The best hobbies & activities for good mental health

What are common mental health problems?

There are many different types of mental health problems you could suffer from. However, some are more common than others. For example, common mental health problems are:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

With some mental health problems being common, it is crucial that you find activities to improve mental health and actively look after yours. Hopefully, you will then avoid poor mental health and mental health illnesses.

How do hobbies help mental health?

Choosing to get involved in some of the best hobbies for mental health can help to improve your mental health and well-being. Positive hobbies and activities are beneficial to your mental health. For example, having positive hobbies and interests can:

Reduce stress

Stress and poor mental health are closely linked, but having positive hobbies and interests can reduce your stress levels. Good hobbies can make you feel rewarded when you complete them which can boost your overall well-being. 

Improve your mood

Positive hobbies and interests can create new excitement in your daily life. They can encourage you to challenge yourself and achieve more in your day. Activities to improve mental health can also make you feel optimistic about life and give you a sense of happiness.

Help your work-life balance

Whether it is ensuring you take a regular break from work or your daily tasks, or adding a contrasting positive activity to your routine, positive hobbies and interests can help your work-life balance. 

It is important to take a break and activities to improve mental health can encourage this. In turn, this can help avoid burnout which is when you feel severe physical and mental exhaustion.

What types of positive hobbies and interests are there?

You may have thought, “I need a hobby but what are good hobbies?”. If you need some hobby ideas in order to try out new hobbies, there are many different positive hobbies and interests you could engage with. 

You may be looking for time-consuming hobbies to fill your spare time, or simply relaxing hobbies as activities to improve your mental health. 

Some positive hobbies and interests are:

• Cooking
• Gardening
• Art
• Photography
• Music
• Dance
• Fishing

What activities help with mental illness?

Any of the above positive hobbies and interests are activities that may help with mental illness or poor mental health. You may even find them fun activities which improve your mental health.

Here are some of our best activities for mental health:

Exercise

Exercise is one of the key positive activities which improves mental health. Exercise releases endorphins which make us feel happy - so we think this is one of the best activities for mental health.  

Exercise can relieve anxiety and take your mind off your worries. You could try, for example:

• A fun dance class, socialising with others 
• Mind-body movement such as yoga or meditation which can reduce tension and worries
• Swimming, which is repetitive and therefore a meditative positive activity

Music

Music is another of our best hobbies for mental health. It can make you happy, help you relax and reduce stress. 

Music also allows you to express your emotions as well as help manage your emotions. This can be a good hobby through:

• Singing
• Listening to your favourite tunes
• Sharing music with friends
• Learning a new musical instrument which brings with it a sense of achievement

Outdoor activities

When your mental health is poor, activities to improve mental health can be those which take place outdoors. Nature is beneficial for mental health because it can encourage calmness and provide inspiration. You could try gardening, walking or visiting your local park. 

Writing and reading

Writing can be done pretty much anywhere and anytime. You can jot down how you feel, allowing you to express your emotions. 

Reading is also one of the best hobbies for mental health. It can help keep you calm and mindful. Reading also allows you to take your mind far away from your everyday life and problems which may be causing your poor mental health.

What are the best hobbies for anxiety and depression?

You may wonder what some of the best hobbies for mental health are which can reduce anxiety or depression. These include, for example:

• Photography which can encourage you to discover new places, appreciate nature and of course, build important memories
• Writing which can help you to record your feelings, linking patterns and symptoms which can then allow you to plan productively

• Art activities which help you with creative expression and can reduce your anxiety

How many hobbies should I have?

Having positive hobbies and interests is important for good mental health. You can have as many positive hobbies and interests as you please. 

We are all different, and some of us find having many different activities to improve mental health beneficial. These may take your mind off your daily routine and the variety can create excitement. 

Others may decide on specific hobbies for mental health where focusing on a select few helps them concentrate and reduces stress.

Are there any other benefits to having a hobby?

Positive hobbies and interests can benefit and improve mental health. However, that is not all positive hobbies and interests can do for you. 

Good hobbies can:

• Help you learn a new skill
• Provide you with fun and entertainment
• Allow you to relax
• Encourage you to unwind from the day
• Fill your spare time

What mental health help is available to me? 

It is not just positive hobbies and interests which improve mental health. There will be times when you may need to seek mental health help and find a professional service to help you. 

You may need mental health help in the form of:

• Medicine
• Therapy
• Psychiatric help

Can I make a mental health claim if I am suffering from mental health problems?

In addition to engaging in activities to improve mental health such as finding positive hobbies and interests, you may be able to make a mental health claim if you have poor mental health. 

For example, witnessing an accident can have a devastating effect on your mental health which can significantly affect your daily life. Or an accident which happened to you personally can cause a mental health illness. These can both lead to a mental health claim.

How can making a claim help my mental health recovery?

If you want to improve your mental health, activities to improve mental health are one way to do this. However, if your mental health problems are a result of an accident which occurred, you may be able to make a claim for your poor mental health. 

Making a mental health claim can help your mental health recovery by, for example:

• Providing money to assist you with the new difficulties you encounter in daily life
• Give you a sense of justice
• Allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment

Have you experienced poor mental health or been diagnosed with a mental illness?

If you have suffered from poor mental health or have a mental illness, we can help you by offering free and independent advice about the possibility of claiming compensation for your poor mental health. Your mental health problems may have been a result of an accident that was not your fault, possibly resulting in a psychological injury.  So call us now on .

At National Accident Helpline, we care about and place significant importance on mental health problems as we appreciate the impact these can have on your life outlook. So, we listen carefully and with sensitivity when you approach us for help with the compensation you may be able to claim

Making a poor mental health compensation claim with National Accident Helpline is simple.  You have already taken the first major step to addressing your poor mental health by approaching us. Talking about mental health problems can be difficult so we won't add any extra stress. We make the claim process as simple as possible - you can even calculate your potential compensation online using our compensation calculator. Once you've spoken to our sympathetic advisors, we will pass you to a specialist solicitor who will assist you with your claim.

Let National Accident Helpline help you today - Call today, request a call back here or begin your claim online.