Author:Emma Grace Brown
With work, errands, chores and family obligations, you may think there just aren’t enough hours in a day to do the activities you love. All too often people place hobbies at the very end of their to-do list. That being said, prioritizing a hobby can be great for your mental health. You might be surprised that with a little help from apps and local classes or even going back to school, your hobby makes you a better employee, family member, and friend. Keep reading to learn why a hobby might be great for your overall mental health and well-being.
Stress Relief
For many, stress is part of daily life, enough so that people often learn to treat it as normal. If you are stressed with the sheer volume of tasks you need to complete in a given day, taking up a hobby may sound ludicrous. However, a hobby can actually stimulate the mind, help to prevent memory loss, and foster creativity. Some good stress-reducing hobbies to try are painting and photography. Look online for free classes or apps that provide detailed instructions. You can even combine these two creative hobbies by downloading an app that lets you turn your photos into beautiful pieces of artwork.
Socializing
Starting around age 30, it becomes more difficult to keep as well as make friends. This can happen for a variety of reasons including longer work hours, domestic partners, children, moving away, and increased household responsibilities. Hobbies can be a great way to rekindle some of those friendships as well as make new ones. Leading an active social life can improve your overall mood, make you feel included, and can even help you live longer!
Begin by making a list of some individuals you would like to spend time with including family, friends, coworkers or even acquaintances. If you’re new to a city and/or do not have many “hobby-ready” friends, consider participating in a local fundraiser, audition for a play, or take a cooking class. For the latter, you can download apps that let you swap recipes with friends, learn the basics of cooking, and create your own collection of recipes.
Reaching Fitness Goals
If you are still hesitant about taking time out of your day for a new hobby, consider transforming your fitness routine into a hobby. Setting reachable goals can help you stay motivated, increase your fitness level, and actually have fun. Additionally, exercise produces endorphins that have been linked to enhanced concentration, productivity and energy as well as pain reduction (all of which can help you succeed in other facets of life).
Think about adding a new physical activity to your routine, such as hiking, gardening, or yoga. If you’re a senior, you can take advantage of gyms and their amenities through the SilverSneakers program, which is included in certain Medicare Advantage plans.
Build Your Skills
If you’re tech-savvy and keep tabs on all things related to information technology, why not build on your skills? This approach can have a multi-pronged effect: you still enjoy IT as a hobby, you boost your mastery and possibly transform your career trajectory, especially if you already work in the IT field. You can even take it a step further and turn to an online degree program that feeds your hunger for knowledge with an endgame of more earning power. IT careers are lucrative and in high demand, and an online program for an advanced IT degree offers a flexible way to learn at your own pace so you can keep working or pursue other interests while learning your way to earning!
Pursuing a hobby can be incredibly beneficial to your overall mental health. Finding the right hobby and making it a part of your daily or weekly routine can reduce stress, connect you with others, help you reach your fitness goals or even enhance your financial future. Whether you do it on your own, online or with friends, a hobby can be a highly beneficial addition to your life.