Healthy Hobbies for the New Year
By Donna Stark
How many of your favorite activities are actually good for you to do? And I don't mean the feel-good kind of good, I mean the healthy kind of good. For example, binge-watching your favorite show can certainly feel good, but what is it doing for your body? Not a lot, that's for sure! And eating out a couple of times a week definitely feels good, but have you checked your waistline lately? Perhaps it's time for some new hobbies. Hobbies that are still fun (meaning they feel good) but are a healthier option for you to choose. Take a look at a few ideas below.
Physical Activity
A lot of people scrunch their noses and equate physical activity with hard-core exercise, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Physical activity can include a variety of options and can be set at many different fitness levels. From morning golf games to daily bike rides to weekend hikes to seasonal gardening, it is easy to see how much fun physical activity can be! And on top of that, it's a great way to connect with others!
Cooking at Home
In addition to saving you money, cooking your meals at home instead of eating out will also improve your overall health significantly! By cooking at home, you can be in charge of the ingredients, which means you can control the amount of sugar, salt, calories, and fat in your diet. It's also extremely gratifying to learn new recipes and explore your creativity in the kitchen.
Exercising Your Brain
Well, there it is. The exercise word ... but don't panic. This kind of exercise is fun! It includes things like reading books, solving puzzles, and learning new skills. It is extremely important to give your brain something to do every day if you want to improve your memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. And remember, watching TV is not an effective way to exercise your brain!
Volunteering
We all know that volunteering makes an immeasurable impact in the lives of others, but did you know that your life can be equally impacted as well? Take a look at just a few of the health benefits that can come from volunteering.
- Decreases the risk of stress, depression, and loneliness
- Increases confidence, purpose, and fulfillment
- Encourages physical activity
Establishing Healthy Hobbies
Keeping your body and mind active contributes to one's overall well-being, so try to step away from those unhealthy activities and start incorporating healthier hobbies into your days. It's definitely a new way to feel good, but you will end up loving it!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pooler, Ga.