For some reason, there seems to be a correlation between moving further into adulthood and having less fun.
Perhaps it’s due to the fact that old age tends to slow you down or because there’s simply more responsibilities and financial obligations to cater to.
Whatever the reason may be, I think it’s important to acknowledge that you’ll never age to the point that you can no longer enjoy yourself. Everyone needs a hobby or some sort of activity that allows them to blow off steam and relax.
If you don’t believe me, I’ve listed 3 benefits of having a hobby that will convince you otherwise.
1. Hobbies act as a healthy escape from reality.
Even if you’ve grown accustomed to it over the years, sooner or later, everyone needs a breather from the rat-race.
Hobbies encourage people to take a purposeful break that channels their thought process elsewhere. It’s a great way to stay productive and charge back up!
Have you ever found yourself fretting about an upcoming project at work or an overdue credit payment that’s now accumulating interest?
No matter what you do, the baggage from these items on your to-do list seem to blend into your personal life. Sometimes this stress can even interfere with relationships or go as far as keeping you from sleep at night.
This is where having a hobby comes in…
If you really love what you’re doing, you tend to get in the zone and focus on the moment. When you’re so intensely focused, hours magically fly by and your worries are pushed to the backburner.
Hobbies allow you to get your mind off things and then return to your responsibilities with a different perspective.
2. Hobbies promote eustress.
By definition, eustress is a type of stress that is beneficial to the experiencer. Things like painting or competing in a sport you truly enjoy, stimulate this positive kind of stress that makes you feel excited about life.
Taking up a new hobby offers a challenge and the opportunity to better yourself at something. As you know, “practice makes perfect” and visibly improving at these activities is directly relatable to this type of positive stress.
In reality, one of the best ways to access eustress is through a hobby of your choice.
That feeling of excitement and joy that comes along with doing something you love is priceless. So, why not tap into it more often?
3. Hobbies have physical health advantages.
Outside of the mental relief that hobbies bring about, research has found that engaging in enjoyable activities is attributable to lower blood pressure, total cortisol, waist circumference, and body mass index.
All in all, hobbies are good for your mind AND body!
Finding a new hobby to take part in isn’t always easy. You can’t just force something; it has to come naturally.
With that said, everyone has their own set of interests and if you haven’t found an activity that you are passionate about, then I encourage you to try new things in an effort to uncover one.
Eventually, you’ll stumble upon a hobby of your own, fall in love with it, and be able to reap that benefits it has to offer.
