Stress is something that many people experience in their day-to-day lives. Although it might not be pleasant to go through at the time, it can actually be a positive thing. It can make you more alert, for example, so that you can bypass dangerous situations, and it can help you see where issues lie in your life so you can make changes. 

Chronic stress is different. Chronic stress is not so easy to deal with, and it can have far-reaching consequences, such as causing heart disease and high blood pressure, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Stress itself is a mental health condition, in fact. 

The good news is there are ways to deal with chronic stress, and hobbies are one option. Read on to find out how you can use hobbies to combat stress so you can improve your life. 

They’re A Distraction 

Although we’re often told not to run away from our problems or ignore them because they aren’t going to go away, the truth is that when it comes to major stresses in life, being distracted from them for a little while can be a great way to deal with them. That’s because when you’re not thinking about the thing that’s causing you stress, your stress levels will go down. By the time you’ve finished doing whatever it is you’re doing, your mind will be clearer, your body will feel healthier, and you might even be able to come up with a solution for the issue that has been causing you stress. 

Being distracted by a great hobby is an ideal way to get away from your stress for a while. Your hobby could be anything from learning as much as possible about 2021-2023 Mustang GT superchargers to pottery to running. Pick something you enjoy that will distract you from your problems just for a little while. 

They Boost The Mood 

Hobbies are also great for combatting stress because they make you feel good and boost your mood. In fact, this good feeling starts even before you work on your hobby; the anticipation of knowing you get to do what you enjoy will start this happy feeling, and your body will release endorphins such as serotonin. This hit of hormones will make you feel positive, but on a practical level, serotonin reduces the amount of cortisol in your bloodstream. 

Why is this a good thing? It’s because cortisol is known as the stress hormone, and too much of it (which is what you’ll experience when you have chronic stress) is bad for your health – mental and physical. If doing your hobby gives you more serotonin and less cortisol, that’s a good thing. 

Social Connection 

Being around other people who like the same things you do and who can be a support system for you is wonderful, and it will certainly help you reduce your stress levels. Studies have shown that people with more friends are less stressed than those without many friends at all.

A hobby gives you a great excuse to meet new people and spend time with them. You’ll already have something in common, so introducing yourself isn’t too difficult. Even if your hobby is a solo one, you can still find like-minded people in forums and meetups, so it works either way.