Are you feeling stressed? The new school year has begun, and you're back to learning.

You might feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and stressed out. Going back to school and getting the hang of things again is no easy task for many, but a relaxing hobby, or two, can help calm your nerves.

As a high schooler, I heavily relate. But, your hobbies don't have to hold up the to-do list; the goal is to relax whenever necessary. They can be short activities you do after your school day when your work is finished.

In this article, I'll be listing 7 quick and easy hobbies to help you de-stress from this school year! Keep in mind, trying a new hobby is a great way to expose yourself to something you might not have originally tried!

1 - Rock collecting

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Also known as rockhounding, rock collecting is just what it sounds like! You collect rocks, gemstones, crystals, fossils, minerals, etc., for fun, studying them if you want!

This can make you feel more at Earth and help “ground” you in a sense. The excitement of discovery and being surrounded by nature makes the acts of searching, collecting, and studying a calming and spiritual way to spend your free time!

A common reason for collecting rocks or other types of formations is based on their looks and textures. You just have to go outside and look for rocks that you want to collect and keep, others also like to study and categorize their rocks.

Take the Quiz: Find Your Perfect Stress-Relieving Hobby!

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2 - Mindful observation

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Mindful observation is the practice of finding somewhere to sit and watching what's going on around you. It's about just watching the movement of a bird or blades of grass, instead of immediately categorizing what you're seeing. It is about watching the little things in life without judgement, opening our senses to what's around us every day.

People often express a quiet and open mind when mindfully observing the richness of what's going on around, slowing down thoughts and releasing stress.

Popular methods of mindful observation are:

• Stargazing
• Bird watching
• Cloud watching
• Watching streams of water
• Watching blades of grass or trees sway in a breeze

3 - Photography

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Taking photos, whether it's on my phone or a more professional camera, is one of the most relaxing things to me.

It helps unleash my creativity and soothes my nerves when I feel stressed, just by taking photos of the world around me. For me, it's about seeing the beauty and creativity in the little things around my every day life, for you it might be something completely different!

I challenge you to try amateur photography and see if you find it relaxing!

If you don't know what to take pictures of, here are some common favorites:

• Sunset
• Sunrise
• Nature (flowers, plants, and bugs)
• The night sky (moon and stars)
• Landscapes

4 - Reading/writing

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In general, reading and writing are common hobbies, for good reason.

Both are usually described as relaxing to some degree, and they have a wide area of interest for many people.

Sometimes taking a half hour to write deep poetry or jot your thoughts can lift a weight of your shoulders as well as unease. Reading a couple chapters out of a book or article you find interesting can help your mind settle down after a long day at school and unwind!

A few common areas of reading/writing that people express as calming are:

• Short stories/fiction
• Memoirs
• Poetry
• Prose
• Journaling

5 - Music

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Music is an open language that offers a ton of different genres for various feelings, moods, and tones. You can find a genre or artist that fits your feel, chilling or multi-tasking while listening. For me, listening to music opens a doorway into my soul where I can just listen and groove to the music without a care. I listen to music majority of the time when I'm working on homework; I just have to find the right songs!

Others find relaxation in the art of creating music. Whether that's remixing or creating your own songs or pieces, the art of creating focuses your brain on the music right in front of you.

Additionally, learning or playing an instrument introduces the art of playing music, leaving some feeling internally connected to the music and their mental well-being.

One study concluded this: “Our findings indicate that music listening impacted the psychobiological stress system. Listening to music prior to a standardized stressor predominantly affected the autonomic nervous system (in terms of a faster recovery), and to a lesser degree the endocrine and psychological stress response. These findings may help better understanding the beneficial effects of music on the human body.”

6 - Watching documentaries

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Sitting down and watching a documentary is a unique way to relax and learn!

Depending on the type of documentary and your preferences, you'll have to find the right genre for you! Often, people find nature and animal documentaries the most relaxing. Personally, I like watching documentaries about space or historical buildings! Learning what YOU find interesting outside of school is a great way to leave a positive effect of learning on your mind and well-being.

If you have the time, I would suggest watching a documentary about something you don't know a lot about!

7 - Visual art

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Visual art, in its various forms, is one of the most popular hobbies!

Art helps unleash creativity, while still having a calming aspect to it for many people. A common reason for its “therapeutic” origin is it gives an artist the ability to show their perspective and creativity in any way they want!

There are lots of forms of visual art that may interested you! Here is a list of some of the more common forms!

• Drawing/doodling
• Painting
• Graphic design
• Origami
• Glass painting
• Calligraphy
• Ceramics
• Abstract art
• Digital art
• Collage
• And many more!

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, finding relaxing hobbies can feel hard. I hope this article has served you well and encouraged you to try something new! Coming from a high school sophomore, the stress to do well is challenging, but try to persevere and find ways to relax your mind, body, and well-being!