Opt out of doomscrolling if you truly want to rest. Instead, science offers helpful hints on what could actually give your brain a break.
Some of the most calming activities—drinking a warm cup of tea, completing a puzzle, knitting a cozy scarf—are tend to be associated with people enjoying their later years in life. However, it doesn’t need to stay that way, especially if you want to better rest and reset your brain after a busy day, says a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
“After a long day of work and decision-making, our brains become tired,” says Susan Albers, PsyD, psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. ”Many people turn to the phone as a way to unwind, but this actually revs up your brain instead of calming it down. Crafting or tech-free hobbies is a way to move your mind into a state of calm.”
Dr. Albers notes that these “old school” hobbies are backed by science. Indeed, one study, published in Perspect Public Health in 2021 found that crocheting “offers positive benefits for personal wellbeing” and that study participants actively used crocheting to “manage mental health conditions and life events such as grief, chronic illness, and pain.” Meanwhile, a 2023 Journal of Clinical Medicine analysis looked into the effects of different video games on participants—out of four types of games (Fear, Runner, Excitement, and Puzzle), the Puzzle game was the only one to show a “deactivation of the stress system.”
Another study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2024, focused on a small sampling of college students who were asked to participate in multiple bird-watching and nature walk sessions. After evaluating self-reported feedback from the students, researchers concluded that the time outside was helpful for both increasing overall wellbeing and reducing psychological distress.
If you’re inspired to search for a new relaxing activity, choose one based on your mood, says Dr. Albers. “If you are feeling tired, choose an activity that has slow, repetitive movements, such as crocheting or knitting. If your brain is feeling alert, a brain puzzle, or putting together a puzzle, can help to tap into your focus and concentration,” she says.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
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