Research published in 2018 in the journal Behavioral Sciences found that creative arts therapies (art, music, dance, drama) prevent stress and improve stress management. “[These creative activities] give us a temporary respite from focusing on whatever day-to-day problems we’re experiencing,” says Chloe Carmichael, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. “Plus, opening up our creative capacity can help make us more effective problem solvers, which can reduce stress.” Hobbies to promote stress relief are limited only by your imagination. Calming activities don’t always have to be expensive, require expertise, or take up a lot of time. “Creative activities at their best elicit a state of flow, a sense of engagement and letting go, without conscious control,” says Margaret Moore, executive coach, CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation, and coauthor of Organize Your Emotions, Optimize Your Life. In other words, “the controlling, thinking mind is set aside during creative flow states, which feels good even if the activity is intense, taking your mind off things.” Learning more about creative hobbies—and how to do them—is just a mouse click away. YouTube is one fabulous resource for watching tutorials and listening in on lessons. Pace also recommends searching for learning groups and clubs online and through social media. Here are a few creative, stress-busting hobby ideas to get you started. RELATED: These Online Art Classes Make It Easy for Anyone to Create a Masterpiece
