Hobbies are considered leisure activities people engage in to relax and destress from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
They 9️⃣ not only establish purpose and skill but also promote positive mood and social interaction.
Subjective well-being is higher in those who 9️⃣ partake in a variety of social, cultural and home leisure activities.
In addition to their contribution to the quality of life 9️⃣ (QoL), hobbies may even enhance duration of life as it offers many benefits to physical, cognitive, and mental health.
This article 9️⃣ covers the health benefits of hobbies, types of hobbies you can try, how to choose a hobby based on your 9️⃣ interests, and why you should try picking up a hobby in the New Year.
Health Benefits of Hobbies
Whether it be a 9️⃣ physical activity, like hiking, or an intellectually stimulating puzzle, hobbies are very impactful to an individual's health.
Benefits of Physical Activities
Physical 9️⃣ activities reduce stress, strengthen muscles, enhance cognition, and help improve mood.
It is recommended that an adult indulges in 75 to 9️⃣ 150 minutes of physical activity per week to practice disease prevention and adequate health precautions.
Researchers have found that execution of 9️⃣ the recommended weekly physical activity guidelines is related to greater health outcomes.
A study including participants with fibromyalgia, found physical activity 9️⃣ to aid in symptom relief.
It also lessens fatigue and is correlated with better sleep quality.
An additional study addressing physical activities' 9️⃣ influence on QoL determined them to be correlated with positive physical health but also other aspects of QoL, like spiritual, 9️⃣ mental, social and emotional wellness.
Benefits of Recreational Activities
Physical activities are very important in maintaining overall well-being but other recreational activities 9️⃣ are also related to better QoL and are very beneficial to cognition.
Researchers found that the likelihood of dementia was less 9️⃣ in individuals who participated in a greater amount of reading and other recreational activities weekly, for a longer duration of 9️⃣ 1 hour a day compared to 30 minutes.
Problem-solving hobbies like puzzles and games, along with reading and writing, as well 9️⃣ as artistic hobbies, are all very beneficial to memory, mental clarity, creativity, etc.
These types of hobbies are also associated with 9️⃣ spiritual and emotional wellness.
What Hobbies Help With
Engaging in a hobby can boost your physical, cognitive, and mental health in the 9️⃣ following ways:Physical HealthCognitive HealthMental HealthMoodAnxietyDepressionStressPeer EngagementTypes of Hobbies
There are various physical and non-physical leisure activities.
Individuals partake in physical recreational activities 9️⃣ to clear their mind and exercise their bodies.
Physical activities also include team sports.
This facilitates peer engagement and tests your physical 9️⃣ endurance.
Non-physical recreational activities include art, problem-solving, reading literature, etc.
These are usually relaxing but they also provide mental stimulation and skill 9️⃣ advancement.
Physical Activities
Recreational: Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, walking, running, jogging, hiking, gymnastics, ballet, fishing, skating, swimming, bowling, golf, dance, cardio
Yoga, Pilates, 9️⃣ Tai chi, walking, running, jogging, hiking, gymnastics, ballet, fishing, skating, swimming, bowling, golf, dance, cardio Sports: Basketball, soccer, boxing, volleyball, 9️⃣ tennis, karate, martial arts, water sports, snow sports, etc.
Recreational Activities
Art: Painting, sketching, sculpting, digital art, graphic design, illustration, photography, film, 9️⃣ theater, music, crafts, fashion, design
Painting, sketching, sculpting, digital art, graphic design, illustration, photography, film, theater, music, crafts, fashion, design Literature: 9️⃣ Reading, creative writing, story-telling
Reading, creative writing, story-telling Problem-solving: Skill games, puzzles, sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, video games, coding
Skill games, puzzles, 9️⃣ sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, video games, coding Other: Cooking, baking, planting, learning a language, meditating, driving
Why You Should Have Hobbies
Everyone 9️⃣ needs a break from responsibilities, chores, and looking at screens! Hobbies allow us to take some time away from life's 9️⃣ duties or distractions while also being productive.
Hobbies are an amazing opportunity to have a little fun during selective leisure time.
Not 9️⃣ only are you able to enjoy a recreational pastime, but hobbies allow you to develop skills and values that can 9️⃣ last a lifetime.
Hobbies might also help you feel more present in the moment.
The More Hobbies, The Better
Never think you can 9️⃣ only have one hobby, it's actually best to engage in multiple hobbies throughout the week.
Explore different types of hobbies to 9️⃣ not only find what fits you best but also exceed all benefits hobbies can offer.
It's important to participate in both 9️⃣ physical activities as well as other recreational activities that benefit your cognitive function.
Although multiple hobbies mean greater benefits, try not 9️⃣ to take on so many that you begin to find them taxing or draining.
The entire purpose of hobbies is to 9️⃣ relax and enjoy yourself, so make sure you are not adding additional stress to your life.
So, if you are trying 9️⃣ out a new hobby, remember to balance your time.
Make a schedule of which activity you want to partake in throughout 9️⃣ the week and you can alternate each week or each month.
Find whatever cadence works for you.
How to Decide Which Hobby 9️⃣ to Choose
What benefits are you searching for in a hobby? Most hobbies can boost overall well-being, but certain hobbies are 9️⃣ suited for certain interests and passions.
For People Who Love Physical Exercise: If you're the type of person who likes to 9️⃣ work up a sweat and feels better after a good workout then activities such as yoga, dancing, walking, or running 9️⃣ might be great hobbies for you to try.
If you're the type of person who likes to work up a sweat 9️⃣ and feels better after a good workout then activities such as yoga, dancing, walking, or running might be great hobbies 9️⃣ for you to try.
For People Looking for Mental Stimulation: If you find that you enjoy staying in or already have 9️⃣ a physically demanding job, you might want a hobby that engages your mind rather than your body.
For instance, you might 9️⃣ join a book club, go to an art class, or learn how to cook a new recipe.
If you find that 9️⃣ you enjoy staying in or already have a physically demanding job, you might want a hobby that engages your mind 9️⃣ rather than your body.
For instance, you might join a book club, go to an art class, or learn how to 9️⃣ cook a new recipe.
For Those That Enjoy the Outdoors: Getting outside is very influential to both mental and physical health.
If 9️⃣ you want to experience more time in nature, then try activities that involve being outside like hiking, biking, planting, and 9️⃣ water sports.
Getting outside is very influential to both mental and physical health.
If you want to experience more time in nature, 9️⃣ then try activities that involve being outside like hiking, biking, planting, and water sports.
For Social Butterflies: If you're someone who 9️⃣ likes to get out and meet new people, finding a hobby that requires a lot of socializing might be an 9️⃣ important factor in choosing a hobby.
If so, you can do team sports like soccer, or take some group dance classes.
You 9️⃣ can take exercise classes, such as Zumba or kickboxing, or maybe writing, cooking, or art classes.
Hobbies can also be great 9️⃣ bonding activities to engage in with loved ones.
Taking a class is a perfect way to connect with others.
Go Back to 9️⃣ Your Childhood
If you're still having a tough time deciding which hobby to choose, you might want to take a moment 9️⃣ to think about the activities you used to love when you were a child.
You can take that old childhood interest 9️⃣ or dream of yours and mold it into a hobby.
If you liked drawing (whether you were good at it or 9️⃣ not) give it a try as an adult.
If you were more physically active and loved to play sports or maybe 9️⃣ imagined doing it, why not take a dance class or shoot around a basketball with some friends.
It's never too late 9️⃣ to put into fruition a dream you once had or to try something new that you always wanted to do.
Invest 9️⃣ that much-needed time in yourself!
Discover Your Creative Side
Believe it or not, everyone has creativity within them.
Implementing creativity into your life 9️⃣ offers its own health benefits.
We are all creative in different ways and each has a unique way of expressing it.
However, 9️⃣ art is not the only way to express creativity.
Creativity exists in various types of activities, like imagining characters in the 9️⃣ story you are reading or making your own characters into a narrative of your own.
Even completing a puzzle unlocks some 9️⃣ creative juices.
Take a look at some hobbies that stimulate the brain and allow you to express yourself while seeing the 9️⃣ world from a different perspective.
New Year, New Hobbies
This new year, why not pick up a new hobby? Even if you 9️⃣ already have a hobby that you participate in during your free time, pick up another.
A versatile you is the best 9️⃣ you! We are always working on ourselves as people and that doesn't have to stop in the hobbies we choose.
Through 9️⃣ hobbies, we are able to develop and grow in specific areas of life.
Hobbies initiate pride, confidence, and self-respect, along with 9️⃣ a little "me time."
