Health Benefits Of Having a Hobby

Being healthy doesn’t just mean eating right and exercising; rather, being healthy refers to a broad spectrum of factors, one of which is maintaining sound psychological health.

One of the ways that a person can increase her overall health is by starting up a new hobby, which is proven to be associated with numerous health benefits.

Hobbies Are Outlets for Stress

If you’ve been feeling stressed lately due to work, the kids, project deadlines, or anything else, it’s time to start up a hobby to help alleviate that stress.

Hobbies refocus your energy, and allow you to place whatever’s stressing you out on the backburner for a bit. Having a hobby also allows you to channel all of your stress into something more positive, and provides an outlet for releasing negative energy.

Hobbies Connect You With Other People

Even if you pick a hobby that you do solo, such as scrapbooking, you’re opening yourself up to a whole new world of people with the same hobby as you. There are a lot of online forums for people who want to discuss their hobbies, swap new ideas, etc.

Better yet, you may opt for a group hobby, such as signing up for a spinning class. Social interaction is an important part of maintaining a healthy mind and psychological balance.

Hobbies Make You Happy

It’s pretty rare for a person to pick a hobby that they don’t enjoy. Usually, the hobbies that people choose are things that they love to do.

Taking time for yourself to engage in something that you enjoy can help make you happier, calmer, and take your mind off of everyday stressors.

Hobbies Keep You Grounded

In times of change or crisis in your life, a hobby can be a great way for you to stay grounded and have a consistent, stable thing to turn to.

During a stressful transition in life, such as a move, divorce, or change at work, a hobby can give you something to turn to that’s familiar and fun.

Hobbies Create Eustress

As opposed to the kind of stress that makes you feel anxious, nervous, and grumpy, eustress is a positive kind of stress that you experience when excited, faced with a fun challenge, or doing something that you love.

Eustress makes us feel euphoric and happy, and without it, life would be boring and depressing. Most people need more eustress in their lives, and engaging in a hobby is a great way to get that fill.

Hobbies Keep You Motivated

Not only does having a hobby give you a positive activity to look forward at the end of the day, week, or month, but a hobby actually has some physical ways of keeping us motivated, too.

When a hobby is concentrated on, the brain releases endorphins, norepinephrine, and dopamine, all of which help to keep a person focused and energized.

The brain and body like these hormones that create this “feel good” feeling. Making time for your hobby will help to keep your brain intellectually and emotionally motivated, seeking out new ways to make yourself feel happy and energized.

The health benefits associated with having a hobby are numerous. If you don’t have a hobby, today’s the day to pick one. Whether it be baking, playing Magic: the Gathering, sewing, golfing, hiking, or anything else, pick one and get started on it today.