The health crisis caused by Covid-19 has meant that the physical and mental consequences of the confinements are still present. How can we face it?
Beyond calling for calm and establishing marked routines that will be of great help when facing the situation, the ifeel team of psychologists recommend carrying out different activities according to your objective: develop patience, grow in self-confidence, reduce stress … We are talking about hobbies whose benefits are key to improving mental health, always relegated to the background in favor of physical health.
Stop stress and increase self-esteem: DIY
These types of activities can give us, in addition to a few hours of physical activity, a great feeling of satisfaction with ourselves. We are used to having others fix things around the house for us and very often it is because we do not feel capable of carrying out these more traditional tasks. Doing them by ourselves can give us a pleasant feeling of autonomy and will help us to see ourselves as skilled and “handy” people, which is very beneficial in terms of our self-esteem. It is not necessary that we do it alone, having help and company will always make it more enjoyable.
Developing Patience: Puzzles and Gardening
Anyone with a couple of jigsaw puzzles at home are possibly one of the oldest toys out there and are suitable for virtually any age. Beyond entertaining, the ifeel experts consider that surrendering to these constructions can help to enhance cognitive and emotional capacities that have to do with space but also with containment, knowing how to wait, sharpening different senses based on observation and considering a more or less complex task by dividing it into manageable sections.
Another of the hobbies that can be key to inner well-being is gardening. Taking care of the pots in our house, the terrace or the patio that we have in a conscious way and paying special attention to what we are doing can promote an inner rhythm oriented towards growth, calm observation, patience and kindness. The simple fact of taking care of a plant, some flowers or cultivating our own vegetables can ensure that our inner world does not get stuck in worries, it can become a beneficial anchor in moments of sadness, inner turmoil, boredom or confusion, depending on the experts point out.
Increasing Inner Peace: Organizing/Planning
Letting go of those things we no longer need, recycling them or even giving them away can be useful if we feel scattered, lacking space or restless. Tidying up our shelves, cabinets and tables and cleaning the house are not the first activities that we consider as fun, but they help us to differentiate what works for us from what no longer works. They awaken a feeling of lightness and comfort.
Creativity and gratification: sewing and cooking
On the one hand, sewing can be very useful when our minds are very scattered, something very common when we spend many hours at home or add problems and headaches.
It is entertaining and manages to enhance our creativity and precision. It brings to light our most artistic and creative facet.
While the kitchen is of great help when we need to distract ourselves and look for a rewarding goal. The more complex the challenge, the greater the pleasure and satisfaction with oneself when finishing it.
