Advice piece by Bri Ryerson, Wellness Operations Intern.

Brianna Ryerson is currently a senior at North Carolina State University studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Human Biology and a minor in Psychology. She has always been passionate about Psychology, more specifically, how Psychology relates to mental health and the destigmatization of mental health and well-being, especially for women in STEM-related fields. These fields of study produce a lot of stress, anxiety, and burnout, therefore Bri wants to do everything she can to make sure their needs are met and their voices are heard!

Hobbies are a fun and easy way to improve your mental health and take some time out of your day to do things truly enjoyable. However, we live in a busy world - we are expected to balance so many things in our everyday lives. How do we fit hobbies into our schedule when it is already packed enough? My solution: finding hobbies that will actually make your life easier (and not take up too much time)!

Cooking

The first hobby that I have personally picked up that has helped me extensively is cooking. Yes, everyone has to do this for survival. But why not find ways to make meals more efficient, taste better, or have better health benefits? Learning to cook beyond the daily meals I need to eat has not only expanded my palette but has also contributed to my health journey. Viewing cooking as a hobby and allowing yourself to go out on a limb will allow you to find new things, whether they end up being a hit or not. I have discovered my love for sneaking in healthy ingredients I normally would not eat by themselves into my cooking.

For example: I have never been a fan of spinach! However, adding spinach to my quesadillas and cooking spinach to add into cream cheese for my bagels are both ways I have found to incorporate this healthy food into other foods I already like. Using cooking as a hobby instead of viewing it as a means of survival will help you not only achieve more health-related goals, but also help you become more time efficient in the kitchen. 

Exercise

If you want another hobby with great health benefits that is easy to squeeze into your morning or evening routine, look no farther than exercise. This is another no brainer, exercise is so important for both our physical and mental health! However, there are so many ways you can turn exercise into a hobby. Join a walking group (or make one yourself), take yoga classes, practice pilates, or even take a dance class! There are many different ways to turn dreading exercise into a fun hobby that genuinely restores both your body and mind. Exercise promotes so many health benefits that will make your life easier in the long run, such as boosting energy levels and improving sleep. While it might take an extra hour or two out of your day, the benefits are undeniable. Since we need to exercise anyways, we might as well make it fun!

So many options!

A couple of other helpful hobbies might include learning to sew, so you do not have to constantly get those pant legs altered. Or maybe learning how to invest your money seems like a hobby that could be helpful to you. There are so many unique and helpful hobbies out there that will not only improve your mental health, but also help you get things done on a day-to-day basis and be a practical addition to your schedule. A quick google search can help you find websites such as Toggl, who aim to help you find productive and helpful hobbies that are easily incorporated into your daily routine. Take care of yourself now, and your body and mind will thank you in the long run. 

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Project Passport is a proactive mental wellness company that aims to bring mental wellness retreats, workshops and other services to company teams. We also help individuals create joy in their lives every step of the way. To learn more about our company retreats and services, click here. Our travel retreats will resume in the future as the world reopens.