Dedicate Yourself to Self-Care this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that celebrates romantic relationships through expressing feelings of love and admiration and giving gifts. But why not take a moment this Valentine’s Day to reflect on how we can improve our lives and relationships through self-care instead.

Self-care is often the first thing that is sacrificed when life is busy and stressful. Reducing or eliminating time for self-care is harmful as it can lead to burnout, depression and a variety of both physical and mental problems (Source).

Self-care is anything you do to keep yourself both physically and mentally well. A self-care routine can involve regularly taking time away from the stressors of life to focus on something you love such as a new or old hobby (Source). Hobbies have been proven to help reduce anxiety, depression, frustration and anger whilst improving one’s happiness, concentration and energy levels.

Incorporating self-care activities into your routine, such as involving yourself in a hobby, socialising with friends or going for a walk, can give your body and mind time to rest, reset and rejuvenate. By doing so, you can avoid or reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety (Source).

Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood and depression. Involving yourself in activities that you like doing can make you feel happier and more relaxed and result in better outcomes in life (Source).

According to the Australian Government Department of Health, having a hobby is a great way to spend your spare time and to unwind from your daily routine. Hobbies can include learning a new skill, spending time outdoors, reading or doing something musical or artistic.

Building Models

Scale modelling is a great hobby, whether it's building planes, boats, helicopters or building an awesome looking Gunpla, Pokemon, Sci Fi or Star Wars build. This hobby provides a much needed leisurely break that helps reduce anxiety and depression whilst boosting cognitive skills such as visual motor skills, concentration, and the ability to plan (Source). Modelling is always great fun which explains why it has been around for so long!

Games

Spending time with family and friends has shown to increase a person’s self-worth, their communication skills and their level of happiness. Spending time with family and friends also reduces stress levels and provides a great opportunity to make memories that are built on fun, laughter and togetherness (Source). So why not create the perfect excuse to spend more time together? Games are a great way for family and friends to reconnect in a healthy and affordable manner. For thousands of years, board games have been used to address loneliness and isolation. Games also pack a punch for a whole range of skills such as collaboration, teamwork, problem-solving and creativity. When you are feeling disconnected and not yourself, why not self-care by playing a game with friends and family?

Puzzles

A puzzle may be the missing piece you have been searching for (excuse the pun!). Puzzles have shown to improve the feel-good chemical in your brain ‘dopamine’ that helps improve your ability to concentrate and strengthens your long-term and short-term memory whilst improving levels of motivation. Puzzles have shown to boost relaxation and mental health. So when you are feeling down, self-care with a puzzle. We have a puzzle for everyone whether you like a mind teaser, superhero themes, 3D, Disney or loads more.

Building LEGO

Building LEGO is a great hobby for all ages. With a huge range of products at Hobbyco, we have LEGO sets for everyone! Research shows that 91% of adults feel better after building LEGO whilst 86% feel more relaxed (Source). LEGO helps strengthen motor skills whilst stimulating creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. LEGO can be built with the whole family, helping to improve teamwork and communication skills. Plus, LEGO is always great fun!

Outdoor Fun

Feeling upset or angry? Involve yourself in self-care by going outside. Recent studies have shown that going outside improves your mental wellbeing by lowering levels of tension, depression and fatigue (Source). Why not create the perfect excuse to go outside? Whether it’s flying a kite, playing outdoor games, driving an RC vehicle or flying a helicopter/drone. Reduce your screen time and immerse yourself in nature with a new or continued hobby.

“Hobbyco For People Who Take Their Fun Seriously”