Summer wellbeing! Popular hobbies to reduce stress in 2024

Recent reports state that hobbies have been proven to reduce anxiety and improve mental health, whilst also helping many manage their emotions in a positive and productive manner.

With this in mind, Adobe Express conducted a survey of 2,000 UK adults to find out the most popular hobbies UK adults are turning to this summer to help them relax and unwind, as well as how creative they see themselves as.

The Top Hobbies Brits Turn to in Order to Relax

Rank	Hobby	Percentage of respondents regularly undertaking the hobby (%)
1	Reading	35%
2	Walking	30%
3	Cooking and baking	29%
4	Playing an instrument / Sports (solo)	25%
5	Journaling	22%
6	Writing	20%
=7	Sports (as a team)	18%
=7	Art, drawing, and illustration	18%
9	Knitting, sewing, and crocheting	17%
10	Design Work	15%

The most popular hobby or pastime enjoyed by UK adults in a bid to relax and unwind in summer was found to be reading, with more than a third of respondents stating this was their number one choice (35%). This hobby is known for improving critical thinking and creativity skills, as well as enhancing knowledge.

This was closely followed by walking (30%) which is well known for its positive mental and physical health qualities, as well as cooking and baking (29%), which is a creative hobby that stimulates the senses, and boosts self-esteem.

Alongside walking, other outdoors or more active hobbies that proved popular amongst Brits included playing team sports (18%) and solo sports (25%) such as running.

Other creative hobbies Brits turn to in a bid to chill out, included journaling (22%), writing (20%), and knitting or crocheting (17%).

Journaling has been found to be a healthy way of dealing with stress and challenges, as well as helping with problem solving and personal growth, whilst writing and knitting are great for cognitive function and easing anxiety.

Just six per cent of respondents stated they did not do any hobbies or pastimes as a means of unwinding.

Engaging in activities that you enjoy is a great way of escaping the day-to-day routines and responsibilities. This time to switch off can help with lowering stress levels; reduces anxiety; gives you space and time to process; and also promotes mental wellbeing.

Pursuing your own hobbies is crucial for personal fulfilment by giving you the opportunity to engage in something that you are passionate about or makes you happy.

Kamalyn Kaur, Psychotherapist, www.kamalynkaur.com provides comment on the mental wellbeing benefits of pursuing a hobby:

Having your own hobbies, away from family, is also a great way of introducing balance into your life as it is dedicated and protected time for you to focus on what you want to do; prioritise yourself; and think about your own emotional needs. In this respect, hobbies can be a great way of introducing self-care and preventing burnout.

Kamalyn Kaur, Psychotherapist