People with creative minds are usually constantly engaged. If they are not thinking about the next big idea, they are usually working on an incomplete one. However, creative and innovative minds also need a bit of time off.
Hobbies are one of the best ways to relax and switch off and help balance your innovative and imaginative mind.
Why Do Creative People Need Hobbies?
Studies have indicated that people with hobbies are typically less likely to experience mood swings, insomnia, depression, stress, and many other issues.
The American Institute of Stress states that one of the best ways to lower stress and anxiety is to stop them from developing in the first place.
As a creative person, it can become tempting to spend all your time working on creative pursuits. However, if you are spending all your waking hours immersed in creative thoughts, you are eliminating the time you need to recharge and relax, which can lead to burnout or stress.
When you adopt a hobby that you keep separate from your work and creative pursuits, you allow your mind to start focusing on more important things.
Some hobbies can help you to get fit while others can help you to make money. There are also hobbies that will help you to get closer to other people.
Here is a list of hobbies for you to consider that will serve your health and well-being and engage your active and creative mind.
1. Adult Coloring
Adult coloring may sound like “child’s play,” but you might be surprised to find out that it is an incredibly mentally-engaging activity. There are coloring books for adults that focus on mental clarity or books that help you to get in touch with your “inner self.”
You won’t need a lot to adopt this hobby. In fact, all you will need to get started is a few coloring books for adults and quality colored pencils. The intricate images in these books usually take hours to complete.
These activities are known for relaxing the mind, sharpening focus, and engaging the creative centers.
2. Play A Musical Instrument
You may have heard about the 10,000 rule, which promotes that it will take 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to become proficient in a skill.
You might not be interested in mastering how to play an instrument, but the process of learning the instrument and how to play it will truly benefit your creative and active mind.
For creatives in all fields, the hobby of learning to play an instrument will improve their memories. It can also help to declutter the mind in the way of engaging in something different from what the person is used to.
Learning to play a musical instrument will also engage either side of the brain. This improves cognitive ability, spatial awareness, and verbal memory.
For a more passive music experience, there are many other hobbies you can do while listening to your favorite tunes!
3. Origami
The origami hobby is one of the ancient arts that traces its history back to Japan. This practice involves creating paper inanimate figures. It also requires high levels of creativity in order to create these intricate shapes.
Origami is excellent at improving hand-eye coordination and can help to calm you down during a stressful time. It also helps to slow down the mind, as you start thinking about how to go about achieving the perfect edges for these figures.
It is also a fantastic activity for those that are interested in practicing meditation as a hobby and silent centering.
4. Puzzle Games
If you are spending many hours behind a keyboard and screen, you deserve a digital detox. While there might be several puzzle games online, you can also buy physical puzzle games and set aside some time to put one together.
Puzzle games are excellent at improving and enhancing short-term memory. For creative people, improved short-term memory can help to speed up their decision-making processes.
5. Pottery
Creative people are always creating scenarios, characters, and words. This can take a significant toll on your mind, especially when you are spending most of your time on creative work or you are not getting in enough hours to rest or sleep.
Pottery is a great way to rest your mind from things you are always doing. Using a pottery wheel or your hands offers a way to create diverse shapes that are both rewarding and calming.
Studies involving people engaged in pottery have found that feel-good chemicals are released by the brain when they start to see an object take shape. Pottery will force you to use an effort-driven reward circuit in your brain.
If your work mainly involves hand skills, then pottery is the perfect hobby to improve hand-eye dexterity.
6. Drawing
If you have started to experience a creative block when it comes to your work, it is time to take a break and doodle. Doodling is usually the precursor or start to drawing as a bigger hobby.
Drawing also activates the left side of your brain, which is responsible for detecting patterns, lines, and forms that are required to form a shape. Drawing also helps to create new neurological pathways, which help to increase awareness.
7. Brewing
If you are interested in trying a new hobby, brewing is the perfect way to enjoy the juice or fruits “of your labor.” Some interesting hobbies include beer brewing or kombucha brewing. Brewing is actually one of the home traditions in certain countries.
It is a skill that one generation passes down to the next. For you, this could be the perfect opportunity to experiment with something new. A brewing hobby will allow you to learn about different cultures and explore different flavors.
8. Lego Building
Everyone should be mindful of their inner child. This doesn’t mean you need to get in touch with your inner child to enjoy this hobby.
Some people have constructed life-size structures or items such as a car with Lego. Building lego requires a fair amount of mental clarity and calculation. This is why it is one of the best hobbies for a creative mind.
You can enjoy your lego building hobby solo or in a group. Creating and building with Lego allows people to expand their imagination while raising their problem-solving capacity.
Related Reading: Guide To Welding As A Hobby
9. Swimming
Water is an excellent source to calm your mind. Saltwater is even better to elevate your mood and reverse the negative ions in your mind.
The ocean is the perfect place to adopt your hobby. This could involve walking along the beach or listening to the waves. This will help to clear a busy mind and help you to focus on those creative abilities.
10. Yoga
Yoga is one of the ancient practices that will help you to attain mental calmness and body fitness. You can adopt yoga as a hobby into your daily routine before starting your day.
Since it only takes a few minutes out of your day, you can also practice a few yoga exercises while going about your usual daily tasks.
11. Journaling And Writing
Journaling and writing can be turned into a personal development project to gain a better understanding of yourself.
Writing about your deepest fears and thoughts can assist you greatly when it comes to combating stress and reducing anxiety.
Many writers use their writing hobby as an effective tool or aid to reaffirm their skills.
Final Thoughts On Hobbies For Creative Minds
As you might have noticed from most of the hobbies mentioned in this article, a creative mind can still be kept engaged while acquiring relaxation.
Whether your creative and active mind requires activity to grow ideas, enjoy some downtime or explore your inner thoughts, we are sure you will find an activity or hobby on this list to keep you busy.