Relaxing Hobbies To Try

Life doesn’t slow down on its own, and most of us aren’t exactly wired to slow down either. Between busy schedules, social commitments, digital distractions, and everyday responsibilities, relaxation can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. 

However, here’s the truth: relaxation isn’t just something nice to have. Your body and mind actually need it.

You don’t have to escape to a retreat or completely disconnect from your life to experience the benefits of rest. Simple hobbies, practiced regularly, can play a powerful role in restoring balance. When paired with wellness habits like nourishing sleep and gentle movement, these hobbies can help create space for both physical and emotional reset.

This article explores how relaxation impacts your body, why it matters, and how accessible activities can help ease tension and support overall wellness.

How does relaxation work in the body?

Relaxation is a full-body response, guided by the nervous system. When you’re feeling calm and at ease, your body is operating primarily from what’s called the parasympathetic nervous system. Sometimes called the “rest and digest” branch, it’s responsible for lowering your heart rate, slowing your breathing, and releasing muscle tension.

This system works in contrast with the sympathetic nervous system, the part of your body responsible for alertness, readiness, and short-term stress responses. That “fight or flight” state has a real purpose. It helps you meet deadlines, avoid danger, or respond quickly when life throws something unexpected your way. 

However, problems can arise when this system stays activated for too long without adequate time to recover.

Relaxing hobbies can help shift your body back into a parasympathetic state, supporting long-term wellness. Relaxation allows your body to repair, your mind to process emotions, and your systems to recalibrate after periods of stress. It’s one of the reasons why carving out regular time to unwind is essential.

What happens when you stay in “go mode” for too long?

Chronic stress is hard on your body. While short-term stress can be motivating and even helpful in some situations, ongoing exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can lead to various issues, including restlessness, low energy, poor sleep quality, and emotional fatigue. 

Over time, this constant state of tension may even impact how well your body regulates immune responses and recovers from daily wear and tear.

Many people don’t even realize they’re operating in a heightened state of stress. It can start to feel normal to wake up tired, push through discomfort, or stay wired late into the night. However, none of those experiences are sustainable, and ignoring the body’s cues can make it harder to recover in the long run.

That’s why it’s so important to create space in your daily or weekly routine to relax and allow your body to reset intentionally. Simple, enjoyable hobbies can be a helpful starting point. Once you understand what’s going on in the body during moments of stress and relaxation, it becomes easier to appreciate the value of small, consistent shifts. 

Understanding the role of the ECS in responding to stress

There’s another important piece of the puzzle that doesn’t always get enough attention in wellness conversations: the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This internal system plays a major role in maintaining balance across several key functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, immune response, and how we process stress.

The ECS is made up of receptors (primarily CB1 and CB2), endocannabinoids (natural messengers your body makes), and enzymes that break those messengers down. Think of the ECS as a regulatory system. It doesn’t control how you feel, but it influences how your body reacts and returns to equilibrium when something feels off.

When you’re consistently stressed, your ECS can become overworked. You might notice that you’re more reactive, less patient, or more easily overwhelmed. On the physical side, you might deal with tension that lingers in your muscles or find it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.

This is where lifestyle choices come in. Regular, relaxing activities can help bring balance back to your system. For many people, adding hemp-derived wellness products like CBD can provide additional support for their ECS.*

12 relaxing hobbies to try

Not every hobby has to be life-changing. Some of the most effective activities for easing feelings of tension are simple, quiet, and easy to try at home. 

Whether you enjoy hands-on crafts, gentle movement, or solo time in nature, these hobbies offer accessible ways to bring your body and mind into a calmer state. They can also help reinforce positive routines, especially when paired with a wellness-first mindset.

Below are several calming activities worth trying. Some are active, others are restful, but all are designed to help support emotional balance, soothe physical tension, and give your brain a break from overstimulation.

1. Gardening

Spending time with plants is a simple and sensory-rich way to shift into a relaxed state. Gardening encourages you to slow down, move with intention, and connect with something outside yourself. Whether you're tending to a windowsill herb box or digging into a backyard bed, the process of nurturing something over time has grounding effects.

Being outside may also support your body’s natural circadian rhythm, helping promote a healthy sleep schedule, too! 

2. Making art

There’s a reason adult coloring books have become so popular in recent years. Coloring taps into a part of the brain that thrives on quiet, repetitive motion and soft focus. It gives your hands something to do while allowing your thoughts to slow down and settle.

You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from this. You’re not creating for an audience, just giving your mind permission to move away from screens and toward something tangible and low-pressure. Many people find that coloring at the end of the day helps ease them out of “go mode” and into a more relaxed evening routine.

3. Walking in nature

A walk outside might seem like a small gesture, but it can have significant effects. Natural environments often support emotional balance in ways that indoor settings don’t. From the rhythm of your steps to the sounds of birds or wind, walking outdoors can help quiet mental clutter and encourage presence. 

Whether you take an afternoon to hike a nearby trail or spend some of your lunch break strolling through a city park, even taking 10-20 minutes to ground yourself in green space can help promote a sense of calm.

4. Gentle yoga or stretching

Gentle yoga is a great way to release stored tension in the body, improving circulation, and promoting relaxation.

These practices also encourage better breath awareness, which plays a direct role in activating the parasympathetic nervous system. People who practice slow-flow yoga or restorative poses often report better sleep quality and improved emotional balance over time. When done regularly, even for just 10 to 15 minutes, yoga becomes a useful way to reset both mentally and physically.

5. Listening to music or sound baths

Music affects the nervous system in unique ways. Certain frequencies, tempos, or rhythms can help slow the heart rate and guide the brain into a more relaxed state. Ambient playlists, nature sounds, and instrumental music are especially popular for people looking to unwind without overstimulation.

Sound baths, which often feature instruments like singing bowls or chimes, are designed specifically to help promote calm through vibration and tone. You don’t have to attend a class to benefit, as there are many guided recordings available online.

If you’re looking to deepen this experience, consider making it part of an evening ritual: dim the lights, lie down in a quiet space, and allow yourself to simply listen.

6. Journaling

Journaling is one of the most accessible ways to relax your mind. Writing down your thoughts, even without structure, helps offload mental noise and process the day. Some people journal to organize ideas, others to express gratitude or reflect on emotions. Whatever the purpose, putting pen to paper has grounding effects.

7. Knitting, crocheting, or needlework

Crafts that involve repetitive hand movements, like knitting or crocheting, have a naturally meditative quality. Your body gets into a rhythm, your focus narrows, and your breathing often slows as a result. These types of hobbies are especially useful when you want to calm your mind without being completely still.

Because they’re both tactile and creative, needlework and related crafts help support a unique form of mindfulness. The sense of progress and productivity without the pressure of performance can also support emotional wellness and a sense of satisfaction.

8. Reading for pleasure

Many people overlook reading as a form of rest. Immersing yourself in a story or thoughtfully written nonfiction gives your brain a break from scattered thought patterns and digital stimulation. Fiction, in particular, supports imagination and emotional processing.

Make it part of your wind-down routine by carving out 15 to 20 minutes in the evening with a good book, a soft light, and a quiet setting. 

9. Puzzles, brain games, and quiet focus

Relaxation isn’t always about slowing down completely. Some people feel most at ease when they’re focused, just not overwhelmed. Activities like jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, and similar brain games offer a satisfying balance: enough mental engagement to stay present, but not so much stimulation that it triggers stress.

This kind of focused attention is often referred to as “flow,” a state where your brain feels immersed but steady. These tasks can gently support cognitive function while helping you unplug from external stressors. They’re especially useful in the evenings or on days when your energy feels scattered. 

10. Breathwork and simple mindfulness

One of the most direct ways to signal your body that it’s safe to relax is through mindful breathing. Breathwork doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. Even a few minutes of slow, steady breathing can begin to activate your parasympathetic nervous system and help reduce the physical symptoms of tension.

Try inhaling slowly for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for six to eight. Practicing this a few times per day can help regulate your stress response and bring you into the present moment. 

11. Tai Chi and gentle movement practices

Tai chi is a centuries-old movement practice that blends controlled motion, breath awareness, and balance. Though often slow and graceful, it builds strength and coordination over time while keeping the nervous system calm and supported.

It’s also incredibly adaptable. Whether you’re in a studio, a living room, or a quiet backyard, tai chi requires no equipment. This makes it a great hobby for people of all ages and fitness levels, especially those looking for a mindful way to move.

12. Creative hobbies that invite flow

From painting to sculpting, writing, or playing a musical instrument, creative expression can be one of the most powerful ways to unwind. These hobbies offer an outlet for internal experience and invite emotional processing without pressure. 

For people who find verbal expression difficult, creativity becomes an alternate language that helps soothe, clarify, and reset.

Even ten to fifteen minutes spent doing something creative can support a greater sense of calm. You don’t have to master a skill to benefit. The point is to explore, express, and reconnect with yourself without judgment. A consistent creative practice can become a powerful part of your overall wellness strategy.*

CBD as a wellness companion

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound found in the hemp plant. It’s non-intoxicating and widely used to support overall wellness, especially when it comes to promoting calm, emotional balance, and physical relaxation.* 

What makes CBD unique is how it interacts with the body’s ECS. Instead of directly triggering a response, it helps encourage the body’s own endocannabinoid activity, making it easier to maintain a sense of internal stability.*

Many people use CBD alongside relaxing hobbies as part of a self-care routine. For example, taking a serving before journaling, going for a nature walk, or winding down with light stretching can help reinforce the sense of calm these activities provide. 

Taking CBD before bed can also help calm the mind so you can transition into sleep mode. This is particularly beneficial for relaxation, as our cortisol levels drop when we sleep, allowing us to wake up feeling more refreshed and relaxed. 

Try building a nighttime relaxation routine by putting away any screens around half an hour before bedtime and pairing CBD with other calming nighttime activities like journaling, reading, or breathwork.

Remember, CBD isn’t a shortcut to relaxation, but for some, it can help the body and mind get there a little more easily.* It’s important to choose high-quality, third-party tested, and science-backed products, and to keep in mind that everyone’s experience is different. 

Serving size, time of day, and individual body chemistry can all affect how someone feels. The key is to approach CBD as one part of a larger wellness toolkit, not a quick fix.

A foundation for the rest of the day or night

The best part about relaxing hobbies is that they’re flexible. You don’t need hours of free time or a perfect setting to start. A few minutes of coloring, a short walk outside, or a calming playlist can make a real difference in how you feel. The goal isn’t to “do more,” it’s to reconnect with the part of yourself that needs care, quiet, and space.

As you consider different hobbies, think about what actually resonates with you, not what looks good on paper or sounds like something you “should” do. 

The most effective habits are the ones you enjoy and can stick with. Whether that means knitting, meditating, or simply stepping outside to breathe deeply, there’s value in every step you take toward rest.

And if you're looking for additional support, incorporating a high-quality hemp extract into your wellness routine may offer the extra nudge your body needs to find balance, especially when paired with intentional, restorative activities.*

The bottom line

We know how easy it is to put relaxation at the bottom of the to-do list. When life gets busy, it can feel more productive to keep pushing than to pause. However, the truth is that rest is a core part of how the body and mind repair, adapt, and stay resilient.

That’s why we believe in helping people create daily rituals that restore calm and encourage balance. Whether it’s stepping outside for a short walk, spending quiet time with a craft, or taking a few deep breaths between meetings, each of these small choices matters. When combined with high-quality hemp-derived products that support the ECS, those moments become building blocks for long-term wellness.*

Here at Sunmed, our mission has always been rooted in science, transparency, and human care. We design our formulas with purpose so you can feel confident in what you’re using and how it supports you.*

Everyone’s version of relaxation looks different. What matters most is finding what helps you reconnect, feel safe in your body, and return to center.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sources:

Neuroanatomy, Parasympathetic Nervous System - StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf

What Happens to Your Body When You Relax | WebMD

Chronic stress puts your health at risk | Mayo Clinic

Dig into the benefits of gardening | Mayo Clinic Health System

The effect of music on the human stress response | Europe PMC