The psychotherapist spoke about the benefits of "children's" activities for adults

Coloring books, building blocks, puzzles, modeling and needlework, which many consider to be children's entertainment, are becoming increasingly popular among adults. Such activities help to relax, reduce tension and restore a sense of creativity. Irina Krashkina, a psychotherapist at JSC Meditsina, told Izvestia about this on August 4.

According to the expert, the benefits of such hobbies are not related to an attempt to return to childhood, but to the specifics of the process itself. Calm concentration, repetitive movements and the absence of a rigid assessment of the result allow a person to switch from everyday tasks and focus on the current moment.

"During creative activities, the constant mental load is reduced. In everyday life, a person has to simultaneously solve many tasks, monitor deadlines and evaluate results. When attention is focused on a simple process — choosing colors, assembling designer parts, or making stitches — the brain gets a chance to relax," Krashkina explained.

According to the therapist, repetitive hand movements can also have a calming effect. That is why many people intuitively choose knitting, drawing or other types of creativity during periods of increased anxiety. Jigsaw puzzles can also be useful for adults. These activities involve areas of the brain associated with planning, spatial thinking, and decision-making.

In addition, such hobbies provide an opportunity to get a quick and understandable result. Unlike major life goals that may take months or years, a finished model, drawing, or assembled puzzle creates a sense of completion and helps restore a sense of control.

At the same time, the specialist noted that a hobby should help a person recover, and not become a way to completely avoid reality. If there is a feeling of calmness, energy and a desire to return to daily activities after the lesson, it performs a useful function. However, if a person starts using hobbies to avoid important tasks, communicate, or solve problems, this can be a wake-up call.

For example, an evening of coloring after a day at work can be a way to relax, and the complete abandonment of responsibilities and communication for the sake of constant creative activity already indicates a different attitude to hobbies, the psychotherapist added.

According to Krashkina, returning to favorite activities from childhood also does not always bring the expected pleasure. This is because a person's interests change with age, experience, and life circumstances.

"Sometimes adults try to bring back not the activity itself, but the feelings associated with it — safety, lack of pressure and free time. Therefore, a simple repetition of a childhood hobby may not be enough to restore an emotional state," the specialist said.

The therapist recommended choosing a hobby not based on popularity, but based on your own feelings. It is important to pay attention to whether it becomes calmer after the lesson, whether you want to return to it and whether the process itself brings pleasure, and not just the end result.

There is no universal antistress class. Some people benefit from drawing and needlework, while others benefit from music, sports, gardening, or working with various materials. The main value of such classes lies in the ability to do something without pressure and constant evaluation. According to the expert, this is what helps adults to reduce stress levels, restore attention and enjoy simple processes again.

Professor, MD, Head of the Department of Polyclinic Therapy at the Institute of Clinical Medicine of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Pirogov University) Vera Larina spoke on July 20 about the health benefits of pickleball. This type of physical activity can be considered interval training of moderate intensity: during the game, breathing and pulse rate increase, but with moderate exercise, a person is still able to talk calmly. With longer and more intensive classes, it becomes more difficult to speak.