Why Anxious People Need a Hobby That Makes Them Wait
How positive anticipation can help reduce anxiety and create more joy in your life.
I am begging you—especially if you struggle with anxiety—to find a hobby, interest, or passion that makes you wait.
Seriously.
Find something that creates anticipation. Something that gives you a reason to count down the days. Something that makes you excited about what's coming next.
As a therapist who works with anxious millennial and Gen Z women, I spend a lot of time helping people learn how to manage worry, calm overthinking, and reduce anxiety.
But I also think we need to talk about the other side of the equation: learning how to anticipate good things.
Anxiety and Anticipation Feel Surprisingly Similar
Think back to the excitement surrounding the Eras Tour. People weren't just excited during the concerts; they were excited for months. Every show brought new surprises. People analyzed outfits, guessed surprise songs, discussed theories online, and eagerly waited for the next update.
The anticipation became part of the experience, and the waiting was almost as fun as the event itself.
The same thing happens in the book world. Readers wait months for highly anticipated releases. They discuss theories. Share fan art. Exchange recommendations. Speculate about plot twists.
The excitement builds long before the book arrives.
That waiting feels really good.
Why Positive Anticipation Matters for Anxiety
Here's what's fascinating: positive anticipation often creates many of the same physical sensations as anxiety.
You might experience:
An elevated heart rate
Racing thoughts
Excitement that feels hard to turn off
Frequent daydreaming
Wanting to talk about it constantly
A strong desire for updates and reassurance
The difference is context. When you're anxious, those sensations often feel threatening.
When you're excited about something meaningful, those same sensations can feel energizing and enjoyable.
Your body learns that heightened emotions aren't always a problem to solve - sometimes they're part of being fully alive.
Why Hobbies Can Be Powerful for Overthinking
Many anxious people spend so much energy trying not to think about their worries that they forget the importance of having something worthwhile to think about.
If therapy helps you reduce unhelpful overthinking, hobbies give your brain somewhere healthy to direct its attention.
You need both.
I want you learning how to challenge anxious thoughts, and I want you obsessively researching a trip you're excited about.
I want you practicing boundaries with difficult people, and I want you to have friends who you don’t need boundaries around sending you twenty theories about the next book in your favorite series.
I want you learning how to regulate anxiety, and I want you passionately engaged in something that makes life feel bigger than your worries.
The Mental Health Benefits of Positive Anticipation
Research consistently shows that having meaningful interests, social connections, and enjoyable activities supports emotional well-being. When you have something you're genuinely looking forward to, you create opportunities for:
Joy
Community
Hope
Creativity
Curiosity
Connection
These experiences don't eliminate anxiety, but they help ensure that anxiety isn't the only thing occupying your mental space.
Positive anticipation gives your brain something else to practice.
What Kind of Hobby Makes You Wait?
The best hobbies for anxiety aren't necessarily relaxing hobbies - they're hobbies that create excitement and anticipation.
That might look like:
Following a favorite author and waiting for new releases
Being part of a fandom community
Planning future travel adventures
Training for a race or outdoor challenge
Following your favorite musician's tour announcements
Participating in a hobby group that meets regularly
Learning a new skill with long-term goals
The specific hobby matters less than the feeling it creates.
You want something that makes the waiting feel worthwhile.
Therapy for Anxiety Is Both Defense and Offense
I think of therapy for anxiety as defense. It helps you manage worry, challenge anxious thinking, and develop healthier coping skills.
But hobbies, interests, and meaningful passions?
That's offense. That's building a life that feels exciting enough to pull your attention toward the future instead of constantly dragging you back into fear.
As an anxiety therapist, I want my clients to have both.
I want you to know how to slow down your overthinking, and I want you to care deeply about something that makes your eyes light up. Recovery from anxiety isn't just about feeling less afraid; it's also about feeling more alive.
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
If you're an anxious millennial or Gen Z woman, consider this your permission slip to get wildly invested in something.
Join the fandom.
Preorder the book.
Buy the concert ticket.
Plan the trip.
Start the hobby.
Find something that creates hopeful anticipation and lets your brain practice excitement instead of worry.
The waiting won't always be easy, but sometimes the waiting is part of the magic.
If you're looking for therapy for anxiety, overthinking, or people pleasing in Montana, I help millennial and Gen Z women build confidence, manage anxiety, and create lives that feel bigger than their fears. Reach out today to learn more about anxiety therapy in Montana.
