People Who Actually Thrive In Isolation Have 8 Cozy Hobbies That Keep Them Grounded
simona pilolla 2 | Shutterstock A balance of socializing and alone time is healthy for most people.
But when someone is intentional about the time they spend alone, it can boost their well-being. In fact, the kinds of people who thrive in isolation have cozy hobbies that keep them grounded, compared to people who isolate as a coping strategy.
Cozy hobbies that keep people grounded when they thrive in isolation
1. Writing
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They may brain-dump to keep their minds from accumulating too much stress or journal about their day, and for them, writing is a hobby that keeps some people feeling connected, even when they're isolated. The entire process of expressing ourselves on paper is grounding, even if nobody reads it or knows what we've written about.
Not only is narrative writing shown to boost physical health, but it also helps us to unwind complex emotional experiences we're going through personally and supports better mental health. Even spending five minutes writing about things they're grateful for can give people the perspective they need to appreciate their alone time.
2. Taking care of houseplants
When people tend to an herb garden or water their houseplants, they underestimate just how powerful gardening can be for their mental health. On top of that, a 2022 study suggests that cognitive ability and general mood, and even physiological metrics like blood pressure, improve when someone keeps houseplants at home.
No, they can't completely replace the importance of human connection and socialization in our lives, but the act of caring for and nurturing these living houseplants does boost our well-being in noticeable ways.
It's grounding for someone who spends more time alone to engage in these nurturing activities. They're getting out of their own minds and into their bodies, feeding into something outside of themselves.
3. Sewing and crocheting
Any kind of needlework is shown to improve someone's mental health. Even when done alone at home, using their hands to create something tangible and exercise creativity can promote feelings of belonging and purpose in the most ordinary parts of their day.
Even if it's a way to step out of their own heads, this creative hobby grounds people in the present moment. It can be so easy to overthink and get caught up in your thoughts, but this is the kind of healthy, mindful distraction they use to their advantage.
4. Coloring
Creative hobbies are good for mindfulness and mental health, but sometimes, being in a good mood already boosts creativity. So, if you're not feeling great, working up motivation or inspiration can feel difficult.
But coloring books are a perfect middle ground, where you don't necessarily have to create structure on your own. You get all the mindful and emotional benefits of being creative, without having to make something entirely from scratch.
Even for people who thrive in isolation, on the days when they're not feeling like their typical self, these cozy hobbies bring them back.
5. Stretching or yoga
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When it becomes a part of their daily routine, movements like stretching or light yoga can be incredibly grounding for someone spending a lot of time at home on their own. Yes, moving your body boosts your mood, but stretching is especially helpful for vitality and mindfulness.
They may go outside to ground into the earth or stretch right from the comfort of their own beds in the morning. No matter their choice, these body movements create peace for the rest of the day.
6. Baking
On top of creating something tangible that boosts your mood, the mindfulness that baking requires often helps people spending a lot of time at home feel secure.
Even when we're dealing with a lot of stress, following a simple recipe gives us a kind of control and predictability. It's a boost to our mood and general emotional well-being, but it's also fun.
7. Reading novels
Reading can almost instantly lower our stress levels by around 20%, but it does a lot more than spark mindfulness and comfort. It's also a powerful tool for combating loneliness, even in someone who's isolated most of the time.
It activates the centers in our brain responsible for empathy and social reasoning, helping people to understand others' experiences and broaden their own perspectives at the same time. They feel well-connected when they come back to these stories and characters.
8. Watching comfort movies and shows
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When there are twinges of nostalgia in someone's favorite comfort shows and movies, spending time watching them brings them back to a simpler time. It's comforting their inner child in profound ways, creating a sense of safety that can make isolation feel welcoming and cozy.
We enjoy the certainty of a movie we've seen before, and for someone struggling with stress or anxiety, it offers a healthy escape.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
