Having a hobby is healthy for both men and women, but it’s so important for men to have an outlet. Unlike women, men don’t spend their time venting to friends and family, so hobbies tend to be a huge stress relief. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new people and spend some time away from home, work and other responsibilities. It’s not unknown for hobbies to become passions and even future careers in some cases, so what are you waiting for? Here are some of the top hobbies that help men to relax and unwind.

Fishing

There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors. And, when you need time to reflect and relax, you can’t beat a quiet fishery with plenty of big fish to catch. Before trying the sport, many men tend to think it could be too boring. But, once you’ve felt the adrenaline of getting a fish on your line and reeling it in, you could be hooked (pun intended). Whether you’re spending the day by yourself, with your friends and a cooler full of beers or you’re booking a fishing vacation to France, you’re bound to return home feeling totally at ease. Fishing is at its best between March and September.

Coaching

Although not technically a hobby, coaching a sport is a great way to give back to the community and do something you really enjoy. Anything you enjoy will take the tension you feel off your shoulders. Most importantly, you get to teach something you love to kids. Is there anything more rewarding? Whether it’s golf, basketball, soccer or ice hockey, most communities are always on the look out for good coaches. Get in touch with your local community center or school to see if there are any openings.

Golf

Golf is well known for being a relaxing sport. Spend time with friends and walk the course while playing and chatting. Of course, there’s a technique to playing a good round of golf, and if you’re off your game, it could be frustrating. But the adrenaline of winning, the competition and the time spent with friends is well worth it.  The better your golf clubs, the more chance you have of owning the course!

Swimming

Did you know that medical practitioners often recommend early morning swimming to executives or CEOs with highly stressful jobs? It’s one of the best ways to relax your mind and exercise your body at the same time. Aside from being enjoyable, and an excellent way to wake yourself up in the morning, swimming also has a lot of health benefits. In addition, it’s one of the best ways to lose weight if you’ve found yourself piling on the pounds at your new desk job.

Homebrewing

Who said hobbies need to be sports? Homebrewing your own beer is something that takes a lot of time and patience. It’s especially fun if you’ve got the advantage of your own man cave in the house. DIY beer takes boiling, fermenting and you may even want to design your own beer bottles to go with it. It’s likely that you will have tasted much better beer, but the satisfaction of brewing your own will make your beer taste like heaven on earth.

Target Shooting

Is there any greater relief than shooting at a target? If the weekend comes and you’re full of energy and focus, target shooting could be right hobby for you. It requires hand-eye coordination and a lot of patience to get it right. That’s especially true if you’re switching your guns between air guns, rifles, shotguns, hand guns and more. You can even change up your targets as you get better.

Chess

When you picture chess, you may see old men sitting in the park for hours on end, trying to out move their opponent. But, don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. Most chess players are extremely competitive and intelligent, so it’s not a sport for sore losers. It requires concentration and quick thinking. Once you’ve started a game, it won’t be long before you’ve forgotten about everything else.

Home Gym

It may not always be possible for you to leave your family to indulge in hobbies. That’s where a home gym comes in handy. All you’ll need to do is be in separate room to get some peace and quiet and a good workout. If you have the space you can add to your gym as you go along.

Remember, a hobby is anything that you can enjoy and get peace of mind from.