31 Aug Hobbies: experts explain why they’re so good for our mental health and physical wellbeing
We all have to work and we all have responsibilities but even still, many of us take life too seriously.
Fun and play have been proven to be very important, contributing to health and happiness and helping to foster and develop key positive relationships.
Within fun and play, one might consider hobbies; those things we do … just because!
They’re nor frivolous and they’re not a waste of time. Far from it, they’re very, very good for us …
via Stylist by Alden Wynn
Hobbies are great things, but do you know just how beneficial they can really be? Three experts explain the positive effects hobbies can have in all areas of our everyday lives.
There’s no denying the fact that hobbies can be hard to slot into an already jam-packed schedule. Everyday life moves at such a fast pace that finding time for anything else can feel a little overwhelming. But, rather than adding to them, hobbies actually help to relieve the day-to-day pressures that are all too common in our work and personal lives.
As life coach Hannah Wills explains: “Having a hobby that you do purely for your own joy and without pressure from others is a great way to take that all-important break from your busy schedule.” And doing just that brings with it a whole host of benefits – some of which you might not have expected.
Hannah, along with creative life coach Kate Fishwick and life coach and psychotherapist Samantha Abraham, offer their insights into the many brilliant things hobbies can do for you, and the best types of hobbies to do to enjoy the different benefits.
The benefits of hobbies
Hobbies shouldn’t be seen as just another task to tack onto the end of your to-do list. Dubbed “the royalty of life hacks” by Samantha, hobbies can enhance your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing in the following ways.
Improved mental health
Kate explains that “we live in a world where the pressure to have and do it all is greater than ever.” This means that “we often get so busy that the first thing to get dropped is making time for the things we love and make us feel good.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, research conducted by the ONS found that this was especially true of millennial women, who across the board spend less time on leisure activities than older demographics and men in general.
But, as Hannah points out, “when we give ourselves time to do the things that we enjoy, it helps ease stress and low mood and keep that all-important cup full.” And this doesn’t just keep bad mental health days at bay – it can also make you happier in your daily life!
… keep reading the full & original article HERE