One of
my favorite questions to ask people is, “What is your hobby?” The responses
vary from, “what is a hobby?” to “playing on my phone,” to blank stares, to
“who has time for a hobby?”
With
the never-ending tasks, errands, emails and messages, it can seem daunting to
add something else to your weekly routine. But as we continue to see a rise
in mental health issues,
now more than ever is the time to pick a hobby and make it a priority.
A 2009 study showed that more time spent
on leisure activities was correlated with lower blood pressure, lower levels of
depression and stress, and overall better psychological and
physical functioning.
The mental health benefits of hobbies
According
to dictionary.com, a hobby is “regular activity done for enjoyment, typically
during one’s leisure time, not professionally and not for pay.” A better way to
think of a hobby is as a passion.
More
and more, we are focused on “being productive” and measure the success of a day
by how many items we mark off a to-do list. Imagine making a hobby a priority,
setting time aside each week for something you simply enjoy and do for the
pleasure of the activity.
Here
are five reasons to pick a hobby today, make your hobby a priority and
participate weekly in your hobby.
A hobby gives you purpose.
Day-to-day
jobs can take a toll on your overall mental and emotional health. A hobby helps
you take time away from the daily grind and can help you find that zest for
life which may be missing. It gives you something to look forward to during the
day and can help you accomplish new goals or challenges which you may have never
thought you were capable of. This enthusiasm can then roll over to reinvigorate
your day job.
It
gives you something to look forward to during the day and can help you
accomplish new goals or challenges which you may have never thought you were
capable of.
A hobby fosters deeper connections.
Hobbies
give diversity to your personality. Having a passion or leisurely pursuit leads
to conversations beyond your scope of work. This can lead to deeper connections
with co-workers, friends and other acquaintances. Group hobbies such as
gardening, dancing or cooking classes can help you meet new people.
A hobby builds resilience.
Life is
hard. But developing a new passion or hobby can allow you to take chances, fail
and become a stronger individual. If you choose a hobby like gardening, your
first set of vegetables or herbs may be a complete failure. But stick with the
activity, learn how to be successful and eventually, this can lead to
proficiency. This can spill over to your work.
We all
fail from time-to-time. It is not the number of times you fail that is
significant, but your ability to continue to pursue the activity and develop
expertise.
A hobby boosts creativity.
Having
a hobby can also improve creativity. Many hobbies involve art in some form. A
hobby allows you to completely step away from work. It allows your mind to
wander and empowers you to see new points of view, think outside the box and
come up with better solutions.
A hobby helps you achieve your goals.
A hobby
can help you be goal-oriented. With any new skill or hobby, there are varying
levels of expertise. Setting your own goals and reaching those goals allows you
to experience personal success. This serves as a buffer at work during
the difficult days.
I love
running. During a long marathon of a day, when I am ready to walk out of the
office, this mimics my long runs when I am ready to quit at mile five. Running
has made me stronger mentally and physically.
9 hobbies to try if you don’t know where to start
The
next step is picking a hobby. There is no perfect or “right” hobby. It should
be something that you find pleasurable and that helps you decompress. It is
something you do simply for the joy of the activity. It can be a
solitary or group activity, and it can be physical or mental.
If
you’re looking for ideas, here are some hobbies to consider:
·
Exercise (try different types until you
find one you enjoy)
·
Dancing
·
Cooking or baking
·
Photography
·
Coin collecting
·
Art (painting, sculpting, pottery, etc.)
·
Gardening
·
Scrapbooking
·
Learning a new instrument
I have
taken my own advice when working on this article. In the past month, I have
started wake boarding and horseback riding. I have face planted multiple times
while wake boarding, but developing the new skill and seeing improvement over
time is encouraging. My daughters, who are five and seven, are giving me
horseback riding lessons! They spend the whole time giggling, telling me what I
am doing wrong.
Here’s
the bottom line: A hobby isn’t just another item to add to your growing to-do
list. It’s something you do for yourself simply because you want to.
So,
think of something that you have always wanted to do, make the time for it,
take lessons if necessary. If you have a significant other, have him or her
join in and strengthen your relationship while you’re at it.
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