Crafting happiness through hobbies
Hobbies? What hobbies? Who has the time to pursue them amid hectic work lives? Isn’t it? Isn’t this the most common reaction we see when speaking about recreation in a fast-paced world? We all are working day and night to meet deadlines, exhausting ourselves to fulfil demands, and giving our minds unwanted stress and anxiety. On top of it, adding another task, a hobby, seems like a debilitating idea, right? However, you can be crafting happiness through hobbies. Read along to know more.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance in the hustle-bustle of modern-day life can be challenging. With time being a precious commodity these days, the idea of having a creative hobby seems frivolous. What purpose does it serve anyway, is what people often think. However, let me tell you, it is not how you comprehend it. The purpose of hobbies is much deeper than that. Let’s understand better.
Hobbies are not merely pastimes, they have the power to transform your life and contribute to a holistic approach towards building a wholesome life. They are the key to unlocking creativity, promoting physical, mental, and emotional health, and discovering the unexplored territories of self-expression. As you delve into this realm, you unravel a world where passion meets leisure, providing relief from the atrocities of daily routines. A hobby is nothing but an activity deliberately selected to give joy and fulfilment, pursued for leisure rather than financial benefits. The extensive spectrum of recreational pursuits reflects a vast arena of human interests spanning from peaceful, serene choices to adrenaline-rushing activities, from intellectual pursuits to physical endeavours.
Whether a quiet escape of stroking your canvas with brushes or the exhilarating rush of extreme adventure sports, hobbies cater to building upon the diverse aspects of human personality. This article explores their significance and how they contribute to a richer, more meaningful life experience.
Personal growth
Out of many facets, one aspect where a hobby can transform you is your personal growth. As humans, we all blossom on new experiences. We tend to find newness in everything we do, and we improve our self-growth. Most of the hobbies require a learning curve, and we unlock a new achievement with everything new we learn. This rewarding experience helps in boosting confidence and self-esteem.
In some cases, a hobby can also result in a side hustle. If a person likes to paint on canvas and gets so proficient in that skill that it turns into a side-project, it can earn big bucks. Similarly, interests such as photography, baking, home improvement, etc., could also be monetised. In such cases, the feeling of accomplishment a person gets is priceless.
Further, engaging in such activities that bring joy and accomplishment also proves to be beneficial in improving mental health as they stimulate the cognitive functioning of the mind, keeping it healthy and resilient.
Hobbies as a therapy
The things you do for passion and recreation have a therapeutic power. One of the most crucial benefits of having one such passion is alleviating stress in your daily life. There’s so much happening around the world and in your personal and professional life, that sometimes it becomes overwhelming. In such an environment, having a cosy space for yourself at the end of the day becomes essential.
Whether it is playing a musical instrument, journaling, or doodling, activities like these give a healing outlet, allowing us to escape after an exhausting day. The main aim of such acts is to do something without pressure and in its natural flow. Scientifically, involving oneself in enjoyable activities also releases endorphins, natural stress-relieving chemicals. You can also reduce anxiety and foster a positive mindset by tapping into the creative and meditative aspects of hobbies.
Physical and emotional well-being
Many hobbies engage in physical activity, promoting a healthy lifestyle. Activities like cycling, hiking, dancing, etc., provide a gateway to regular exercise and contribute to overall fitness. Such activities help improve sleep patterns, energy levels, and physical resilience. On the emotional front, hobbies provide a platform for self-discovery and expression.
You can develop a deeper understanding of yourself by engaging in activities that resonate with your passions and interests. These also connect you with your emotions and help you find purpose and emotional satisfaction. The multifaceted benefits of physical, emotional, and mental well-being highlight the impact of hobbies on one’s overall health.
Opens creative portals
All humans are creative in one sense or another and have a deep urge to live creatively. Everything you do out of passion and love inculcates creativity and nurtures imagination. You need to keep your creative muscles in action and hobbies are a perfect way to do this.
Whether it is writing, crafting, or sketching, these activities encourage you to think beyond your imagination, explore new ideas, and uniquely pour your expression. These aspects foster innovation and help in problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, having a creative hobby also helps an individual to be present in the moment and improve focus. It takes one into a meditative state where you experience immense focus, bliss, and joy. When you immerse in a hobby, you are neither in the past nor future, but present.
Building social connections
Creative pursuits are a great way to socialise and make new friends. These days, there are many forums where like-minded people can meet and interact to grow their circle and connections. People with shared interests like dancing, engaging in team sports, etc., meet and cultivate their interests together.
This fosters social bonds that are not limited to age, background, or location. People with common interests make new connections through clubs, online forums, workshops, and other hobbyist communities.
Hobbies allow you to make networks and valuable bonds outside your work environment and relations and give a fulfilling experience. It makes your presence more interesting in gatherings. Meeting different people in communities enhances social and interpersonal skills and also contributes to a sense of collective achievement.
Having a hobby is not a waste of time. You must explore what you love, what gives you satisfaction, and adds value to your life. So, get out of your comfort zone and find time for your hobbies, just like you take out time for your work and other chores. Whether you are in your 20s or 50s, it’s never too late to start doing what you love. Let out your inner child alive!
Article by: Dr. Manjula Vij
