make A Photo Album - This hobby goes hand-in-hand with the last one, but there are ways to do it without worrying about taking new pictures. Go through your attic or basement or closet and pull out all of your old pictures that you threw in shoeboxes or plastic containers. Take the time and look through them all first and reminisce about the times gone by, but then figure out a way to organize them. After that you can do a number of things including putting them in photo albums, scanning them into your computer, or even creating slideshows with them. It's a great way to spend your time while also thinking about the times of your life that have long been gone.

~ Go Outside - Believe it or not, there is so much to do outside that it isn't even funny. Sports, taking a walk, gardening, and detailing your car are just a few of the ways you can spend time outside. Getting some fresh air no matter what you are doing will always do you good and give you a healthier feeling. Take pride in what you do while you're outside as well. After finishing a game of football or planting a beautiful garden; sit back and relax for a few minutes and admire the work you did or the exercise you just participated in. You'll feel good about yourself and depending on the time of day, may even be able to take in a gorgeous sunset.

~ Start A Movie Club - See what friends you can find or even advertise it in local paper circulations/online and start a movie club. Have weekly meetings somewhere (coffee shop, restaurant, etc...) and all decide together upon a movie a week to watch. The next week you'll meet up again and discuss the movie you saw and your thoughts on it. After that you can come up with your assignment for the next week. Not everyone always has time to read a book nor do they read fast enough to keep up with a book club so movie clubs make it a bit simpler for them. Like with books though, let yourself get so immersed in the movies you watch that you forget about everything for even just a few hours. Knowing the differing opinions of what others think on a movie you just saw is also a great way to spend an evening.

~ Knitting/Crocheting - Now here is a hobby that I've never actually taken part in, but have known tons of people that adapted it as their own. Things are so easy to head to a local craft store and pick up some yarn, needles, and designs that you won't even realize you have everything you need before you do. There are "How To" books out there which are super thin making this an easy hobby to pick up and in virtually no time at all. Printed patterns also make it simpler for first-timers because they don't have to worry about free styling it until they get experience under their belts...er, needles.

~ Writing - My favorite of all, writing. It is one of the most relaxing and easiest ways to reduce stress that it takes absolutely nothing to do it but your mind and a blank slate in front of you. There is no need to worry about whether it is something that will ever be read by anyone else or perused by millions, just write. Let it be your thoughts, a short story, a children's tale, your memoirs, a couple jokes, your daily routine, or even a recipe for the perfect hamburger. Writing will allow you to get all of your thoughts out of your head and into print before you so that you don't need to keep everything bottled up inside. For those of you looking to make a little money too, writing can be quite prosperous. There are no less then fifteen or twenty websites out there looking for freelance writers to write about anything and everything from sports to house cleaning.

Hobbies are a way of life, but most people just never think about them enough to find one they like and enjoy. Try any of these ten and I can almost guarantee you that you'll find yourself a lot more relaxed and able to deal with the daily grind a lot better.