A Mental Escape

Healthy hobbies that can help you escape the weight of anxiety and depression for a while.

IDEAS AND HABITS

Cami DuMond

7/26/20233 min read

Anxious Routine

So I don't know about you, but when I don't have a routine or schedule to follow, my anxiety goes crazy. I feel like I'm slowly falling down a rabbit hole with no idea where I'm going or when it's going to end. Sometimes I go on binges of things like book series or tv shows. Other times I pick up 3 new hobbies and decide to completely change my life overnight. Other times I decide to start a blog.

*cough cough*

The point is that sometimes these rabbit holes can be good! I've picked up some fun hobbies that I've actually managed to stick to like crochet and bullet journaling. Other rabbit holes are not so great, like getting sucked into a video game for 4 hours and only stopping because your eyes are starting to hurt. Even then though, I let myself do what I feel like I need at the time. I let my mind explore different areas and try learning new things. And looking back, I'm glad I've taken these less busy times to figure out what I enjoy. After all, that's how I started here!

A Shift in Focus

I've noticed that when I've been struggling with my anxiety and/or depression, my mind craves an escape. For me, that's usually something crafty or imaginative. For you, a mental escape could be completely different. But the key is to find a mental escape that helps you dig yourself out of the anxiety/depression hole, without you even noticing it. For example, some people love to exercise as their mental escape. As I'm sure you've heard many times, exercise can have a huge effect on mental health because of the chemicals it produces in our brains. But a healthy hobby doesn't have to be exercise. Sometimes, after reading an amazing book series, I feel motivated and inspired to try writing my own book! Have I ever finished one of these? No, but the point is the act itself is motivating me to do something productive. For me, that feels nearly impossible when I'm feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or depression. So the act of even trying to write a book or a short story can be majorly helpful in my journey out of the mental health pit.

Below I've listed a bunch of hobbies that can be beneficial or motivating. Things that can make you feel good about yourself and give you even the slightest bit more motivation or energy. So try one out! Next time you're feeling a little overwhelmed, try out one of these hobbies as a healthy distraction. Use it as something that is completely unattached to whatever you're anxious about and enjoy it. Now be aware, I am not saying to use these hobbies or activities as an excuse or an avoidance tactic. I'm only saying to use them as a way to give yourself a break from the exhausting thought loops for a bit and focus your mental energy on something more fun.