Get a Hobby and 6 reasons why it’s good for you

Seriously, it’s good for you

Don’t tell me, your hobby is “not working” sometimes…

Ha! Actually, I believe it. I’ve done it. I remember a time when I first dating this guy. Long distance, he cheated, glad it’s over. But our first serious get together I’d just gotten access to my work emails on my phone and I know now that it was a big mistake.

Though I don’t imagine it changed anything in how our relationship went, it is something I am reminded of. Something that I regret choosing…choosing to reply to work when I wasn’t working and didn’t need to be on-call at all.

We allow ourselves these strangely small amount of freedom that when you look back don’t feel free at all.

Our minds are often focused on what it shouldn’t be but we have no way of turning the off switch. Mindless reality tv doesn’t even do the trick and it’s not a hobby…it’s not!

But why should we get a hobby? What are actual benefits that we can look to?

1. Stress reduction

This isn’t a drill, you can actually lower your stress by participating in a hobby. Take your mind off of the daily things, a small escape. Depending on your hobby choices of course.

2. Sense of achievement

You won! You finished the thing! The thing!!! Oh my goodness.

Okay, I might be being a little dramatic but still…getting to achieve something like finishing a knit hat or mastering that new trick on your bike? It’s fantastic and completely separate from work which is a win, something you can have for you.

3. Social connections

Your hobby might get you new friends or just a group of people you see and connect with while doing said hobby.

Take group classes or a sports team, these things can give you that social connection outside of work or even family that as an adult we can struggle to find and also really crave and need.

4. Continuous learning

There is something to be said for learning as we age.

It doesn’t just stop when we graduate, or at least it shouldn’t if we want to keep our mind and body in its best form.

This learning could be more mental like coding or it could be a new stitch in your crochet game, maybe a new move in chess.

There are so many options depending on what hobby you’re doing and it’s so so good for you.

Keep on learning peeps.

5. A work-life balance

As I mentioned earlier, we can so easily get pulled or pull ourselves into working too much or just being available at all times. This doesn’t help us. It doesn’t even help our work when we get down to it.

Hobbies can be that think that breaks us from the routine of work work work…

We need balance at least some times, or something close to it that can allow us to prevent the burnout from creeping into our lives.

6. Mental well-being

This is a big one. Mental health is so much for known now and yet we still know so little.

But it can’t be denied that we think about it more and are more aware of its effects on ourselves.

Having something away from your day to day life that allows you to think differently or go about life a little different for a set time can be so good for your mind.

We need these ways to shut off from certain things. Hobbies can encourage your creativity, ability to problem solve and all of this can boost self-esteem which in turn is boosting your mental well-being.

So, if you don’t have a hobby maybe you’ll consider one going forward. For me it’s knitting and crochet. The way that I can shut my brain off from so many other things in life and just focus on that creative outlet for a time does me wonders.

I know a lady who literally irons and polishes silver and gets the most joy from those activities.

So, with that in mind, if you’re not sure if your idea could be seen as a hobby don’t fret too much.

And just get on with it.