How hobbies help your head and heart

From calligraphy to kombucha brewing, card games to cobbling, there are literally thousands of ways to spend your leisure time, so what pastime are you curious about pursuing or perhaps resurrecting after a ‘hobby hiatus’?

Hobbies can have multiple physical, psychological and emotional rewards:

Provide a challenge – Hobbies are great ways to take a break from your busy life while still having a sense of purpose. They break up routine and challenge you in new ways, providing an excellent outlet free from negative stress.

Outlet for stress – By focusing on a non-work-related task, you’re giving your mind something else to focus on. When you really get in the flow, worries and stresses tend to dissipate.

Promote eustress – Eustress is the type of ‘good’ stress that makes you feel excited and happy about what you’re doing.

Help you meet new people – Whether face-to-face or online, you can meet new friends who have mutual interests.

Encourage living in the present – If you really love what you’re doing, you tend to get ‘in the zone’ and really, truly focus on the present moment.

Physical health benefits – Research has found that engaging in enjoyable activities during down time is associated with reduced blood pressure, total cortisol, waist circumference, and body mass index. Engaging in these activities also correlated to higher levels of positive psychosocial states and lower levels of depression.

Now that you’re versed in the virtues of having a hobby, here’s some inspo from the web about your potential new pastime: https://hobbyhelp.com/inspiration/list-of-hobbies/

Photo credit: @alexisrbrown