Having skills and hobbies outside of what you do at work or daily responsibilities gives you something to pour your energy into. A great way to handle any type of stress you experience is through a hobby. Many adults neglect their hobbies in fear that it is time wasting. More often than not, we are made to feel that we need to be doing something we don’t want to do, which is why putting your time into a hobby can sometimes feel counterintuitive.
There are actually many health benefits correlated with having a hobby! It also helps you build confidence, create a social support network, and allows you to cultivate unused skills. Here are some reasons everyone should have a hobby:
1) Creativity
Engaging in a hobby you enjoy can harness creativity, which often translates in other areas of your life. When you put time aside to develop more creativity, you find yourself becoming more creative at work and within your relationships. A lot of job interviewers will even ask what you do for fun, since it provides a lot of insight into your personality, creativity, and passion.
2) Confidence
When you learn a new skill or become better at something, you build confidence. If you are able to find a challenging hobby, you’ll prepare your mind and body to change to learn new things. Try engaging in a hobby that uses different parts of your brain than you’re used to using on a normal basis!
3) Reduce Stress
Once you find a hobby that you really enjoy, you’ll find the time passes by quickly. This is because your mind is focusing on something that is positive and interesting. This is shown to create chemical changes that reduce stress, even if the activity is not physical. Sometimes just allowing your mind to take a break from everyday stressors can feel rejuvenating, which can help you handle further challenges in the future.
4) Socialize
Social media gives us endless ways to connect with others who enjoy similar things. We are given a lot of opportunities to find those who want to discuss our hobbies, which can expand our network. If you get involved in bigger groups, you are likely to make friends and be encouraged to pursue your hobby even more.
5) Personal Development
You never know where you hobby may lead you. You could find yourself immersed in it and before you know it, working in a similar arena. For example, if someone starts to learn how to edit videos and photography, they could ultimately land a job that allows them to do it full time. There could be many talents that you haven’t unlocked yet, you just have to begin!
Tips on selecting a hobby
It seems that the hardest part of having a hobby is discovering which one is best for you. Try to consider the following:
1) Make It Challenging
While you don’t want a huge learning curve that could take years to learn, you want to find something that challenges you. This will push you to keep trying and give you the desire to master a skill.
2) Focus On Strengths
If you already know what types of natural abilities you have, try to start there. If you know that you have a fear of heights, it is probably not a great idea to take up rock climbing. Take into account your finances, fitness level, and passions when choosing a hobby.
3) Stress
You want to make sure that your hobby is challenging, but not stressful. You don’t want to add more stress to your day – you want to relieve it! If you choose something too time or financially consuming, it could end up being more stressful to you.
If you find yourself struggling to find a hobby or become passionate about something, it may be time to work with a life coach. Click here to get started!
