10 fun hobbies that reduce stress, too - recommended by experts

Like other forms of physical activity, dancing can lower stress, says Dr. Norris. “I have two left feet, so if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

It might sound odd, but there are a variety of ways that dance can help you combat stress and overwhelm. A 2025 narrative review published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that the activity combines many stress-lowering characteristics, including music, movement, self-expression, synchronization, and social connection.

Digging in the dirt and caring for plants can be calming, “due to its repetitive, sensory nature, and connection to the natural world,” Dr. Symon says. Spending time outdoors has also been shown to lower stress.

“There’s nothing more regulating than being around living things and nurturing living things,” adds Dr. Bickler. “It invites us to slow things down. It also reminds us that growth takes time.”

Cooking is a hobby that Matthew Solit, executive clinical director at LifeStance Health, says brings him “deep joy.” He says it allows for some “thoughtful time” to reflect and relax.

He's not alone. A study published in US journal Health Education & Behavior found that cooking can positively affect socialisation, self-esteem, and quality of life. Cooking and baking are hands-on activities that can become passion projects and add meaning to your life, agrees Dr. Norris.

Engaging in art has been shown to improve mental well-being. Painting, playing music, or other art forms let you express your creativity and “create a sense of flow,” which can fight stress, Dr. Bickler says. Don’t worry about being good at it, she emphasizes, just create.

Making art also engages the hands and mind, which can feel calming and meditative, Roeske points out. It also promotes focus and self-expression without judgment, Dr. Symon adds.

Woodworking, knitting, and other crafts engage your mind, heighten creativity, and let you work with your hands, which lowers stress, Roeske says. These activities also bring a sense of accomplishment from creating something.

Crafts may take time to learn, which can be rewarding, Solit says. “There is incredible meaning in pushing through the discomfort of learning a new skill.”

“Reading for pleasure, especially fiction books, can allow the brain to mentally step away from stressors and immerse itself in another world, offering emotional relief and relaxation,” Roeske says.

Recreational reading was associated with lower psychological distress, improved mental health, and heightened motivation among college students, according to a 2022 study published in the Journal of American College Health.

Another creative pursuit that may lower stress is photography, especially when it involves taking pictures of landscapes, Dr. Norris says. In a 2024 study published in PsyCh Journal, university students in China experienced reduced mental stress when they spent five minutes photographing nature, compared to taking photos in urban areas.

TRY IT: How to Get Started With Photography

1. Ease in. Choose a hobby that’s low-cost and low-commitment enough to make it feel realistic and approachable, suggests Roeske. Even devoting 10 or 15 minutes to the hobby is beneficial; you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment.
   
2. Focus on the experience rather than perfection. Don’t worry if you’re not good at it, Dr. Bickler says: “It’s not about performance. It’s not about accomplishment. It’s supposed to be fun.”
3. Give yourself grace. The goal is to lower stress, so allow yourself “grace and acceptance,” even if you make mistakes, Solit says.