Including the positive impact after removing unwanted habits or hobbies too
As other people said, walks are great. Good way to decompress after work.
I also do yoga twice a week. Helped a lot with my back, and keeps my flexibility at a reasonable level.
Whenever I have small interesting little pieces of trash (like a toothpaste cap, the spring from a dried out pen, handle from an old razor etc) I now have dedicated craft drawers to keep those knick knacks in
Now whenever I want to make cool little sculptures or crafts, I have a generous collection of various shapes and materials that I can make them out of
Also helps save on whatever extra apoxie sculpt I would have needed
Step outside of your routine. Drive 20 minutes down the road on a whim and go to the park. Go for a walk. Break the monotony of life in small ways all throughout the day/week. Less screen time too.
Is this the “touching grass” activity they spoke of? Seems scary.
Well kind of. But it’s more like touch DIFFERENT grass. Like whereever you live I bet there’s a river or creak or lake or whatever within a 30 minute drive. Go there. Check it out. Sit next to it for a minute. Let yourself be an ape for a minute. It’s what we are. Just follow your whims. See a cool rock? Go check that shit out.
Leisure walk every day. 30 minutes is enough.
Don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol.
Drink a lot of water.
Regular sleep schedule. Sleep hygiene.
Eat healthy.
Appreciative social contacts.
No matter how much your brain tells you that it’s go time… You need to take 10 minutes a day to stare at the ceiling, have a bath, or do nothing and turn that fucker off.
E: I know my own brain, it will not stop. So I literally have a repeat task in my calendar and my do not disturb set to go on for that 10 minutes automatically!
I’ve been seeing small bands play locally. I love metal and all it’s sub-genres and my town has been absolutely stacked for smaller shows this year.
I saw Hippie Death Cult and The Obsessed in a tiny venue for $22/ticket and even got to meet some of the members of the bands as they were walking around or working the merch booth.
I’ve got at least 2 concerts each month for the rest of the year and may fit more in if I can.
Hell, even the most expensive show I went to was $50/ticket and that was for Alcest, Deafheaven, and Mastodon (favorite band of all time). It was absolutely mind blowing and I’m still buzzing from the “high”.
I should note I’m 3 years sober from alcohol and have struggled with crippling social anxiety and panic attacks over the years. I’m using these events as exposure therapy (along with actual therapy) to social situations and knowing that I can leave at anytime helps to avoid the uncomfortable cyclical anxiety loop I was getting caught in. It’s actually been enlightening how much I’ve been able to enjoy and has made a massive positive impact on my life.
Do a kindness to someone without expectation of recognition or return
Read a book
Find an enjoyable exercise
Sit under a tree on a nice day
Going for a walk is generally a good thing.
I take the stairs, when i’m sad, frustrated or upset i do pushups
Team Sports are pretty good for a social life. As in casual leagues. Just daydrinking with extra steps.
Spinning yarn. Fiber arts in general, but spinning is very low effort. It keeps your hands busy while you watch something on TV (or if you’re waiting in a waiting room) so you don’t feel the urge to grab your phone. Drop spindles are also very affordable and probably the best way to learn. You could spin wool roving or top. You could also go forage a ton of wild nettle (do that it in the winter so it doesn’t sting), process the nettle, then spin that. Or you could get into the dying process, which is super fun. It’s an entire rabbit hole.
The fun thing is you can use the product of the low effort hobby in higher effort hobbies like weaving. And once you get fabric from weaving on a rigid heddle or floor/table loom, you can amp up the effort even more in following a pattern and sewing things from that fabric. Or just hang it and look at it.
Wash my hands the second I get home.
Semi-regularly wash the touch surfaces in my home including door knobs and light switches.
I don’t get sick like I used to.
Instead of cherry picking “low effort” habits or hobbies. Pick habits you value and hobbies you like, then just put in a bit of effort starting from the lowest amount. Stop when you think it’s too much.
Knitting, reading, gardening, at least one walk every day.
Reading novels; helped me grow my vocabulary and helped me learn empathy and critical thinking by putting me in other people’s shoes
