So, after a long hectic day with all the stress and hard work, they need to find other extracurricular activities which can help them relax and unwind.
Thus, with enough research, we have collated a list of nine (9) hobbies for athletes for a more relaxed mind.
Why Athletes Need hobbies?
Engaging in regular simple everyday tasks can really improve your mental health and wellbeing. Athletes are no exception. In fact, several studies show why hobbies are important and why even athletes can benefit from giving them a go.
Here is a list of some of the benefits of having a hobby.
- It reduces stress.
- Hobbies enhance our connection with others.
- Increased well being
If you’re interested in finding a hobby, check this article on how to.
Writing
Engaging in purposeful writing after a long day of work is an effective way of relaxing the mind. That writing has been a sure way to release bottled-up emotions and ideas is a well-known fact. Numerous studies have made this established phenomenon that people who write a lot think better and they are able to control their emotions. This is because expressing yourself on paper helps you work out your feelings.
More specifically, there have been dozens of athletes who have picked up writing as a way to improve themselves in their careers. For instance, professional athletes like Kevin Love, Doug Glanville, and Mark Titus among others according to an article by Business insider illustrate that these athletes write because it helps them in both their professional and private lives.
Start Reading
Reciprocal to writing is reading. There is a famous saying “Better readers are better writers”. This is true because to be able to comprehend an author’s main ideas, make inferences, and find the information an author is using to support his views is an incredible skill you can use to reproduce your own piece of writing.
On the other hand, reading in itself comes with essential benefits for the athlete. First, reading can improve your athletic performance. An example of an athlete who saw reading as a beneficial aspect of his basketball career was LeBron James. According to him, reading provides him an outlet to quiet his mind, and feel tranquility before actually participating in a game. It also serves as a source of distraction for him amidst the hard work that will be done throughout the season. Next, reading books pulls us into other worlds. In other words, it invites you into thinking about others. You can learn from them and inculcate their experiences and skills which could help any athlete in any career. Finally, reading literary works of famous authors such as Anne Frank, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.K Rowling, and Malcolm Gladwell just to mention a few provides an opportunity to be entertained.
Here are some interesting quotes to motivate you on your reading journey.
Start a blog
Writing in journals or notebooks about your experiences is great, but could be better if you shared your life as an athlete with the world. You could do that by starting a blog. Many people want advice and tips on how to improve in their athletic careers. You could be that help. There are many professional athletes like LeBron James, David Beckham, and many others who share their professional lives with their audience.
Incidentally, sharing your life online, whether on YouTube or a Website with Ads on it can bring you a quick penny. So, this can be really beneficial for your body, mind, and wallet.
Here are some of the best athletes on YouTube that share their professional lives online.
- P.K. Subban, Professional Hockey Player.
- Victor Oladipo – Professional Basketball Player.
- Stephen Curry – Professional Basketball Player.
- Mark McMorris – Professional Snowboarder.
- Finn Iles – Professional Mountain Biker.
- Justine Dupont – Professional Surfer.
- Matisse Thybulle – Professional Basketball Player.
- Shauna Coxsey – Professional climber.
- Jamie O’Brien – Professional Surfer.
- Cam Newton – Professional Superbowl Player.
Learn To Cook
Cooking is one of the best hobbies any athlete can pick up. For one, it gives you the chance to cook your own healthy meals both for yourself and the family. This means avoiding all fatty foods, connecting more with your loved ones, and keeping your mind and body in good condition in the process.
So, fire up those recipes and enjoy yourself.
Check these cooking quotes for inspiration.
Photography
There is a joy in capturing your events, places, and people and having to work on them to bring about a finished product. This is important because it relaxes the mind and helps you as an athlete to be more concentrated on your immediate experience. The calmer your mind the better you perform as an athlete.
Remember no need for any expensive gear. Just your phone and you are on your way to enjoying this hobby. Cheers!
Learn to Sing or Play A Musical Instrument
Music in any form can really help athletes in maintaining a healthy performance in their respective careers. Its true physical recovery after a hard of training is good, but making the time to either listen to a good song or play one yourself will make it worthwhile. This according to numerous studies will relax and calm the mind for the next day. Tremendous improvement in athletes’ skills is seen in a very short time.
To find places to either download a song or listen to one, check out our music page for more ideas.
Also, if you intend to learn a musical instrument, try something less pricey as a starter.
Start Playing Board Games
Being an athlete takes physical effort as much as mental. Playing board games, whether a party, word, or war, requires mental stimulation. This stimulation on a consistent basis makes your mind very sharp.
Also, party board games specifically, give you the opportunity to meet new people and make connections both personally and career-wise. In the world of sports, meeting the right people can do wonders for your career.
Start Collecting Coins
Coin collecting is an adventure into the unknown. Like gardening, it offers an opportunity to challenge yourself mentally. So have fun and relax your mind.
To learn more about coins, check our coin collecting page.
Start a Gardening Project
Starting a small garden is also another effective pastime an athlete can pick up. Although it requires a lot of work, you can have the satisfaction of growing your own healthy foodstuffs and other herbs that are beneficial to you. Herbs such as aloe vera, peppermint, arnica, and rosemary are anti-inflammatory and necessary for treating muscle soreness and viral infections.
A word of caution. Because gardening is more physical, be careful not to hurt yourself.
Conclusion
An athlete can have fun, relax and enjoy themselves with these hobbies. Do well to pick one of them, learning and practicing it for as long as you can. You will love it.
To keep yourself inspired through the process, check out our quotes page for motivational ideas.
Sources:
https://writingcooperative.com/how-writing-helps-my-anxiety-6fd1da9d21b3
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/9/13/3322842/lebron-james-reading-dan-grunfeld
https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health
