With everything that's going on in the world this year, I think that mental health having a positive state of mind is incredibly important. It is fair to say that many of us are spending way too much time on our phones and devices, essentially wasting away the day or whatever free time we have in the evening.

You might be like me and find yourself endlessly scrolling through the Netflix menu out of habit when there are plenty of cheap and relaxing hobbies you can do at home. After looking around online and doing some research, I find a handful of activities which I believe can help with stress and give us a chance to calm down at the end of the day. From fancy writing to model making, here are some of the hobbies you might want to give a go. 

I get so envious of people who can write well. Sometimes I look at my handwriting and wonder how it has gotten so sloppy. Then I realise that about 90% of the writing I do every day is on my laptop or my phone. I don't know if you're like me, but when I try to write even just a few sentences, I can already feel my hand cramping.

Calligraphy is a hobby which requires patience and will see you in an almost meditative state. There are videos which show people using fancy pens, but I would suggest using any old markers or pens you have lying about. Even just taking the time to write your name in a very delicate fashion can make you feel great.

It's also the kind of hobby where if you make mistakes you can crumble a bit of paper up and throw in the recycling can. You’ll be surprised how relaxing it is just taking your time and sitting with the pen to paper for a short period. I’ve sometimes found myself also in a trance when I’m focussed.

If Santa can make a list and check it twice, why can't you? Lists are a slightly stupid but surprisingly revealing way to waste some time. Honestly, give yourself 30 minutes, grab some paper and pen, And start making lists of your favourite foods, movies, books, vacation spots, and pretty much any topic you can think of.

It’s less of a hobby and more a reflective activity. You’ll learn a lot about yourself when you end up in a situation of trying to rank things. I even find myself having an internal argument of sorts trying to pick my favourite holiday destinations. I know it sounds silly but give it a go.

By giving yourself time to sit down and figure out what you genuinely like and dislike can better help you form opinions, be it something to do with politics or getting into arguments with your family over which condiment is the best (it's always Siracha by the way, and I've made a list to prove it.).

And the more fun it becomes, the less you’ll think about the stresses of the day.

Coding scares people who don’t know what it is or how it works. I believe that having at least a basic knowledge of how coding works, and the way it is used, is a highly transferable life skill. The great thing about learning to code is that it doesn't take much time to get to grips (I liken it to playing a video game and figuring out how to use the controls). Even if you spend a few minutes here and there over a few weeks teaching yourself what code is and how it works, you'll be surprised how much you've learned from doing very little.

There are tonnes of free courses online, and with so many YouTube videos as well, it's a free hobby which can essentially give you a new life skill. For anyone wasting an evening on TikTok or Reddit, it’s a calming way to do some problem-solving.

Are you someone who would consider themselves as precise, focussed and attentive? Then I have just the hobby for you. Model making is a task which requires a lot of attention and finesse on your part and can be incredibly rewarding as you’ll always end up with something which shows the effort you’ve put in.

Luckily, model making isn’t just about boats, cars, and trains. I’ve found sites like Model Space which have models from movies like Star Wars, and historical models like samurai armour that give you something a little more fun to make at your desk.

I love being able to declutter. One of the weird advantages of being stuck at home has been the chance to clean every room at home from top to toe. And while I would never want to recommend cleaning as a fun hobby, I have found that if you're a bit of a reader, there's money to be made from your books.

Sites like Ziffit will take your old books and pay you for them. Now you won't be getting the exact retail price, and it may be pennies on the dollar, but if you have shelves around the home which are filled to the gills with books, and you know you're never going to reread them, you can make money.

In most cases, it’s a simple case of downloading an app and using it to scan the barcode in the books. You get an exact price and can ship the books directly without having to go to the post office. Any books they won’t take, you can always leave at a thrift store, which will make you feel great. Oh, and you’ll soon rediscover how much shelfspace you have.

This list is just a few ideas of ways to calm yourself at the end of the day. If they didn’t sound too enticing, read up online, and you’ll soon discover hobbies which are relaxing and a great way to wind down at the end of the day.