Easy hobbies to try that could help make you feel less anxious, from yoga to gardening

Activities like yoga and gardening can be positive ways to relieve stress or feelings of anxiety.ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images; Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

• Occasional stress or anxiety, especially as a result of a challenging life event, is something that many people experience.
• Some activities like yoga, or creative outlets like crafting and baking, can be positive ways to relieve feelings of anxiety caused by a stressful life situation.
• A 2016 study from the Journal of Positive Psychology found that spending time on a creative activity every day can lead to improved psychological well-being.
• Insider gathered activity ideas that could be relaxing for people looking to de-stress.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Baking bread from scratch or learning calligraphy may sound like simply fun pastimes — but they could also be relaxing and helpful, especially for people looking to relieve stress or feelings of occasional anxiety.

According to a 2016 study from the Journal of Positive Psychology, people who spent time on a creative activity every day had overall increased feelings of positive psychological well-being, compared with those who didn't partake in daily creative rituals.

Whether it's devoting time to practice yoga or picking up a new art skill, there are plenty of positive ways to take a break, de-stress, and potentially relieve feelings of anxiousness.

It's important to note that occasional feelings of anxiety are not necessarily correlated with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health. As such, hobbies that may help manage occasional feelings of stress or anxiousness are not necessarily medical recommendations for coping with anxiety disorders.