When you think about hobbies, you don’t typically associate them with your health, unless your hobbies include such activities as skydiving, bungee jumping and – my personal favorite – wingsuit gliding. Most would likely agree all these hobbies are potentially hazardous to said health.
But did you know certain hobbies can actually promote good health?
Hobbies by definition are pleasurable, non-work related activities that you purposely engage in to free yourself from the demands and distractions of everyday life.
When chosen wisely, these personal pursuits can be incredibly rewarding and come with a myriad of benefits beyond just the break from all that life requires of us.
These mindful activities allow us to create and express ourselves without limitation, deadlines or goals. And, if pursued without the mistake of getting too serious, have the added perks of promoting our well-being, lowering stress levels, improving memory, breaking bad habits and so much more.
When choosing a new hobby, it’s of the utmost importance to remain open-minded and playful. This is just an experiment for now; after all, you are trying to find something satisfying, not something to fill your calendar. It can and probably will take a few swings before you find the thing you’re truly passionate about.
You might even surprise yourself and find that something you thought you would never like doing can develop into something you can’t live without doing.
Lastly, for those who think they are too busy for a hobby, and are worried that carving some time out of their schedule to find one might encroach on work-related commitments, don’t sweat it. Studies have actually shown, and career coaches have confirmed, that people who engage in hobbies are far more likely to excel in the work place.
The personal satisfaction and energy you glean from trying new things and breaking routine will flow into your personal performance and also increase your ability to maintain healthy relationships.
Do yourself a favor. Schedule some time just for you and go explore the wonderful world of hobbies. Keep trying them on until you find one that fits. It might just become the healthy habit you’ve been looking for.
Holly Wright of Bluffton is a Reiki Master, reflexologist, NASM certified personal fitness trainer, and co-owner of Trinity TheraSpa in Moss Creek Village. trinitytheraspa.com
