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Staying with a narcissist can have a profound negative impact on our mental health. Those who have been with narcissists know this very well.
If you have finally left your narcissist and are looking to boost your mental health then in this article I give you 10 hobbies to help boost your mental health.
Narcissists have an uncanny ability to denigrate our psychological health. And for this reason, many people, empaths, in particular, become so broken that it seems like their mental health will never be what it was BEFORE they were with the narcissist.
Check out my article “The Broken Empath“.
However, it has been shown that the brain is plastic, meaning that it can learn new things and strengthen. This is wonderful news, especially for those who have lost confidence, self-esteem, and just the will to go on in life.
Neuroplasticity has been shown to reverse many neurological problems as well as psychological and emotional issues such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Low Self-Esteem
- Codependency
By learning new things you not only strengthen your mind, but you also place your time, energy and FOCUS on something that actually brings you happiness.
With this said, let’s dive in, shall we?
Hobbies For Mental Health
1 – Meditation
I am a HUGE ADVOCATE of meditating. Meditation has such a profound impact on our emotional and mental health. Take these benefits into consideration:
- Reduces Stress (if this isn’t reason enough for you to consider than I don’t know what is)
- Controls anxiety
- Promotes emotional health
- Enhances self-awareness
- Improves attention-span
- Can help to generate kindness
- May help to fight addiction
- Improves sleep
- and so much more
Sign up here with my affiliate link to take this 21-Day Challenge. It has been said it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Why not create a new habit?
2 – Gardening
Gardening has been shown to have the potential to lower anxiety and stress. Just being outdoors instead of inside ALL DAY, offers you better mental health. Check out this article “Gardening for Mental Health: Reducing Anxiety and Depression with Green Activities“.
3 – Reading
Reading truly is a great hobby that many of us need to cultivate or pick back up again. By reading, we take our attention to a whole other world. Reading fiction can really immerse ourselves in a fantasy world that forces us to create these images in our minds.
But reading autobiographies are so much more beneficial as you see the struggles that GREAT PEOPLE went through. Hard times create great people; remember that.
4 – Playing An Instrument
Learning a new instrument is extremely fun. I am a lover of Jazz, so I play the alto saxophone.
But you may find the piano thrilling.
The Violin chilling.
Whatever you play
Make sure it helps in your healing.
Like what I did there?
5 – Dancing
Learn to release all that pint up anger, stress, anxiety, depression, rage, shame, and any other negative feeling you can think of. Dancing not only lets out all that negative energy but it also is great for your physical health as well.
6 – Taking Care Of A Pet
Now, this isn’t necessarily a hobby. But how…how can anyone turn away a kitten or a puppy? Taking care of a sweet kitten or an adorable puppy can help you to heal in more ways than you think.
7 – Swimming
The benefits of swimming are numerous. Swimming has been shown to help combat depression. And this is because swimming releases the happy feel-good chemicals in our brains.
8 – Writing
Journaling or writing out your thoughts will help to give you a more clear understanding of what you were going through when you were with the narcissist. Writing helps you to see yourself in a more objective way.
Quite often we look at ourselves from the past with the knowledge we have now in the present.
AND THAT IS UNFAIR TO OURSELVES.
Of course, we know now what the narcissist was but how could we have known back then.
Writing out what you felt at that time will show you you weren’t wrong. You just weren’t KNOWLEDGEABLE about what these people were.
You. Me. We were all just ignorant. But now we know.
If you have a story you would like to tell and need a platform to let it outreach out to me at my Facebook page or my Quora page. Join the group and just message “Story to tell”. And I will get back to you.
Your story could touch and may even help someone else out.
9 – Take Online Classes (Learn A New Language)
Learning a new language will really change your brain pattern and thus give you a new way of seeing the world. Heck learning a new language isn’t easy. But it sure as heck is better than the language of self-hate.
Wouldn’t you agree?
10 – Join A Sports Team
Learning to cooperate with other people, again will prove most valuable in your mental health development and healing. It is not uncommon for many people who have suffered at the hands of a narcissist to start to doubt people who come into their life.
Learning to work with others will restore your faith in humanity.
The Power Of Learning
Learning something new is so beneficial for your mental health. Instead of ruminating over what has happened you now focus your energy and attention on something that will make you better.
Healing after a narcissistic relationship is possible. Will it happen overnight?
No.
But taking it ONE DAY AT A TIME will prove most beneficial.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with…one step.
