It’s been a long day — the 6 a.m. alarm start, the back-to-back virtual meetings, the looming deadline of a project not yet complete, picking up the kids from school, getting dinner on the table, the tantrums before their bedtime, cleaning up the bits of food off the kitchen floor, answering work emails, watching the news, worrying about the pandemic, worrying about finances. Then tomorrow, it’s rinse and repeat.
It’s no wonder that when we finally get some downtime, all we want to do is numb out in front of the TV or scroll mindlessly through Instagram.
Yet studies have shown that additional screen time for entertainment can contribute to emotional stress and may affect psychological well-being.
Instead of tuning into tech, give yourself a real break from the everyday and try your hand at one or more of these relaxing activities. These hobbies can promote mindfulness and help stimulate joy and personal fulfilment — plus there are ways to get started even if you’re on a tight budget.
Make art — with childlike curiosity
Whether it’s putting pencil to paper or playing…
