The days are cold and dark and the holidays are over. This season can bring a host of mental health challenges. Loneliness and isolation can set in as gatherings with friends and family decrease. Many feel guilty because they have given up on their good intentions. And others suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which means the low light and cold weather cause depression and anxiety. In addition, it is more difficult to be outside or active.
Indoor winter activities
That’s why winter is the perfect time to discover new hobbies and activities that will bring peace and joy into your life. This collection of 5 indoor winter hobbies focuses on activities that help bring mindfulness, reduce stress, cultivate happiness, and strengthen bonds. Finally, each of these activities involves working with your hands, an essential part of an increasingly digital world, which keeps us grounded and connected to the people around us.
Knitting or crocheting
A hobby that is perfect for winter is knitting or crocheting. Developing your skills with a crochet or needles will not only help you relax and de-stress, but it will also provide you with the perfect clothes and accessories for the weather. The repetitive, rhythmic movement helps calm anxiety and helps people cope with everything from a deep personal loss to a bad day at the office. Knitting and crocheting can help create connections as you share your creations with those around you. Because knitting and crocheting keeps your hands busy, this hobby is especially helpful for those working to overcome addictive behaviors, replace poor coping strategies, or want to manage their weight. Research shows that knitting or crocheting lowers blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol. Find a tutorial online or join a club and find new friends with your new hobby.
Drawing or painting
Whether or not you see yourself as an artist, painting or sketching brings a number of benefits. Art therapy has long been used as a way to bring out emotions and memories, deal with trauma or loss, and approach life with a more positive attitude. Here are some reasons why you should try art this winter:
- The focus and observation required to create a work of art extends attention span and helps you practice mindfulness.
- Creating art both activates the reward center of our brain and lowers cortisol in our blood. This makes it a great way to de-stress and a perfect hobby for those trying to give up a bad habit or behavior.
- This creative outlet is also associated with cultivating a more positive outlook on life and reducing negative thoughts and emotions.
For those who find sketching or painting intimidating, start with an adult coloring book, a paint-by-numbers, or take a beginner class.
Jigsaw puzzles
An individual or group project, putting together a puzzle is great for your brain. It develops visuospatial brain power, improves short-term memory and enhances problem solving. Jigsaw puzzles also promote mental health, helping you slow down and unplug from the screen and the constant barrage of distractions. Many families bond and connect as they gather around the puzzle board instead of the TV screen. Putting together a jigsaw puzzle also gives a sense of satisfaction; each piece you post gives you visual evidence of progress toward a goal. Start with a smaller puzzle with words or a lot of color variation before taking on challenges like a mandala puzzle.
To cook
A home-cooked meal is usually healthier than eating out or buying something that has already been prepared. However, the process of meal planning, shopping, preparing and cleaning up can be difficult and time-consuming. For some, cooking is a natural way to unwind after a long day, and they find both joy and satisfaction in feeding their loved ones healthy, delicious meals. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, consider giving cooking a try so you can find more peace and tranquility during the long winter evenings.
Take cooking off your to-do list and try to approach it with an attitude of appreciating the flavors, textures and aromas. This allows you to cook mindfully, freeing your mind from clutter. You can give free rein to your creativity even when making simple dishes. Plus, build confidence and a sense of achievement every time you successfully create a dish. Cooking brings people together, whether it’s sharing a meal with those around you or passing on a great recipe to friends and family.
Learn or play an instrument
Music has undeniable benefits for mental health and well-being, and there is evidence that music has been used in healing therapies since the Middle Ages. Listening to music can bring peace and calm to an anxious mind, it can keep our minds young and active, and it can help people cope with a wide range of life experiences and illnesses.
Take your love and appreciation for music to the next level this winter by learning to play an instrument. Playing a musical instrument can reduce feelings of depression and sadness. It helps maintain brain elasticity and both mental and physical agility. Some research suggests that playing an instrument has a greater benefit on mental well-being than other hobbies such as doing puzzles, reading a magazine or sculpting with clay. You don’t have to be the next viral pop star to benefit from this calming and rejuvenating activity.
Fight the winter blues this season and take up a new indoor hobby. You can experience more satisfaction, less stress and a stronger mind.
References
https://www.anxietyresourcecenter.org/2017/10/crochet-helps-brain/
https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/the-health-benefits-of-knitting/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2804629/
https://blogs.bcm.edu/2020/10/29/a-perfect-match-the-health-benefits-of-jigsaw-puzzles/
https://10best.usatoday.com/lifestyle/jigsaw-puzzle-mental-health-benefits/
https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-benefits-of-cooking-your-own-food-5248624
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6368928/
Innovision editorial staff member Priscilla Lundquist graduated from the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree, and after several years teaching English, she now spends her time writing about women’s health, aging, eating healthy, and staying active.