…sounds crazy I know, it does seem counterintuitive to give yourself more to do when you’re already feeling overwhelmed. I put off returning to my art for years because I didn’t feel I had enough time but the truth of it was that I wasn’t prioritising it. I felt guilty prioritising my needs, especially being a mum of three demanding boys! Hobbies help us to relax because we have to focus on them, they get us into a flow state – concentrating on something we enjoy, that is unrelated to our everyday demands or work. All sense of time and place melt away, it’s almost like a form of meditation and mindfulness. Nothing matters except that present moment. Your hobby should be something that you enjoy the process of doing rather than just the outcome. If you don’t have a hobby give a few things a try and see what you enjoy – cooking, mountain biking, creative writing, knitting etc Whatever your hobbies are, what I’ve realised is that we need to prioritise them for our mental wellbeing, they shouldn’t be a rare treat only to be indulged once the To-do list is complete because let’s face it, that list is never done!