WHY HAVING A HOBBY WILL PROMOTE HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE
The other day, I was driving along the 101, and I was listening to the radio when I heard the DJ say something fascinating. She mentioned that studies have shown that having a hobby promotes happiness in your life & reduces stress.
I was so intrigued by this thought that I came home and dove into research. I knew then and there that I absolutely HAD to make a blog post about why having a hobby promotes happiness.
With that, I introduce to you The Five Benefits of Having a Hobby:
1. Hobbies promote eustress. Eustress is a positive kind of stress, the type that makes you feel excited & giddy about what you’re doing and about life. Hobbies are one of the greatest ways to achieve that kind of stress. When you are doing something that you genuinely enjoy - something you don’t do for any other reason except that you love it - it will bring you a rush of joy & excitement.
2. Hobbies offer a new challenge and improve your self-esteem. Hobbies help to break up routine and challenge you in new ways - ways that are very different from work and ways that are positive. Having a hobby is an excellent outlet to challenge yourself in an affirmative environment without the harmful stress that comes from work-related challenges. Your hobby also will challenge you whether that be mentally or physically. As you overcome these challenges, your confidence will grow. Being able to solve problems or being good at something is rewarding & increases dopamine.
3. Hobbies have physical health benefits. Research has found that engaging in activities you love during downtime were associated with lower blood pressure, waist circumference, total cortisol, and body mass index. Participating in these activities also connected to higher levels of positive psychological states as well as lower levels of depression. Having a hobby is good for both your mind and your body!
4. Hobbies unite you with others. Taking part in a hobby that interests you, you will come across a whole new network of people with similar interests and mindsets. Whether that be online or in person, you will expose yourself to a new world of people. Being socially connected is so imperative as social isolation can impair immune function and negatively affect your mental health.
5. Hobbies provide an outlet for stress and promote staying present. When you focus on a non-work-related task, you’re allowing your mind to focus on something else. Once you get in the zone, all of your worries & stresses fade away and you are aligning with the hobby. I notice for me that when I really love what I am doing, I focus on the moment & am undeniably present.
Be patient when looking for a new hobby, you want something that balances out your stress levels rather than creating more negative stress. The internet is a great resource to help explore different hobbies available out there for you. Whether it is writing, painting, bodybuilding, scrapbooking, volunteering, playing an instrument, singing, chess, dancing, etc. find something that makes your heart happy & it will improve your quality of life and success.
