hob·by: an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include mountain biking and weaving.
Hobbies are a waste of time… Or are they? Some people feel hobbies are just something to do to pass the time and have no real purpose in life. Research shows, however, that spending time doing something you enjoy is a beneficial part of a wellness regime, and here’s why:
Stress management
Mental health professionals encourage us to have a hobby as a healthy way to reduce stress. When our minds are fully engaged in an activity we enjoy, life’s worries and stresses disappear for a while. By the time we return to everyday living, the problems and challenges we face can seem more manageable and less overwhelming. Some people report that solutions to dilemmas rise to the surface while they are preoccupied in a favourite pastime.
Sense of competence and accomplishment
We’ve all had days when nothing seems to go our way. The boss is on a rampage, our partner is upset we missed a special date, an unexpected bill arrives in the mail and even the dog ignores us. The feeling that we can’t seem to do anything right takes over. On days like this, spending even a short time on a hobby can help us regain a sense of competence. Calmness returns and we resolve to take care at work, communicate better with significant others, stay on top of our finances and take the dog for a walk. Hobbies also provide an outlet for our human need to create. They can uncover talent and develop skills we didn’t know we had, and provide us with a sense of accomplishment and pride in achievement.
Meditation
Many people report a Zen-like feeling when they become absorbed in their hobby. Painters tell of looking up from their work and discovering several hours have passed. Stories of runners pushing themselves to reach a high are familiar. When we become deeply absorbed, we can alter our mental state, in a way similar to meditation. The result can be a restoration of balance and harmony in our lives.
Social connections
Sharing an interest with others means we can talk to our hearts’ content about our passion with like-minded people. We have a need, as humans, to interact with others and feel connected. Clubs and associations provide a chance to network, make new friendships, offer and receive support and feel included.
Physical and mental exercise
Doing anything mentally stimulating helps prevent age-related memory loss and improves our problem solving abilities. If time alone is what we need, hobbies offer an alternative to watching TV or playing mindless rounds of solitaire on the computer – neither of which stimulate the brain. The positive benefits of physical leisure activities are well known and offer solitude, if that’s what we crave or companionship, when we want to be with others.
What’s your hobby?
It’s never too late to develop a new interest. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen if you try something new? We encourage everyone to stretch and make 2012 the Year of the New Hobby. Stumped for ideas of what to try besides stamp collecting?
We did a quick survey around the office and here are just a few of the hobbies and interests of our colleagues and associates: painting, working out, creative writing, soccer, skiing, yoga, playing guitar, reading, cooking gourmet meals.
Send us your stories on how your hobby or interest has made a difference in the quality of your life.