If you’re ready to try a new hobby, you might as well pick one that could make you happier and healthier, too. Research has linked certain hobbies to better mental well-being, lower stress levels, and even improved physical health. To find the activities most worth your time, we asked experts to weigh in. Whether you’re embracing your “granny era,” hoping to spend less time on screens, or simply looking for a fun new routine, these feel-good hobbies are a great place to start.

Nicholette Leanza, a US-based psychotherapist, and therapist Lesley Broff gave us plenty of ideas for the best hobbies for happiness and health and how to incorporate them into your schedule.

Cooking as a hobby to enhance health and happiness

Cooking

Cooking can help you relax, gain a sense of purpose, put you in a good mood and help you eat better, Hester says. Studies show that cooking has social and emotional benefits and can enhance food literacy skills, which may be linked to better nutrition — and better mood.

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Creative art activities promoting health and happiness

Creating art

Creative activities, such as painting, drawing or crafting, have been shown to enhance feelings of well-being. Plus, a separate study suggested that people who engaged with the arts two or more hours a week had “significantly better mental well-being” than those who didn’t. “Creative hobbies can also serve as a distraction from what we’re stressing about," Leanza says.

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Meditation for health and happiness improvement

Meditating

Meditation and mindfulness are grounding exercises that “stimulate senses and can contribute meaningfully to overall mental health and quality of life,” says Hester. Several studies have highlighted the benefits of meditation, including one that found that meditating can decrease stress and improve mood, as well as increase self-compassion, mindfulness and attention.

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Journaling for improved health and happiness.

Journaling

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you reduce stress, manage mental health problems and cope with stressful experiences. “Putting pen to paper provides cognitive offloading,” says Broff. An intriguing 2024 study showed that writing down your thoughts and throwing away the piece of paper can minimise feelings of anger.

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Hobbies to improve health and happiness by staying active.

Getting (and staying) active

Exercise has a number of mood-boosting benefits. Hester says physical activity releases endorphins, known as the body’s natural pain relievers, and can help you deal with stress and anxiety. Any type of exercise — from jogging to yoga to hiking — is good for your mood, brain and overall health.

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Gardening as a hobby to boost health and happiness.

Gardening

Tending plants offers a wealth of benefits that may make you happier. Spending time outdoors in the sunlight can raise levels of serotonin, a brain chemical responsible for boosting mood, Broff says. “The gentle movement and breathing lots of fresh air also enhance vagal tone,” she adds, referring to the activity of the vagus nerve, which plays a role in mood regulation.

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How to make time for a hobby

If it seems like you just can’t fit a hobby into your busy schedule, Leanza suggests starting small — enjoy the activity for 15 or 20 minutes at a time and put it on your calendar like any other appointment so you don’t neglect focusing on yourself. “There’s no right or wrong way to do a hobby,” Broff says. “It’s for enjoyment, so explore it in a way that works best for you.”

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