What hobbies of yours have benefited your mental health the most?

[Bearthewear]

I would say walking , always feel better after a walk.

Walking, gardening, painting.

I plan to take up outdoor swimming when the lido opens up.

Running definitely. I joined a club and it has changed my life. Even throughout lockdown my club has been fantastic, we genuinely feel like a big family.

Running. Listening to audiobooks and podcasts. Baking. Watching good films.

Calligraphy

Parkrun and singing. Although I was very quick to go 5k to couch when it all stopped.

Walking with friends (walking on my own makes me feel glum, too much time to think)
Bellringing
Gardening
Baking
Reading

Running: nice to get out in the fresh air and get a post workout buzz.
Reading: have set myself a challenge to read 52 books in 52 weeks.

Singing in a choir (pre-Covid) and now....gardening.

Sewing and crafting. Making my own clothes, they fit better and keep me busy.

Dogs, great for mental health.

kayaking, being on the water in all sorts of weather, the river is different every time, it's my form of meditation and being close to nature

Knitting, crochet and running outdoors instead of on my treadmill - what a difference! Jigsaws for a few weeks, but I needed some sleep and I can't stop doing a jigsaw once I start. Gosh, I really want to start another jigsaw! Oh, and baking. And reading.

And audiobooks. I don't know how I ever got through life before audiobooks.

Fixing things - I love fixing things - so satisfying...even redecorating a room..,purposeful and tidying - the result is so soothing. But I’m not a tidy person naturally.

Cross stitch: meditative, relaxing, focuses my mind, repetitive. Quite addictive actually.

I have a variety that I switch between regularly

Knitting
Crochet
Sewing
Painting
Up cycling items

Adult colouring books
Journaling / writing a diary
Baking
Podcasts
Reading books

Gardening without a doubt. Only took it up last year and it’s made a big difference to feel more connected to nature and wildlife. Plus there’s so much peace in a garden, you’re exercising and achieving something. I also give vegetables to my friends and family now. It really has changed my life.

Gardening (allotment!)
Rag rugging
Coding
Embroidery
Playing the piano

@Bearthewear have really enjoyed this thread . Given me some ideas too!

Organising stuff
Exercise - really hard when I started last March properly again, love it now. Some days it's hard to convince myself to do it, but the feeling that I have after beats it. I also lost a few kilos and my body looks so much better, but the mental benefit is way greater!
Reading
Walking

Dungeons and Dragons (and similar games) has helped combat my reclusive tendencies. I probably wouldn't have kept as many friends as I have without it.

Collaborative fiction writing gives me a creative outlet.

Gaming is, depending on the game, a satisfying mental workout or just good catharsis.

I also enjoy walking and reading but don't do enough of either.

Walking

Running. No matter how bad things are, things always look better after a run.

Embroidery because I have chronic pain and can't do much exercise at the moment. Before my injury it was running and hit workouts.

@CoalCraft interesting, what is collaborative fiction?

Always been interested in finding out more about the dungeons & dragons world- there used to be a shop at the end of my road that had a table in the middle and always a bunch of people looking like they were having a blast!

I've always gone running a few times a week since the age of about 16 and just took it for granted. I'm 39 now, and for the first time ever was injured and couldn't run for a few weeks. I found it so hard to be inactive and stuck in the house, I hadn't realised what an important part of my life it is. As soon as I was able to exercise again my mood lifted.