Today, countless people deal with anxiety on a daily basis. Whether you experience anxiety at work, school, or in social situations, finding ways to stay calm and centered can be challenging.
Techniques like observing and changing your negative thought patterns can help. But sometimes, turning to your hobbies and passions is the best way to relieve your anxiety and cultivate a more optimistic mindset. After all, healing from anxiety is a holistic process—and investing your time and energy into something that you truly love is an integral part of healing.
Here’s why making more time for your hobbies and interests can help free you from anxious thinking.
Boost Your Mood
Are you passionate about an activity that gets your body moving? Maybe you used to love running or you’re interested in trying yoga. Or perhaps you enjoy swimming, playing tennis, hiking, or any other sport.
Active hobbies can get your endorphins flowing. These hormones can boost your mood and put a smile on your face! It’s a natural form of relief from anxiety. And you’ll not only feel better physically but mentally too.
Utilize Your Energy
Sometimes, anxiety can feel paralyzing. Other times, it can feel a whole lot like nervous energy and adrenaline. That’s why channeling all of that excess energy into a hobby can help you work through your anxiety. Your brain and body feel on edge—and instead of dwelling on those emotions, you can put that energy into something productive.
But what if your anxiety does tend to sap you of your energy? Knowing that you can turn to a hobby you genuinely love can help you feel that spark of motivation again.
Avoid Ruminating
Rumination is a common symptom of anxiety. A negative thought enters your mind, and you just can’t seem to stop focusing on it! When you’re worried about something, you can spend hours concentrating on nothing but those worries. But excessive ruminating can lead to sleepless nights and stressful days.
So, when you catch yourself ruminating, shifting your focus to an activity you’re passionate about can help you break out of this type of negative thought spiral. Rather than ruminating, you’ll be thinking about your passion, and the activity can serve as a positive form of distraction.
Express Yourself Without Rules
If you find that you typically feel the most anxious at work or in school, you might be nervous about failing to live up to the expectations set by your boss or your professors. Yes, it’s important to do your best in the workplace and the classroom. However, we all need time and space to express ourselves without the need to adhere to a strict set of rules.
That’s where your passions come into play. When you have a creative passion, you have the opportunity to work on projects that mean a lot to you, free of anxiety about following specific rules. You're at total liberty!
Where Holistic Healing Comes In
Finally, it’s important to remember that in addressing any mental health condition, taking a holistic approach is essential. Working on thought exercises, mindful breathing, and other new habits is very helpful in the course of treating anxiety. But you also need to figure out who you truly are when you aren’t being ruled by your anxiety.
By investing your time in your passions, you can begin to redefine yourself. Uncovering your identity after struggling with anxiety can be a fascinating process. And as you spend more time doing the things you truly love, you might notice your confidence improving.
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Are you struggling with anxiety? Making time for your passions and talking to a therapist can help. Reach out to us if you'd like to learn more about anxiety treatment and talk therapy.