Lifestyle diseases are affecting a lot, and heart disease being one of the major one. Well, it is not surprising considering the bad lifestyle habits of the youth (and the elderly alike) coupled with stress from juggling work with family and a social life. De-stressing yourself is one of the first steps to prevent heart disease. On World Heart Day, take a look at some hobbies that will keep you stress-free and your heart happy.
According to leading holistic guru Mickey Mehta, “Stress, if not kept in check could cause hypertension, Atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries, increased LDL cholesterol levels, blocks and clots which ultimately lead to a heart attack.” Unwinding with a relaxing hobby is a way to keep stress away, he says.
According to leading holistic guru Mickey Mehta, “Stress, if not kept in check could cause hypertension, Atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries, increased LDL cholesterol levels, blocks and clots which ultimately lead to a heart attack.” Unwinding with a relaxing hobby is a way to keep stress away, he says.
Travel: Get in touch with your group of close friends. Make plans to travel with them as and when you can. Even short weekend trips in the company of your friends or family will do you good. It will help you take your mind off work and other responsibilities. Make sure you plan a long two-three week break at least once in 6-12 months. Opt for quiet trips that involve a lot of soaking in nature as opposed to the one that has a packed sight-seeing itinerary. Take a camera along if you like and capture beautiful landscapes and happy moments with your friends/family.
Gardening: If you have some open space in your apartment like a balcony or an open terrace, start a garden. Plants send out positive energy. Planting, watering and caring for them is very relaxing. Looking at the colour green itself is found to have a calming effect on your nerves.
Cook: Cooking is said to be therapeutic. Whipping up new recipes and discovering new flavours as a result of experimenting gives you a different kind of a rush. New to cooking? Start by trying out simple recipes- google has the answer to nearly everything! Put together some scrumptious dishes with heart-friendly foods, have friends over for a lunch/dinner – it’s a great way to relax. Plus, you can show off your cooking prowess.
Dance: No, we aren’t talking about going to a club and dance to blaring music amidst some tipsy strangers. Simply put on some music and dance like no one’s watching. Not only is it one of the best ways to de-stress, it is a great workout too. An hour of dancing burns approximately 320 calories. Host a house party- invite friends over, have some mocktails and fingerfoods, and dance, dance. Or gang up with your friends/partner and join a class to learn a dance form- salsa, jive, belly dancing, rumba, ballroom dancing- take your pick.
Paint: Take up a hobby that will have you exploring your creative side like painting or pottery. So what if you flunked art class in school? Simply grab blank sheets of paper, some colours and doodle away. Drawing and painting is a great way of expressing your emotions. Grab a brush and paint the first thing that comes to your mind and you’ll be surprised how happy it makes you. You could also join a pottery or a carpentry class. Who knows, the next set of coffee mugs or the next window frame for your home could be made by you.
Music: Listening to music or playing a musical instrument is a great way to relieve stress too. Make sure you set out some ‘me time’ everyday (even 15 minutes would do), sit in a quiet room, shut your eyes and listen to some soothing classical numbers-jazz, instrumentals like flute or violin. It is a form of meditation and will help you de-clutter your mind. Fancied playing a musical instrument? Go ahead and learn one. Or if you already know to play one, take some time out to jam your favorite tunes every day.
Here you go- with these hobbies to help you unwind, you’ll be stress-free in no time.
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