As we roll into 2025, the chances are you’ve had a relaxing holiday season with your family and loved ones. But, without wanting to be a portent of doom, January and the return to work can be a stressful time, so it’s important to find some creative outlets to help you cope with it.
We are all well versed in the rigours of modern living, the difficulties in finding a work/life balance, and the pressures of family.
As such, we’ve compiled a selection of great stress-busting activities available to New Zealanders to check and try out — hopefully, they’ll help you have a smooth and stress-free 2025.
Baking
Home baking really came to the forefront as a stress-busting activity during the pandemic of 2020 (and beyond). That year saw record-breaking amounts of flour and yeast fly off the shelves, and an estimated 30% of Kiwis continued baking after the lockdown ended. Baking is a
great way to relieve stress — not only will you end up with delicious baked goods, but you’ll also be able to beat up that dough that will satisfy you physically and mentally. It’s a creative and rewarding pursuit and one that will have your home smelling deliciously wholesome as well.
Cooking
Spending time in the kitchen in general can help relieve stress. Preparing and cooking a meal for your friends and family can be relaxing, and also have a social side — the kitchen is now the main hub of our homes and one of the rooms in which we spend the most time together.
You can also enlist others to help, making the process more collaborative and rewarding for more people. And, of course, you get to sit down and eat the results afterwards.
Relaxing Video Games
Since the smartphone evolution, the world has shifted toward mobile technologies. These have become a leading platform for gaming, offering a wide range of options beyond traditional video games.
Monument Valley is a beautifully designed, award-winning puzzle game, where players must guide a princess through mazes of different colours and optical illusions.
Mini Metro allows players to create their own complex subway system, with visual simplicity and increasing levels of rewarding complexity. And Triangle draws on the psychedelic visuals of the 1960s to create stunning-looking puzzles to tease the brain and delight the eyes.
Casino Games
Modern times brought modern solutions – a shift from traditional to online casinos. Online gambling is now a widely used and well-respected form of gambling, drawing in millions of players from non-traditional video gaming demographics.
And players can find all the classics among the most popular genres of online casino games, from card games with live dealers to cutting-edge slot machines that showcase every theme under the sun.
Moreover, New Zealand’s gambling market boasts high-class online casinos, where SkyCity Online Casino is among the best options available.
Painting
There’s no better way to free the mind and spirit than to take up painting. Whether you use paper, canvas, or even ceramics, laying on paint is a relaxing and rewarding pursuit.
It’s definitely worth checking out some instructional videos, or even taking a course to learn more about oil, acrylic, or watercolours, or you could just buy some materials and make a joyous mess. Painting is now inexpensive to try, and can also be enjoyed as a family — kids love splashing colour about.
Reading
Put down that phone! Screen time can only add to your stress levels, especially before bedtime. Pick up a book instead — reading is shown to aid relaxing, gently stimulating thought, and when you find a good read it’s impossible to put it down.
We all have a pile of books we’re meaning to read, and no matter what you’re interested in there is no shortage of material. And reading is also rewarding. Your brain will thank you for it.
Sports
Get the endorphins flowing and the stress will pour out of you. If you’re into solo exercise, hit the gym, or go for a run or swim. Solo exercise is meditative, so as well as pushing your body it also calms the mind.
If you’re more into team sports then you’ll find plenty of clubs or grassroots games to keep your brain and body occupied.
There are tons of ideas to help you de-stress and find balance in your life. As 2024 rolls into 2025, try some of the above out, for a happy and healthy new year.