The Health Benefits of Hobbies

Looking to kick back and relax or want to pursue a passion project? Give one of these health-boosting hobbies a try.

The Health Benefits of Hobbies

Who says having fun can’t be healthy? While playing sports and cooking have obvious health benefits, some of your favorite less-active leisure activities can be good for your mind and body, too. From stress relief to improved brain function, these eight hobbies offer numerous and noteworthy benefits that you’ll reap in the years to come.

Watch: Sharpen Your Mind With These Brain Games

Painting

Painting

Art therapy has been widely studied and the benefits of painting specifically are far-reaching. In one study, painting was shown to help cancer patients set goals, focus on positivity and self-expression, and encourage the overall healing and recovery process, leading to shorter hospital stays.

This Small Device Can Help Give Independence Back to People With Visual Impairment

Get help with the things that became difficult without full sight.

Do you or a loved one experience visual impairment? Whether it's because of blindspots, blurred vision, tunnel vision or night blindness, there's a new tool that can help you do the things that become difficult without full sight. The OrCam MyEye is a small voice-activated device that can attach to your glasses and read aloud text from a book, screen or other surface. It can even recognize faces, money, barcodes and colors. It does this all in real-time and offline. Watch the video below to see how the OrCam MyEye works and why some people say it gave them independence back.