The Importance of Hobbies
Since I was six years old, I have been writing stories. Usually, they’re stories about the lives of characters in fantasy worlds I’ve created. Sometimes I write about my own life, although this usually takes the form of journaling or poetry. Sometimes I share my work, but that’s never been a necessary part of the process for me, because above all else, I write for myself. It brings me a sense of peace and fulfillment, and it seems impossible for me to go long without it. Because of how vital it is for me, it feels almost trivializing to call writing my “hobby,” because when most of us hear that word (myself included), we don’t take it seriously. We associate “hobby” with something casual that’s done occasionally, when we have the spare time. They don’t pay the bills because they aren’t work, and some can be expensive and time consuming. But hobbies can be incredibly important and fulfilling, particularly for mental health. A hobby is any activity you find meaningful, and that’s exactly what writing is for me. For others, it might be creating art, cooking, weightlifting, knitting, playing an instrument – the list goes on and on. Hobbies can play a large part of reducing stress – levels of cortisol (a hormonal marker of stress) lower after participating in an activity you enjoy. It’s also associated with lower blood pressure and improved mental functioning. Hobbies can be a way to relax after a stressful day and can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Some hobbies, such as yoga, meditation, and journaling, stimulate mindfulness and self-reflection, which contribute to overall mental well-being and awareness. Spending time outside, even just for 10 minutes, enhances your mood and improves your focus.
In addition, hobbies provide a sense of confidence, control, and purpose, which boosts self- esteem. Writing gives me something to focus on outside of my own life, and I often get so immersed in my stories that I write for hours on end. It’s an escape from the stresses of my day-to-day life. Afterwards, I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, particularly if I’ve completed a project or goal. In a world where we consume so much through social media and television, producing something and acquiring new skills can be a rewarding process. It provides a sense of meaning that we don’t get from time spent idly. They can be a source of social connections, such as when you find others who share your interest or participate in a group activity like a team sport. I’ve created a network of writers who I regularly send my work to, and we’ll often workshop together. While our friendships have now extended beyond writing, that shared interest was the reason we connected in the first place, and is also one reason our relationships are maintained – through the mutual sharing of progress and creativity. So many of us juggle busy schedules, and between work, education, family, and social events, it’s hard to find time for hobbies, no matter how much we enjoy them. I find myself dragged into a series of seemingly never-ending tasks and neglect to make time for writing. In the past I’ve tried to set a strict writing schedule for myself, waking up an hour early each morning to work on a project, but that’s never lasted very long – a month at best. It also took away some of the enjoyment of the writing process, particularly if I was feeling uninspired, and writing began to feel like just another task on my to-do list. So instead, I’ve tried dedicating at least a few focused hours to writing each week rather than trying to block out a certain time each day. I’ve also started setting limits on the amount of time I allow myself to scroll social media, because while it can provide some short-term bursts of entertainment, it’s not a fulfilling activity, and I often lose track of how long I’ve been scrolling.
If you don’t have any hobbies or consider yourself too busy to participate in them, it might be beneficial to find something that you enjoy doing—something you can look forward to at the end of the day. You don’t have to spend hours a day on your hobby and you don’t need to be an expert at it. That’s the beauty of hobbies. They’re solely for you, and everything else is secondary.
