A hobby is defined as an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure. The activity can be so many different things. We will talk about those different kinds of hobbies in just a bit, but for now let’s talk about how having a hobby can help stress. So many mental health issues are worsened when we don’t prioritize time to unwind, breathe, relax and enjoy something. That is what a hobby is all about. An activity or a passion that we enjoy doing. Do you currently have a hobby or a passion that you make time for in your schedule?
What Is a Hobby?
When considering a hobby, there can be quite a few choices and for some that can be hard. A hobby can be anything that you take time out of your day for to do something you enjoy. In general, a hobby should also be healthy for you. For example, being isolated daily and playing a video game isn’t the type of hobby we are talking about. The reason being, because isolation contributes to depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. We are talking about hobbies that allow you to do something of interest that also helps stress and conditions like depression or anxiety. Below are suggestions of hobbies that are help you find something new you love.
- Physical activities such as sports, cycling, running, exercise classes or dance
- Nature based interests like hiking, gardening, hunting or archery
- Creative outlets like writing, drawing, scrapbooking, photography or painting
- Quite time activities include things like reading, writing or baking
There are so many options when it comes to hobbies. Picking one that brings pleasure, keeps you active, helps you to learn and stay connected is safe way to choose. What do you say? Do you have a hobby currently? Are you ready for a new one?
Why Should I Have a Hobby?
We talked above how having a hobby can reduce stress, but there is so much more to it. Hobbies can truly enrich our lives and offer a fulfillment that many other activities cannot. Hobbies encourage us to try something new. They offer us a chance to problem solve, make decisions and use our skills to complete something. When completed, a project from a hobby offers us the satisfaction of completing something and the memories of the enjoyment we had doing it. Besides the physical way a hobby can make us feel, they benefit us in other ways as well.
- Builds our confidence
- Good for our mental health
- Provides us with an interesting side to ourselves
- Makes us happy
- Hobbies are part of self-care
- Hobbies reduce stress
- Decreases feelings of boredom
- Helps in preventing unproductive habits in our time
Are you convinced yet? Ready to take on a hobby? What hobby are you considering?
Even if you don’t currently consider yourself a hobby type of person, hopefully you can see that there are so many different types of hobbies. There are hobbies that each of us can enjoy. Self-care and making efforts to reduce stress and improve our quality of life should be part of each of our goals. If you have tried to make time for a hobby but have issues following through with them or continuing them due to loss of desire, we are here to help. Upstate Restorative Counseling has a team of counselors who can listen and help you determine a path forward. You are not alone. We are here to help. Reach out today.
