Eight Compelling EXPLANATIONS WHY We Should All Have a Hobby
A while ago I came across an article that talked about the worrying trend of adults collecting stickers for sticker collections. The word 'worrying' struck me. Worrying is those other terrible things adults do every day causing harm to themselves, others and the planet. Collecting stickers isn't worrying. I've talked before about adults participating in playtime so won't go on about any of it here. My point is as adults it's okay to do the items we enjoy - hey isn't life stressful enough?
Hobbies are a way of filling your free time with something you are interested in. The best thing about them is it is possible to choose everything you do. They are for the enjoyment and satisfaction. Whether it's bird watching, playing soccer, collecting stamps, dancing, singing, there are always a multitude of activities out there. They're perfect opportunities to express your creativity, curiosity, competitive nature, love of beauty and so much more. You may do it outside, inside, alone or with others. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you have chosen it and you also enjoy it. Don't provide a damn about what other people think - this is for you after all.
In this article I would like to talk about a number of the very good reasons why we ought to all have a hobby. Hopefully they will spur you on weekly or even every day to take up a hobby, resume an old one or ramp up an existing passion.
1 Gives your daily life meaning and purpose
Having a hobby gives you a feeling of purpose. It ensures you have something to live for, look forward to and obtain excited by. You don't need to wait for a grand once-in-a-lifetime a vacation to get this feeling. You can have it every day simply through your hobby. Obviously it could be nice if your job gave you meaning. Maybe it can. But for some, having less control could make it harder. However, with a hobby that you have chosen you are consciously and actively creating meaning that you experienced. There's even better news. Recent research has shown that people with a sense of purpose live longer. Hobbies are a chance for you yourself to set yourself goals and use your leisure time to achieve them. Your time and effort is spent on something that is important to you. By taking up a spare time activity, suddenly your life has a direction it may not need had previously.
2 Managing stress
Life can be super stressful. We've so many demands also it will often feel overwhelming. However if you have a pastime you can turn to during difficult times you may be doing wonders for your health. Because too much stress results in physical changes in the body that can cause long term harm. For some, it can be worth choosing a hobby that gives your daily life more balance. If you spend your days within an office in silence, then it may pay to activate in something fairly social. Or if you desperately need quiet me-time, then do it now. The point is your hobby ought to be fun and definitely not add to your stress. Let your hobby do the job.
3 Surviving in the moment
How often are any of us actually in as soon as? So most of us worry about things that we have to get done per day. We're doing a very important factor, while thinking about what we must do next. Or we spend our time living for the weekend or perhaps a vacation, taking no notice of the present. Then there's those people who ruminate over the past - so tied up with thoughts and worries about things that have happened, they are barely alert to their current situation. Having a hobby that you set aside time for can allow one to be worry free and just focus on the here and today. Allow you to ultimately be immersed in the experience will do wonders for your wellbeing. Another tip will help you do just that.
4 Good chance for a flow experience
A flow experience is one particular moments if you are so immersed within an activity that everything else is forgotten. Perhaps you have been so focused on something that you do not even notice how hungry you are until you have finished the task? It is likely you were experiencing flow. Experiencing flow can perform wonders to your happiness as you are attending to a thing that is providing you value and offers an excellent feeling of achievement.
To increase your likelihood of flow whilst engaging in a hobby, it is worth choosing a hobby that meets the following conditions for flow. Firstly you should have a goal. It directs your attention as appropriate. What do you hope to achieve with your choice of hobby? Goals can be ongoing, short-term and longterm. Secondly you should have a good balance between your perceived skills and perceived challenges. Don't use up a hobby that's so beyond your skill set you obtain frustrated. Saying that, you need it to activate you and that means you don't become bored. When you are doing a similar thing over and over, so what can you do to improve the challenge? Finally, it is very important obtain feedback. How are you doing together with your hobby? You can ask yourself this question or measure the opinion of another who you trust to be fair.
5 Being active in life
Using your free time well with a hobby means you are being active in your life and engaged. You are not letting life pass you by. Passive pursuits like watching TV are not hobbies and do little for your wellbeing. Another problematic activity is spectator sport. Just watching an activity does little for your happiness and you aren't actively involved (no matter how much you imagine you're as you shout at the opposing team or the ref). However, if you do enjoy a particular sport, you can find ways to become actively engrossed - perhaps by playing or teaching the activity, or being involved with supporters clubs.
6 Get to make friends
Having an interest is a fantastic opportunity to become familiar with other people. Whatever your hobby is, you will find plenty of other people doing the same. This could be especially useful as a beginner what your location is keen to understand everything about your new hobby from those more experienced. Of course, some hobbies would require that you get to know other folks. Perhaps you decide it's time to pull out your football boots and join a team. You love football - and being in a team means you immediately become familiar with many other people with a shared interest. Friendships are important and there is research that shows having social support can help you live longer.
Remember also, the internet can be a great source of support in fact it is not uncommon for people to make friends this way. As you get started on your hobby, take a look at related blogs, forums and Facebook pages.
7 Something simply for you
Even though you get just a couple of hours a week to obtain stuck into your hobby - this is your time. There is no need to worry about work, family, friends, anyone. We all have so many obligations and responsibilities. You'll find nothing wrong with having me-time. It is essential to manage stress. If you believe there is no need time for a hobby then you should do a quick assessment you will ever have. It's all about balance. Hopefully by now you're convinced of the value of having a spare time activity.
8 Feeling of achievement
With a hobby you can set goals - both long term and short term. This will give you an ongoing sense of achievement that you have total control over. Visit the website feels good to attain things. You feel you have made good use of your time. You may even like to keep a journal or perhaps a blog that records your achievements for you to look back over. It's amazing how quickly things can build-up - in case you only commit handful of time each week to your hobby.
Remember though, whatever hobby you do - it's for you personally so ought to be something you enjoy or think you may enjoy. Avoid being afraid to try new things or expand your existing skills. And have fun!