When it comes to your health, you already know how important it is to eat well and stay active. But other hobbies and lifestyle changes—that have nothing to do with diet or exercise—can also offer a big payoff for your well-being. Try incorporating a few of these activities into your routine to benefit from reduced stress levels, lesser risk of certain diseases, lower blood pressure, and much more.
1. Knitting and crocheting
2. Volunteering
3. Playing with your pet
4. Cooking
It should come as no surprise that a home-cooked meal is healthier than one you’d get at a restaurant, where dishes are often prepared with lots of salt, butter, and oil. According to a 2014 study, people who regularly eat at home consume about 130 fewer calories daily than those who do not. And teaching children how to cook healthy meals with fresh ingredients has been shown to help curb obesity.
5. Gardening
6. Meditation
7. Coloring
As with knitting, crafty projects such as coloring, drawing, or painting can have powerful mental health benefits. Studies have shown that art therapy can help you relax and ease stress and anxiety. One study published in Western Journal of Medicine concluded that art therapy might help treat depression in troubled adolescents, who can use it as a way to express their feelings. Another study found that creative projects like art therapy, music, and expressive writing could have healing benefits.