The Importance of Hobbies

I have a confession to make I judge people by their hobbies or lack thereof. It’s a silly thing to judge people by, but I don’t trust people who have no hobbies or past times. It just doesn’t seem human or healthy to go to work, come home, eat, shower, go to bed and then go to work again. How do they stimulate their minds? How do they relax? How can they have no outside interests? I know that is probably a judgement made from a place of privilege, but having an active mental life is so valuable to have.

A hobby is defined by the Oxford Languages Dictionary as “an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.” Hobbies can cover a wide range of activities such as playing pickleball, watching sports, fixing cars, painting, weaving, attending conventions, watching movies, hiking, collecting coins, studying for pleasure, etc. Some people partake in their hobbies daily and others only occasionally. Almost every human on the planet has a hobby with most people having more than one hobby or leisure interest.

Psychologists encourage people to develop hobbies, especially as they get older. It is believed that having a hobby, or many, can have multiple health and mental health benefits. It may not seem important when you are in your 20’s but as you age, hobbies become more important.

Social hobbies, like a table-top game group or a discussion group, encourage participants to socialize and spread their support network. They allow you to converse with others, fulfill your social needs, and associate with likeminded people and on some occasions, introduce you to new ideas and concepts. For many busy people, or neurodivergent people, online social hobbies are vital to fulfill social needs. Things like online chats, Live workshops, online games can allow a person to develop a friendship. Though often not idea, playing a weekly MMRPG is better than not communicating with other people. Some people need their social hobbies to be in person. There is nothing wrong with either way, it’s just a matter of comfort. Attending a sporting event, playing Pathfinder at the local game store, or even trivia night at the local bar are great ways to get that social interaction. Most people I know meet their social needs in a combination of in person and online hobbies.

The next type of hobby that people look at are physical hobbies, or hobbies that get you moving. These are popular because keep you physically fit. That occasional game of basketball in the park increases your heart rate, builds muscle, strengthens your body, lowers your blood pressure, and provides a long list of health benefits. Physical hobbies could be anything from a leisurely walk in the woods, to a yoga class, to camping and hiking, to martial arts. If it gets you moving, it is a good thing. The added benefit is that if you continue your physical hobbies as you age, you might age with less physical ailments.

We are now up to the hobbies that have shown to improve your mental health, boost your self-esteem, and provide a creative outlet for your mind. These are the self-improvement, creative, mental, and emotional hobbies. This category is actually 4 categories of hobby types that share a set of benefits. Things like photography, painting, listening to music, drawing, cooking, knitting, traveling, and meditation are shown in many studies to have many benefits that include an increased self-esteem, keeps you brain active, improves your mental health, and stress relief. As you age, learning a new skill or hobby can lower or slow your chances of mental decline.

Having a hobby is not a guarantee that you will age with no physical side effects or never develop a mental illness, but hobbies are a a great way to keep yourself in shape on all levels. It is important because the muscle we need to exercise the most as we get older is often the one, we let atrophy the most. Busy mind can be a youthful mind at almost any age. Hobbies also have a benefit of encouraging empathy, spirituality, and compassion. As someone with ADHD, I tend to have many hobbies and cycle through which ones I focus on, but I try to keep my mind active and busy.

Sources:

Adams-Price, C.E. and Morse, L.W. (2018), ‘Crafts as serious hobbies: Impact and benefits in later life” Craft Research, 9:1, pp. 93-102, doi: 10.1386/crre.9.1.93_1

Kettering University Online 15 April 2019, 15 April 2019 by Kettering University Online, 2023, admin 6 O., 2023, admin 22 S., 2023, admin 14 S., 2023, admin 28 A., & 2023, admin 18 A. (n.d.). Why hobbies are important? https://online.kettering.edu/news/why-hobbies-are-important

hobby noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com. (n.d.). https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/hobby?q=hobby