Did you know that having a hobby (or more than one) is good for your health?
First, let’s define the word, “hobby.” Merriam Webster defines it as, “a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.”
What are some examples?
Hiking, walking, biking, running (sports of all kinds)
Reading or learning
Writing
Cross stitch & needlework; sewing
Knitting & crocheting
Cooking
Gardening
Photography
Games
Volunteering
Juggling
Painting & drawing
Coloring & scrapbooking & making cards
Crossword or jigsaw puzzles
Basically, if it’s something you do in your free time, and it isn’t your primary source of income, and is something you enjoy, it’s a hobby! For example, I cross stitch every day and here’s why. About 5 years ago, I realized I hadn’t cross stitched for several weeks and I was feeling super stitchy. (Feel free to substitute a different letter for the start of that word…) I set an intention to do at least a few minutes of cross stitching every day. It relaxes me, it’s productive – in that I’m frequently making gifts – it’s making art, even though I’m following a pattern, and it satisfies one of my core values: creativity. In just about 5 years, I’ve missed a total of 17 days. I celebrate milestones, for example, the first time I hit 100 days, then 200, then 365, then 500. You get the idea! I’ve started working on applying that persistence and intention to other things in my life, and it’s been very valuable.
Before I look at the benefits of a few specific hobbies, I want to mention something I’ve found very useful as I work on my own health. It can be very easy to mindlessly snack while doing some activities; for example, while reading or watching TV. Have you tried to snack while working a jigsaw puzzle, or hiking, or knitting? It doesn’t work that well! So a side benefit of keeping busy with some of the hobbies we will talk about is a natural appetite suppressant, helping distract you from potentially unhealthy snacks!
Running, walking, hiking, or any kind of exercise, particularly outside? That’s pretty obvious. Getting moving is a good thing. Getting your heart rate up is a better thing. Finding ways to do both of those and have some fun is the best thing! Clear your head, get exercise, jumpstart your day, enjoy the outdoors. Everyone has heard that old piece of advice around going for a walk to clear your head if you’re dealing with a particularly thorny issue or an idea that just won’t solidify.
Do you enjoy reading fiction? It’s a great way to overcome stress! It gives your brain a break, and puts you in a trance-like state, similar to meditation. It can help you get better sleep and lower your stress levels. Reading may be the best way to overcome stress, even better than music or a walk. It helps you sleep better, unless, like me, you’re susceptible to suggestion and have crazy-real dreams. Reading fiction before bed can help you disengage from the day and relax. I would add that I highly, highly recommend reading an actual paper book and not a book on your smartphone. Why? An actual book instead of a gadget means you cut down on the impact of blue light. The blue light from your gadget contributes to messing up your circadian rhythms, and decreases your REM sleep, which messes with your problem solving skills as well as messing with creating memories. It can take as much as ten minutes longer to fall asleep.
Is your hobby some form of art, whether it’s drawing, or painting, or photography? Art can relieve stress or anxiety. Making art can improve connections in your brain, and so can learning something new. It won’t necessarily cure or prevent an illness, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, however, making art has been shown to build connections in the brain’s default mode neural network. This is a relatively recent scientific definition and the full ramifications aren’t yet realized. A region in your brain is more active when you are not specifically working on something. Strengthen that default network, and you potentially improve your overall cognitive function, your memories, and your understanding of others.
Playing music is another art form and it is specifically associated with cognitive gains. I’m fairly certain this is an overblown way of saying, “playing music can make you smarter.” Or, maybe, I’m oversimplifying. Better language ability, better academic performance, and improved memory are a few benefits found for kids. But guess what? It’s good for adults, too. Making music can enhance your quality of life, meaning your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Making art, not with an end goal in mind, although that isn’t a bad thing, but making art itself helps you get in the zone or achieve flow. It has – can have – a positive impact on your mood. If you spend as little as 45 minutes a day making art, the stress hormone, cortisol, is significantly reduced in your body. Why is this helpful? Cortisol is critical for controlling blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and reducing inflammation. Too much, though, leads to overreaction and too much stress, and that’s bad for your health. Reduce the cortisol, reduce the stress, increase your relaxedness, and increase your mental clarity.
Do you volunteer for an organization or activity? Is it on your own, or do you take work teams out to volunteer? Volunteering your time & energy for a cause that means something to you has benefits above & beyond the helper’s high, that positive emotional state some people experience after providing help to others. When you volunteer, it’s likely you’ll meet a fair number of other people who share at least some of your interests. Those shared interests and increased social interaction can help combat depression. Volunteering can help you stay mentally & physically active, which contributes to potential decreases in chronic illnesses and can help you live longer. It can also help you decrease your stress levels by savoring a sense of meaning, by being of service to others.
Do you enjoy working puzzles, either jigsaw or crossword or word finds and such? Putting a jigsaw puzzle together means you’re using both sides of your brain – creative and analytical – and this contributes to what some people call a meditative or even Zen-like experience. Working puzzles of all kinds can reduce anxiety, delay mental decline (conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia), help improve your memory, and increase your problem-solving skills. Lower stress levels, increased attention to detail, and educational opportunities are a few other benefits. It doesn’t have to be a hugely-complicated puzzle to have benefits. A small book that you can keep in your desk drawer. An app on your phone. A small jigsaw puzzle that you can work – alone or with family – in half an hour. It’s yet another way to engage your brain differently. You may find yourself back at whatever was troubling you with a different or innovative solution that is exactly what you didn’t know you needed!
In case you haven’t noticed, this is a topic about which I’m pretty passionate. Being fulfilled by work and family is important. Taking time to explore other areas, skills, and interests – your hobbies – can have multiple benefits beyond relaxing down time. (Although, that by itself is a good thing, too!) You may find your brain relaxing enough, while you crochet or work a puzzle, that suddenly exactly the right answer for a particularly thorny problem presents itself. You may find your anxiety levels decreasing while you color, which then leaves you more able to focus on something you need to accomplish at work or at home. And learning something completely new? That’s good for your brain! So who’s looking at their hobbies with a new perspective, or who’s ready to pick up a new hobby? Cheers! Here’s to your health!