Give Yourself A Creative Break: Hobbies to Reduce Stress in College

Juggling through life, work, and college has been very stress-inducing, leaving me exhausted and unable to catch my breath. I constantly feel tense because I worry about so many different things. As a college student, I aim to graduate and focus on getting through school. With this in mind, I tend to be unable to concentrate, feeling drained from trying to sit and work for hours. Recently, I have been exploring and finding different ways to relieve my stress by participating in many creative hobbies.

Through my search, I found that the hobbies I tried have improved my mental health and given me a positive boost to feel accomplished. Since I started experimenting with different creative outlets, I wanted to share this experience with others who want to try out new hobbies to reduce stress and give themselves a break.

There are a variety of types of hobbies to try out from. They can provide the well-needed break your brain needs to reduce all the stress and worries you may have. Here are some of the hobbies that I like to do in my spare time from work and school. They may not work well for everyone, but it is worth trying out if you want something new to spice up things.

Crocheting:

Crocheting is a creative outlet I practice in my spare time because it is new and challenging. My experience so far has been full of joy but with a small bit of frustration. Learning how to crochet the different stitches has passed my time and it makes me forget all the stress I ever had for the moment. Remember to start small and it is okay if it does not turn out how you want it at first. You can try to practice when you take a break from some hefty schoolwork and need to relax to occupy your time.

I have practiced crocheting a bundle of small no-sew frogs using a pattern I found on Ribblr. Ribblr is an amazing website where you can find and buy all sorts of patterns for the knitting and crocheting community. They share and discuss about things they have made. I would recommend crocheting if you want to pass the time or clear your mind.

Drawing & Painting:

Drawing is a way for me to decompress all the built up stress and anxiety. My mind clogs up and pulling out my sketchbook to doodle is therapeutic. Art allows you to express yourself through visuals and channel your energy into a blank canvas. Whether you are an artist or someone starting out, anyone can pick up a pencil and create with your hands.

Another way to challenge yourself with drawing is painting. With painting, it frees your mind with one brush stroke. On my spare time, I paint with a couple of friends and we all enjoy our time seeing what everyone decides to paint. Revealing the final product to each other at the end is the best moment. I definitely recommend drawing and painting as a hobby to reduce stress because it distracts the mind, being meditative and calming.

Scrapbooking & Journaling:

Some other creative hobbies to try are scrapbooking and journaling, offering ways to write meaningful thoughts and ideas onto paper. Scrapbooking is combining a collection of photos, stickers, and other decorations to express your emotions visually. I use scrapbooking to preserve memories and save my scrapbooks as a time capsule. Now and then, looking back allows me to clear my thoughts and brings positive moments into my mind.

Journaling is an outlet that helps me reflect and organize my thoughts when I get lost in my brain. When you jump from task to task, you can accumulate many emotions, which build up inside. It can be difficult to find a way to release all these emotions, which could lead to self-destruction. I believe it is important for students to find ways to gain clarity and practice mindfulness so they can concentrate more efficiently.

Photography:

Snapping photos of moments can keep those memories for an indefinite time. Photography is another hobby to relieve stress. Nowadays, you can use your smartphone, a professional camera, or a small disposable camera to capture moments. When I started photography, it allowed me to enjoy the little details surrounding me. From flowers to how the grass appeared in the light, I fell in love with how the camera can highlight the colorful view. I would occasionally stroll downtown to take pictures of nature in the surrounding area. A plus to taking photos is looking back at all the beautiful images and places I have been.