How Our Hobbies Can Make Us Live a Happier Life
We divide our time into sleep, work, family/other connections, and personal or leisure time. A 2021 study showed that whereas having too little time is linked to lower subjective well-being caused by stress, having more time does not make you happy. Having an abundance of time is sometimes even related to lower emotional well-being because of a lack of productivity. The results show that those with roughly two and a half hours of free time a day were the happiest. So how can we pursue our leisure time to get more comfortable? The simple answer is “Get a hobby.”
How can Hobby make us happier?
- Relieves stress: By distracting your mind with something else that is more enjoyable and less stressful, you can alleviate work-related stress. One study showed that approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal stress markers) were lowered after making art.
- Promotes Health: A study by Hughes demonstrated that engaging in hobbies for one or more hours each day may protect against dementia later in life. Another study found that having a hobby can enhance your functionality as you age and may contribute to a longer lifespan. Physical activities can improve your heart function and reduce adverse cardiac events.
- Promotes mental well-being: Hobbies help us concentrate better and, as a result, enhance our flow. Flow (being in the zone) is a healthy indicator of positive thinking as it prevents boredom, apathy, and languishing. Some hobbies can also help prevent anxiety, depression, and anger.
- Hobbies enhance social connections and reduce loneliness. Although some hobbies are solitary pursuits, many allow us to engage with our communities, meet people we might not encounter otherwise, share our passions, and form new bonds.
- Explore your potential: New hobbies can be challenging, and you might not Succeed. They foster new brain connections and unleash our inner child. Hobbies provide topics for conversation at parties and around the water cooler. They add layers to your identity and enhance your self-concept.
- Hobbies make you organize and prioritize. We habitually bring work home. Hobbies will get you out of evening and weekend work. You may use your designated practice time for hobbies rather than a stressful job assignment.
- Hobbies can become a second job or bring income if you are good at it.
Types of Hobbies: Hobbies can be sedentary or leisurely (Cooking, reading, watching TV, crafting, etc.), active (hiking, Exercising, or playing sports), or performing (music, drama, singing, sports).
Choose your hobbies wisely: Here are a few things to consider when picking up a new hobby.
- Watch your expenses: you may borrow or rent in the beginning
- Do not choose hazardous activity right away
- A hobby should not be a major hassle
- Not unduly time-consuming. Set some time, and do not take too much time away from the family.
- Popular: Do not choose too many solitary hobbies. Popular hobbies will get you socially connected easily.
There is also another option: bring your hobby to work. Becoming a party planner, cooking, taking photos, and teaching your computer skills or other abilities are just a few examples.
So, remember that you have a limited time on this earth, so choose it wisely, and that “someday” may never arrive. Find a hobby and embrace happiness. Let us know about your hobbies by writing me back at tarak@vasavada.us.