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The last couple of years have brought about major changes in society. More people are working from home and ditching the 9 to 5 rat race in favor of a lifestyle that is more relaxed and laid back than ever before.

However, many of them are also noticing that this change of pace, while desirable, can also lead to more stress in other areas of life. Working from home means more contact between family members and often this leads to increased stress. In some cases working from home also equals reduced income, which adds stress to anyone’s situation.

So, how do we combat this stress in a healthy, beneficial way?

Get A Hobby That Offers Stress Relief

Perhaps the single most effective form of stress relief is to have a hobby that contributes to relaxation. For some people, this means getting outdoors and hiking or running. For others it means video games, movies, wine tastings and other social events.

No matter what you personally enjoy doing, there is a hobby you can invest in that will not only decrease your stress, but will also add enjoyment to your life. By getting involved in a hobby you improve your health by providing mental and physical relaxation to yourself. We are going to look at a few of those hobbies and see how they help.

Flight SIMs

My personal hobby of choice for the utmost in stress relief is flight simulation. Using programs like Microsoft’s Flight Simulator I can visit literally any location in the world and see it in photo real 3 dimensional scenery. Using additional software I can also interact with air traffic controllers and follow real world flight plans to any destination in the world.

Now, to some folks this might not seem like much of a hobby. However, there is a huge community of avid pilots who fly in simulators like this, and many of them are real world pilots as well. The flight SIM community is a great place to make friends, learn real world aviation skills and find a niche that helps you relax.

If you think that just flying around sight seeing would be boring, then there are other options that offer a bit more interaction. Digital Combat Simulator is a great way to get some air to air battle action. You can fly anything from old World War I bi planes to the modern Apache helicopter in this sim. If it is air to air combat you’re after, this is an excellent way to blow off some steam while shooting your buddies out of the sky. It has a huge following, with thousands of players logging on to fly together throughout the day.

Flight SIMs offer the ability to the average person to do things they might never get to do in real life. The trade off is that you get to relieve stress while having a fun experience at the same time. Be careful though, it is very easy to get lost for hours at a time in these SIMs, especially if you are running a setup that allows for Virtual Reality headset usage.

Motorcycles And Off Road Vehicles

Another favorite hobby of mine is motorcycles, dirtbikes, and ATVs. There are few exercises on earth more relaxing than climbing into the saddle of a motorcycle and hitting the back roads for a few hours of wind therapy. When the weight of the world closes in, that breeze in your face can help blow the clouds away and give you some clarity of thought.

Taking to the back country on an ATV or dirtbike is just as rewarding as hopping on the motorcycle. Exploring trails and hills on one of these vehicles can help you put life into perspective, as well as experience new things. I have a large group of friends who ride together often and in many cities there are clubs that offer group outings.

Getting onto a motorcycle or ATV is a dangerous activity when it is not done safely. So, it is highly recommended that you take a class to learn how to operate your vehicle safely. When done properly this is one of the best forms of stress relief on earth.

Hunting, Fishing & Hiking

Out of all my hobbies, these three are my top choices. Nothing on earth is better than spending some quiet time in nature just enjoying the beauty of the natural world. Even if you are not a fan of hunting, taking a camera into the backcountry and getting some close up shots of deer, elk and other wildlife is exhilarating. I have been close enough to wild deer to reach out my hand and brush their sides as they walk by, and it is pretty incredible to be seated on the ground and listen to their breath as they pass by.

Fishing also offers great stress relief and enjoyment. It is a sport that can be done alone or even in large groups, so this one makes a great hobby your whole family can enjoy. My daughters love to go fishing and it is one of their most asked for family outings during the warm months of summer here in Tennessee. We have made some great memories sitting in the old flat bottom boat on the pond behind our home.

Hiking is not only good exercise for the body, but it is good for the soul as well. Expending your energy on a hiking trail helps release chemicals in your body that relieve stress. It also gives you the opportunity to get truly close to nature. Our family hikes regularly and my daughters have spent the last couple years learning about natural plants and herbs that can be gathered during their hikes and then used at home for various purposes. The knowledge they have gained is valuable, but the time spent together in nature is the real pay off for this hobby.

Find A Hobby That Works For You

If you are struggling with stress and frustration, the single most effective thing you can do to combat it is to find a hobby you enjoy. Whether it is one of the ones we have talked about here, or something else entirely, you need the ability to do something that doesn’t require you to focus on everyday life. Your body and mind will benefit from it and the people in your life will benefit as well because your stress levels will become noticeably lower.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and find a hobby you enjoy and start living the life you want to live!