Hobbies to boost your mood
Life feels busy all the time. Days filled with household chores, caring for children and/or aging parents and work can leave us feeling overloaded and tired. So, who has time or energy for a hobby?
Family medicine physician Pavandip Virdi, MD, with Bayhealth Family Medicine, Dover encourages everyone to find the time.
It turns out that a hobby may be just what we need to boost your energy and mood. “Hobbies are shown to reduce stress, depression and anxiety. If your hobby is something that includes being outdoors, the mental health benefits are even greater,” said Virdi.
How do hobbies help? Virdi explains that “active leisure” can be invigorating, giving us strength, energy and vitality. That is why hobbies are so important, not just for retirees who may have more spare time, but for the whole family.
Solo hobbies such as drawing or knitting can give your mind the pause it needs and bring great satisfaction from the results of your creativity. Hobbies that can be done with others, such as games or yoga, help develop social connections that are also proven to be fundamental to happiness and feelings of a meaningful life.
“Our hobbies add depth to our identities and strengthen our self-image,” said Virdi. “This also adds to our social life by giving us something to talk about. It reminds us that we are more than just an employee or an age. You may find that all the happiness your hobby brings will stay with you during the busy times as well.”
How to find time for a hobby? It’s hard to admit, but most of us waste a lot of time. If you added up all the time you spend mindlessly scrolling through social media or binge-watching TV, you might find you had time to redirect from those distractions to something more meaningful.
“Sometimes we need that downtime,” said Virdi. “But compare how you feel afterward to how you feel after accomplishing something through a hobby. You are likely to find the hobby much more satisfying.”
Now that you’re motivated to find a hobby, how do you choose one that’s right for you? Virdi suggests considering the main categories most hobbies fall under: artistic, productive, physical activity, game/sport related, spiritual, collections, nature related or travel. Which of these sparks your interest? You can even combine two or three categories to create a hobby.
“By the way, studies show having several hobbies can boost your mood even more, so don’t limit yourself,” Virdi said.
